Federal Aviation Administration January 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action amends Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Athens/Ben Epps Airport, Athens, GA as a result of the biennial airspace evaluation. This action eliminates the excess airspace remaining after the decommissioning of the Bulldog Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) and subsequent cancellation of the NDB Runway 27 approach to Athens/Ben Epps Airport effective October 15, 2015, and updates the geographic coordinates for the airport and the Point of Origin. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Antlers, OK. The FAA is proposing this action due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Paris very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

On December 9, 2022, the FAA published a final rule titled ``Miscellaneous Amendments''. That document made technical amendments to various parts of the FAA's regulations, and inadvertently identified the Amendment Nos. for certain parts of the CFR as 25-146, 33-1, 47-32, 73-1, and 101-9. The correct Amendment Nos. are 25-148, 33-35, 47-34, 73-9, and 101-11. This document makes those corrections.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings for the noise compatibility program submitted by LGA, see supplementary information for details. On June 15, 2017, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by TEB were in compliance with applicable requirements. On July 15, 2022, the FAA determined that the noise compatibility program submitted by TEB would be initiating final review for approval or disapproval. On January 10, 2023, the FAA approved the TEB noise compatibility program. The noise compatibility program contained 33 recommended measures, including 16 noise abatement measures, four land use measures, and 13 program management measures. Of the measures proposed, 23 were approved, four were approved as voluntary, three were disapproved, and three were determined to have no FAA action as continuations of existing mandatory practices at TEB. Six of the 16 noise abatement procedures proposed at LGA are related to new or revised flight procedures.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Mount Sterling and Pittsfield, IL. This action is due to airspace reviews conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Quincy very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of Pittsfield Penstone Municipal Airport, Pittsfield, IL, are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-6, V-10, V-30, V-100, and V-233 in the vicinity of Litchfield, MI. The airway modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Litchfield, MI, VOR/ Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID) which provides navigational guidance for portions of the affected VOR Federal airways listed above. The Litchfield VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

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 of a renewed collection. The collection involves the voluntary submission of information for registration of an Airman Knowledge Test as part of the FAA Airman Certification Process. The information collected is necessary to ensure compliance and proper registration of an individual for the necessary knowledge test for the certification or rating pursued by the individual.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-02-01, which applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-92A helicopters with certain part-numbered main rotor stationary swashplate assemblies (swashplate assemblies) that have accumulated 1,600 or more total hours time-in-service (TIS) installed. AD 2022-02-01 requires visually inspecting the swashplate assembly at specified intervals and depending on the results, removing the swashplate assembly from service. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-02-01, the FAA determined it was necessary to expand the applicability and require more detailed inspections to address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain the actions of AD 2022-02-01, expand the applicability, add a detailed recurring visual inspection, and require either eddy current inspections (ECI) or fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPI). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Greater Buffalo International Airport, NY, Class C airspace description to update the Greater Buffalo International Airport and Lancaster Airport names and the associated airport reference point (ARP) geographic coordinates for each airport to match the FAA's National Airspace System Resource (NASR) database information. Additionally, this action makes a technical amendment to the airspace description header information by changing the title of the airspace area. This action does not change the boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements of the Class C airspace area.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42- 500 and 72-212A airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by in-service experience that has shown that the lateral flight guidance of the flight director/auto pilot may not limit HI BANK turns in severe icing conditions. This proposed AD would require the replacement of the affected new avionics suite (NAS), as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of the affected NAS on any airplane. 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 Leonardo S.p.a. Model A109, A109A, A109A II, A109C, A109E, A109K2, A109S, and AW109SP helicopters modified by Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SR01812LA. This AD was prompted by a report of certain floats not deploying due to a faulty plunger assembly. This AD requires repairing or replacing certain float assemblies. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would have applied to all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by proposing to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate two aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) tasks. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC130T2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a crack in the tailboom. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the vibration level on the tail rotor drive shaft and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. This AD also requires reporting information and prohibits installing certain rotor drive shafts unless the inspection is done, 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.

The FAA proposes to adopt 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 proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require 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 proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-25-03, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2020-25-03 required repetitive checks of the pressure gauges to determine the amount of pressure on the inflation reservoir of each emergency escape slide/raft, and applicable corrective actions. AD 2020-25-03 also provided optional terminating action for the repetitive checks. The FAA issued AD 2020-25-03 to address insufficient reservoir pressure in an emergency escape slide/raft, which would prevent the deployment of the emergency escape slide/raft during an emergency, possibly resulting in injury to the occupants. The FAA has determined that AD 2020-25-03 is no longer necessary because the unsafe condition no longer exists. Accordingly, AD 2020-25-03 is removed.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, -100 ECJ, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of uncommanded setting of the barometric reference in both primary flight displays (PFDs) due to the architecture of data communication of the Control I/O modules, which interconnect the display controllers to the air data system. This AD requires installing updated Primus EPIC software, 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.

This action establishes Class D airspace for Craig Field, Selma, AL, as a new air traffic control tower will service the airport. This action also amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface by updating the radius and geographic coordinates of the airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA proposes to adopt 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 proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require 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 proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion nor omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive 2021-23- 12, which applies to all transport and commuter category airplanes equipped with a radio (also known as radar) altimeter. AD 2021-23-12 requires revising the limitations section of the existing airplane/ aircraft flight manual to incorporate limitations prohibiting certain operations requiring radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C- Band interference as identified by Notices to Air Missions. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-23-12, the FAA determined that additional limitations are needed due to the continued deployment of new 5G C-Band base stations whose signals are expected to cover most of the contiguous United States at transmission frequencies between 3.7-3.98 GHz. This proposed AD would require revising the limitations section of the existing airplane/aircraft flight manual to incorporate limitations prohibiting certain operations requiring radio altimeter data, due to the presence of 5G C-Band interference. This proposed AD would also require modifying certain airplanes to allow safe operations in the United States 5G C-Band radio frequency environment. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on a proposal from the Centennial Airport, Executive Director to change a portion of the airport from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The proposal involves a parcel of airport property on the Northeast side of the airfield.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the request to release and sell a 1.11 acre parcel of federally obligated airport property at the Malden Regional Airport & Industrial Park (MAW), Malden, Missouri.