Federal Aviation Administration May 1, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports from the supplier that some overheat detection sensing elements of the bleed air leak detection system were manufactured with insufficient salt fill, which can result in an inability to detect hot bleed air leaks. This AD requires maintenance records verification, and if an affected part is installed, prohibits the use of certain Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) items under certain conditions by requiring revising the operator's existing Minimum Equipment List (MEL). This AD also requires testing the overheat detection sensing elements, marking each serviceable sensing element with a witness mark, and replacing each nonserviceable part with a serviceable part. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-24- 20, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, and AD 2023-03-05, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2021-24-20 required repetitive water drainage and plug cleaning of the left- and right-hand slat geared rotary actuators (SGRAs) having a certain part number installed on slat 5 track 12 with certain functional item numbers. AD 2023-03-05 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 2021-24-20 and AD 2023-03-05 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. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Paxton, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Roberts very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

This action proposes to revoke the Class E airspace at Festus, MO. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of the instrument procedures being cancelled and the airport closing.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Hastings, NE. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Hastings very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Chanute, KS. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Chanute very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and 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 the requirement for Helicopter Air Ambulance Operators to report certain information to the FAA. The FAA collects 14 pieces of data from helicopter air ambulance operators, 8 of which are mandated in the report to Congress. We collect data on the following: number of helicopters, helicopter base locations, number of hours the helicopters are flown, number of patients transported, number of transportation requests accepted or denied, number of accidents, number of instrument flight hours flown, number of night flight hours flown, number of incidents, and the rate of accidents or incidents per 100,000 flight hours. The information to be collected will be used in helping the FAA develop risk mitigation strategies and provide information to Congress.