Federal Aviation Administration 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an electrical failure of a starter-generator caused by a ruptured drive shaft. This proposed AD would require visually inspecting the drive shaft of an affected starter-generator and depending on the results, performing a dye penetrant inspection. Depending on the results of the dye penetrant inspection, this proposed AD would require replacing the starter- generator, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH (Schempp-Hirth) Model Ventus-2a and Ventus-2b gliders. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as the uncommanded extraction of the airbrakes on one or both wings, possibly resulting in reduced control of the glider. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting airbrake bell cranks and airbrake drive funnels for cracking, repetitively inspecting the clearance of the airbrake control system, and taking corrective action as necessary. This proposed AD would also require modifying the airbrake system, which is terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Engine Alliance (EA) Model GP7270, GP7272, and GP7277 engines. This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed that certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) interstage seals were manufactured from material suspected to contain iron inclusion. This AD requires replacement of the affected HPT interstage seals. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Tununak Airport, Tununak, AK, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval [to renew an] information collection. The collection involves receiving and maintaining correspondence required to be sent to the FAA from pilots who have been involved in a drug- or alcohol-related motor vehicle action. The information to be collected will be used to and/or is necessary because the FAA must identify airmen with multiple drug- or alcohol-related motor vehicle actions, and verify traffic conviction information in order to support the FAA's Aviation Safety, Office of Aerospace Medicine, Aerospace Medical Certification Division, for their requirements to evaluate the qualifications of that airman to hold a medical certificate.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus SAS (Airbus) Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N; and Model A321-251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is a mini emergency power supply unit containing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-445 by removing segments of the route from the PAACK, NC, waypoint (WP) to the BRIGS, NJ Fix. This amendment is proposed because those route segments are unused due to multiple other routes in the same area.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-36 and establish Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-675 in the northcentral United States. The airway amendments are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Wawa, Ontario (ON), Canada, VOR navigational aid (NAVAID). This action is in support of NAV CANADA's NAVAID Modernization Program within Canada.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Sandusky, MI. This action supports new public instrument procedures.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-25- 16, which applied to all ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes. AD 2022-25-16 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require certain actions in AD 2022-25-16 and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes). This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend six United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Q-routes in the eastern United States. This action supports the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Routes (NEC ACR) Optimization Project to improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain environmental control system (ECS) pre-cooler clamp assemblies may not conform to specifications. This AD requires an inspection of the pre-cooler clamps and replacement of non- conforming pre-cooler clamps. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-300 and ERJ 190-400 airplanes. This AD was prompted by the excessive operation of certain elevator and rudder surfaces during manufacturing, causing damage and accelerating wear of internal parts of the power control units (PCUs). This AD requires replacement of the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) elevator PCUs and lower and upper rudder PCUs, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on January 5, 2023. The collection involves gathering data from airport sponsors and planning agencies to determine eligibility, ensure compliance with Federal requirements, and ensure proper use of Federal funds and project accomplishments for the Airport Improvement Program and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) programs. Submission is required to receive funds.

The FAA is removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 92-02-14, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A320 series airplanes. AD 92- 02-14 required inspection for correct installation of the flexible control cables on the overwing emergency escape slides. The FAA issued AD 92-02-14 to prevent failure of the overwing emergency escape slides to deploy, which would compromise use of the exit during an emergency. Since the FAA issued AD 92-02-14, no new occurrences of incorrect cable installations have been reported, and existing maintenance activities are adequate to prevent new occurrences. Therefore, the FAA has determined that AD 92-02-14 is no longer necessary. Accordingly, AD 92- 02-14 is removed.

This action amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-376 by removing the Nottingham, MD (OTT), VOR/Tactical Air Navigational System (VORTAC) from the route description and replacing it with the Casanova, VA (CSN), VORTAC. This action is required due to the planned decommissioning of the Nottingham, MD (OTT), VORTAC as part of FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program. This action does not change the alignment, altitudes, or operating requirements of V-376. In addition, language is added to exclude the airspace within restricted areas R-6601A, R-6601B, and R-6601C.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of the main landing gear (MLG) aft door not opening when using the alternate extension system. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the spring box assembly, repetitive inspections of the cam assembly and alternate release cable assembly, corrective actions if necessary, and a replacement of certain alternate release cable assemblies. In addition, this proposed AD would also require certain aircraft maintenance manuals tasks when installing the cam assembly or alternate release cable assembly. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and A350-1041 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that excessively deep spot faces on the front engine mounting bolt holes on the wing pylon were detected on the production line. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection for clash (interference) of the three front engine mounting bolt holes on both the left and right wing pylons, and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/ 47, and PC-12/47E airplanes. This AD is prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient grounding of the vapor cycle cooling system (VCCS) compressor/condenser. This AD requires inspecting the power return and chassis grounding cable attachment points at frame 37, including the attachment parts, and depending on the inspection results, corrective action. This AD also requires modifying the installation of the VCCS compressor/condenser power return cables and installing an additional isolated VCCS chassis ground cable. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the Port of Bremerton, Washington to waive the Airport Improvement Program property requirements for approximately 20.65 acres of airport property located at Bremerton National Airport, Bremerton, Washington.

This final rule updates the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) manual requirements to reflect industry use of electronic and paper manuals. The amendments apply to fractional ownership operations; domestic, flag, and supplemental operations; rules governing the operations of U.S.-registered civil airplanes which have a seating configuration of 20 or more passengers or a maximum payload capacity of 6,000 pounds or more when common carriage is not involved; and commuter and on-demand operations. This action requires manuals accessed in paper format to display the date of last revision on each page, and it requires manuals accessed in electronic format to display the date of last revision in a manner in which a person can immediately ascertain it. This action also revises the requirement for program managers or certificate holders to carry appropriate parts of the manual aboard airplanes during operations. The FAA instead requires program managers or certificate holders to ensure the appropriate parts of the manual are accessible to flight, ground, and maintenance personnel when such personnel are performing their assigned duties. Lastly, this rule updates outdated language that refers to accessing information in manuals kept in microfiche. The FAA removes this outdated language and simply requires that all manual information and instructions be displayed clearly and be retrievable in the English language.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves submittal of limits of validity of engineering data that supports the structural maintenance program (hereafter referred to as LOV) for certain airplane models. The information to be collected will be used to demonstrate compliance with FAA regulations requiring establishment and incorporation of LOV into the airplane's structural maintenance program.