Federal Aviation Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Giddings, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Industry 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.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Smith Center, KS. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Mankato very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action would also update the geographic coordinates of the airport 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A330-800 and A330-900 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a protective cap found still in place on the drain hole of a fire extinguishing pipe, and by further investigations indicating these caps may have remained on other airplanes. This AD requires a one-time general visual inspection (GVI) of the engine fire extinguishing pipe drain hole and, depending on findings, removal of the protective cap, 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 rule and invites public comment on the request to release and sell a 44.47 acre parcel of federally obligated airport property at the Philip Billard Airport (TOP), Topeka, Kansas.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves the submission of FAA Form 8710-3 for the certification process of agricultural aircraft operators, and other reporting and recordkeeping activities required of agricultural aircraft operators. The information to be collected is necessary to evaluate the applicants' qualifications for certification. This collection also involves the submission of information in petitions for exemption by agricultural aircraft operators, plans for operations over congested areas, and recordkeeping requirements for agricultural aircraft operators.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Highlands, NC, as new instrument approach procedures have been designed for Highlands- Cashiers Hospital. This action also updates the coordinates for Highland-Cashiers Hospital. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

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.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 787-9 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by NAT, 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 the installation of high wall suites in the passenger cabin. 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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, EC225LP, SA-365N, and SA-365N1 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an unintentional activation of the hoist shear-button (shear-button) on the collective pitch handle during a night flight. This proposed AD would require checking the operation of the shear-button safety-cap on each applicable collective pitch handle and prohibit installing certain part-numbered collective pitch handles or collective sticks with those part-numbered collective pitch handles installed unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the release of the Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the proposed airport improvements at the General Mitchell International Airport (MKE). The purpose of the Draft EA is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts from the decommissioning of Runway 1R/19L and Runway 13/31; conversion of Runway 1R/19L south of Taxiway W into a parallel taxiway including lighting and pavement rehabilitation; removal of Taxiway G, Taxiway U, and Taxiway N connectors; and the removal of runway and taxiway pavement and electrical utilities. The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Draft EA will be made available for public comment and a public workshop will be held as part of the public involvement process for this project. FAA is seeking comments on the Draft EA.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -800 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that the protective spiral wrap used on certain galley wire bundles does not have the correct flammability properties. This AD requires inspecting certain galleys to determine part numbers, inspecting for an existing galley modification placard and marking on galleys with affected part numbers, and replacing wire bundle spiral wrap sleeving as applicable. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-02- 08, which applied to certain ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 airplanes. AD 2023-02-08 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 2023-02-08, 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 modify the Class D airspace and establish Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area at San Bernardino International Airport, CA (KSBD). Additionally, this action proposes an administrative amendment to update the airport's existing Class D airspace legal description. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

On October 9, 2024, the FAA published a Federal Register Notice (FRN) document titled Petition for Exemption; Summary of Petition Received; International Aero Engines, LLC. That document inadvertently identified the docket number as FAA-2025-2406. The correct docket number is FAA-2024-2406.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 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 July 23, 2024. The collection involves a voluntary request for information on a specific safety concern. The information to be collected will be used to help the FAA in an ongoing investigation to determine the cause of a specific condition, or whether the condition is likely to exist or develop on other aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances of the same type design.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing defect identified in the lavatory fire extinguisher. This defect could potentially result in leakage at the eutectic tip, leading to a loss of pressure in the cylinder, making fire extinguishing capabilities ineffective. This proposed AD would require an inspection (i.e., weight check) and replacement, as applicable, of certain lavatory compartment fire extinguishers, and would also prohibit the installation of affected parts, 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 will require individuals with foreign addresses, and no U.S. physical address of record on file with the FAA, who hold or apply for certain certificates, ratings, or authorizations to designate a U.S. agent for service of FAA documents. The U.S. agent will receive service of FAA documents on the certificate holder or applicant's behalf. This rule facilitates the FAA's ability to accomplish prompt and cost-effective service of process and service of other safety- critical or time-sensitive documents to individuals abroad through service on their U.S. agents.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-01- 02, which applied to certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. AD 2009-01-02 required an inspection of frames between body station (BS) 360 and BS 907 to determine if certain support brackets of the air conditioning (A/C) outlet extrusions are installed, inspections for cracking of the frames around the attachment holes of the subject brackets, and repair if necessary. AD 2009-01-02 also requires installing new, improved fittings for all support brackets of the A/C outlet extrusions between BS 360 and BS 907. This AD was prompted by numerous reports of multiple cracks in the frame around the attachment holes of the support bracket of the A/C outlet extrusion, and the determination that certain repairs might develop fatigue cracks that could result in the inability of the frame to sustain limit load and therefore must be inspected. This AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD 2009-01-02 and would also require repetitive inspections for cracking of certain repairs, and repair if necessary. 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 The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the flight deck door decompression panel can strike the captain's seat headrest if a flight deck or below the flight deck rapid decompression event occurs when the seat is in a certain position. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, replacing the affected captain's seat assembly. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. 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 Airbus SAS Model A319-111, 112, -113, -114, -115, -131, - 132, and -133 airplanes; A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and - 233 airplanes; and A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and - 232 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a full-scale fatigue test that found cracks on the main landing gear (MLG) bay rear skin panel at the stringer run-out at Frame 46 and Stringer 32 on the left- hand and right-hand sides. This proposed AD would require repetitive special detailed inspections (SDIs) of the affected area for cracking and 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.

This action confirms the October 22, 2024, effective date of the Modernization of Passenger Information Requirements Relating to "No Smoking" Sign Illumination direct final rule published on August 23, 2024, and responds to the comments received on that direct final rule. This document also corrects the authority citation for a Code of Federal Regulations part revised in the direct final rule.

This action proposes to revoke Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-414 and amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-248 and T-250 in Alaska. These proposed actions are due to the decommissioning of the Gambell Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) in Alaska.

This action amends Jet Routes J-35 and J-101; amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-9, V-48, V-69, V-227, and V-313; and revokes VOR Federal Airway V-586. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Pontiac, IL (PNT), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Pontiac VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-22- 05, which applied to all Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. AD 2021-22-05 required repetitively inspecting certain torque tube assemblies for any deficiency and corrective action if necessary, and replacing any affected part with a serviceable part, which was terminating action for the repetitive inspections. AD 2021- 22-05 was prompted by reports of abnormal play on the collective torque tube on two Leonardo Model AW119 MKII helicopters, which were due to an erroneous manufacturing process. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-22-05, it was discovered that additional torque tube assemblies are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD retains certain requirements specified in AD 2021-22-05, reduces the applicability to include helicopters with only affected part-numbered collective torque tube assemblies, reduces the inspection intervals, and removes the previously approved terminating action. These requirements are 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.