Federal Aviation Administration February 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all airplanes with certain Pacific Scientific Company rotary buckle assemblies (buckles) installed. This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing defect in the screws used inside the buckle. This proposed AD would require inspecting the buckle screws, and depending on the results, reidentifying the buckle, replacing the screws and reidentifying the buckle, or replacing the buckle. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing certain buckles. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked vertical stabilizer top end cap assemblies. This AD requires an initial and recurring inspections of the vertical stabilizer top end cap assembly and corrective action if a crack is found, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-489, T-491, T-493, and T-495; amend RNAV Routes Q-102, T-210, T-336, T-341, and T-349; and revoke RNAV Route T- 204 in the eastern United States. This action supports FAA Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) efforts to provide a modern RNAV route structure to improve the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

This action amends the description of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-97 by changing the name of the DLAAY, MD, waypoint (WP) to the BYSEL, MD, WP; changing the type of point for the SAWED, VA, and KALDA, VA, route points from being listed as a ``Fix'' to a ``WP''; and correcting the geographic coordinates listed for the existing route points between the JEVED, GA, WP and the Presque Isle, ME (PQI), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid. The FAA is taking these actions to match the FAA National Airspace System Resource (NASR) database information. These actions are editorial amendments only and do not alter the alignment, dimensions, or operating requirements of Q-97.

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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded deployment of the emergency life-raft system (ELS). This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the life-raft installations and, depending on the results, accomplishing additional actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Spanish Fork Municipal Airport/ Woodhouse Field, Spanish Fork, UT. This modification supports the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-340, T-342, T-344, and T-346 in the Hawaiian Islands. These RNAV routes facilitate the movement of aircraft among the Hawaiian Islands and increase operational efficiencies to RNAV Standard Instrument Departures (SID) and RNAV Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STAR), which enhances the air traffic capacity of the Hawaiian airports.

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

This action amends the Class E airspace at Maple Lake, MN. This action is the result of an airspace review as part of the decommissioning of the Darwin very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. This action updates the name of Maple Lake Municipal Airport-Bill Mavencamp Sr. Field to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action does not change the airspace boundaries or operating requirements.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44, R44 II, and R66 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of helicopters losing a tail rotor blade (TRB) tip cap. This AD requires visually checking and inspecting certain part-numbered and serial-numbered TRB tip caps for evidence of corrosion and, depending on the results, removing the corrosion. This AD also requires removing all affected TRBs from service and prohibits installing them on any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Greenville, IL, and Vandalia, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews conducted due to the decommissioning of the Vandalia very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airports would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of Hollister Municipal Airport, Hollister, CA, due to the newly developed Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS]) Runway (RWY) 13 approach. This action would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of insufficient electrical bonding of the solenoid (relay) box assembly that could result in degraded performance, errors, or intermittent failures of equipment connected to electrical Bus 1, Bus 2, associated electrical control, and protective devices fitted within or attached to the solenoid box. This proposed AD would require inspecting for an existing wire connecting the relay box earth point to the ground power socket, and if one is not present, installing a mechanical connection. The FAA is proposing 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 May 30, 2023. 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.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-13-07 for all GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) (type certificate previously held by WALTER Engine a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.) Model M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F engines. AD 2021-13-07 required recalculating the life of critical parts and, depending on the results of the recalculation, replacing those critical parts. AD 2021-13-07 also required replacing a certain compressor case. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-13-07, the manufacturer published the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing engine maintenance manual (EMM), which includes the calculations for the life of critical parts addressed by AD 2021-13-07 and prompted this AD. This AD continues to require the replacement of a certain centrifugal compressor case. This AD also includes an additional part number as an option for the replacement, and limits the applicability of this AD, 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 amends Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-333 and revokes Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-401. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Shishmaref, AK, and Ambler, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacons (NDB). The identifier V-333 is also used as an identifier for Domestic VOR Federal Airway V-333 in the vicinity of Rome, GA. The identifier V- 401 is also used as an identifier for Domestic VOR Federal Airway V-401 in the vicinity of Worland, WY. This airspace action only pertains to the Alaskan V-333 and V-401. The V-333 near Rome, GA and V-401 near Worland, WY, are not affected by this airspace action.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Model PW307A and PW307D engines. This AD is prompted by a root cause analysis of an event involving an uncontained failure of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling and an aborted takeoff. This AD requires removing from service and replacing certain HPT disks and also prohibits installing certain HPT disks on any engine, as specified in a Transport Canada 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 certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 407 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a certain part-numbered fuel system standpipe assembly (standpipe) may have sharp edges at the interval weld joints due to a quality escape during the manufacturing process. This proposed AD would require inspecting certain fuel system parts and, depending on the inspection results, taking corrective actions and performing a fuel quantity gauging system calibration. Depending on the results of the fuel quantity gauging system calibration, this proposed AD would require performing additional corrective action and repeating the fuel quantity gauging system calibration. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and an SNPRM that would have applied to certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This action revises the SNPRM by adding airplanes. 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 and previous SNPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a steering control unit (SCU) filter plate connector that does not meet the certification requirements for exposure of electronic components to high intensity radiated field environments, which could result in malfunction of the nose wheel steering (NWS) system. This AD requires determining if the SCU is an affected SCU, replacing all affected SCUs, and rigging and testing the NWS control. This AD also prohibits installing an affected SCU on any airplane. 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 De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and - 402 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that the saddle washer (radius filler) for the front and rear spar joints may have been incorrectly manufactured for several years. This AD requires inspecting the horizontal stabilizer to vertical joint for gaps and bending of the saddle washer and adjacent washers, and replacing parts if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) 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 safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

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 or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.