Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-26- 05, which applied to all Saab AB Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. AD 2021-26- 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 2021-26-05 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of excessive thickness of the trailing edge of certain ailerons, which may affect the assembly of the rear spar with the lower and upper skins. This AD requires a one-time ultrasonic or visual inspection of the aileron rear spar and trailing edge areas, and applicable corrective actions, 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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model EMB-545 and EMB-550 airplanes. This AD was prompted by occurrences of premature cracks in the outer layer of certain flight deck side windows caused by interference due to manufacturing tolerances. This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the flight deck side windows and applicable corrective actions, and prohibits the installation of affected flight deck side windows, 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by incidents related to erroneous autothrottle (A/ T) behavior during a balked landing with the A/T engaged, potential erroneous readings from the low range radio altimeter (LRRA), and possible deficiencies in low airspeed protections and crew alerting systems. This AD requires updating the thrust management (TM) and displays and crew alerting (DCA) operational program software (OPS). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes amendments to the requirements and processes for individuals to request that the agency permit them to have an air bag on-off switch installed in their vehicle. The proposed amendments would eliminate the sunset date, and would also narrow the population of people eligible to have an on-off switch installed. Furthermore, the agency also proposes amendments to several appendices, and proposes the addition of a new appendix. Lastly, this NPRM proposes that NHTSA codify its process for reviewing requests for air bag deactivations, which are currently granted or denied through the agency's enforcement discretion. In this document, NHTSA solicits feedback from the public to better inform the agency's decision-making on the proposed amendments.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2018-2019 Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 120, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/ Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 Pounds). Harley-Davidson filed a noncompliance report dated June 20, 2019. Harley-Davidson subsequently petitioned NHTSA, on July 17, 2019, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces and explains the denial of Harley-Davidson's petition.

This notice announces two meetings of the TLTF.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. The FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR titled, "Medical Qualification Requirements," due to updated information for several of the Information Collections (ICs) discussed. This ICR is needed to ensure that drivers, motor carriers and the States are complying with the physical qualification requirements of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The information collected is used to determine and certify driver medical fitness and must be collected in order for our highways to be safe.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Embraer S.A. Model EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC, and -120RT airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a structural assessment, which found that a fuselage longitudinal skin splice and panel between certain frames is susceptible to cracking. This proposed AD would require performing repetitive inspections of the fuselage center I longitudinal skin splice and applicable corrective actions, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document amends the procedures for testing the strength of seat belt anchorages in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages." The amendments clarify the positioning of the test device currently specified in the standard and add an optional test device (and corresponding test procedures) as a certification alternative. These amendments respond to an earlier court decision which found that the regulatory test procedures do not provide manufacturers adequate notice of how NHTSA would conduct the test.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-01- 07, AD 2018-19-33, AD 2019-21-01, AD 2021-26-20, AD 2022-13-09, AD 2022-14-06, AD 2023-09-05, and AD 2023-26-06, which applied to 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); and AD 2020-23-11, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A300 and A300-600 series airplanes. AD 2018-01-07, AD 2018-19-33, AD 2019-21-01, AD 2021-26-20, AD 2022-13-09, AD 2022-14-06, AD 2023-09-05, and AD 2023-26-06 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. AD 2020-23-11 required repetitive inspections for discrepancies of certain areas in and around the fuselage and repair if necessary. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require certain actions specified in the superseded ADs, 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. This AD also removes the Model A300 series airplanes from the applicability. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-11-01, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A300 series airplanes; 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). AD 2022-11-01 requires a detailed inspection (DET) of the main landing gear (MLG) support rib 5 lower flange, a fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) around the spot facing of certain fastener holes if necessary, and applicable corrective actions. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-11-01, it was determined additional airplanes are affected. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2022-11-01 and add airplanes to the applicability, 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 all Airbus Helicopters Model SA330J helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a main rotor gearbox (MGB) flange assembly coupling (coupling) that was incorrectly assembled. This AD requires a one-time visual inspection to determine correct assembly of each sliding flange installed on each MGB coupling, and if necessary, further corrective actions. This AD also prohibits installing certain MGB couplings or any MGB equipped with certain MGB couplings on any helicopter. 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.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 12 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 10 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 11 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Austin Airport, Austin, NV. The airport is transitioning from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR), and these actions would support the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model A109C, A109E, A109K2, A109S, and AW109SP helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of loose tail rotor duplex bearing locking nuts, possibly caused by improper installation. This AD requires disassembling certain tail rotor duplex bearings and reassembling them in accordance with updated procedures. This AD also prohibits installing certain tail rotor duplex bearing housings and pitch change slider assemblies. These actions 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.

The FHWA, on behalf of the FDOT, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by FDOT and other Federal agencies that are final agency actions. These actions relate to the proposed Interstate 75 (I-75) Improvements Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study (Financial Management Number 452074-2). The proposed I-75 Improvements project will reduce congestion and improve reliability on I-75 from south of State Road (S.R.) 44 to S.R. 200, a distance of approximately 22.5 miles. Improvements consist of adding auxiliary lanes between interchanges, bridge overpass replacement and widening, and the construction of stormwater management facilities. These actions grant licenses, permits, or approvals for the project.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FHWA, along with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), invites public comment on this request for information (RFI) regarding the Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Charging Technologies and Infrastructure Needs. This RFI seeks input in four areas to support medium and heavy-duty (MHD) battery electric vehicles (EV) (DOT vehicle classes 4 through 8) including: unique EV charger and station needs; vehicle charging patterns; MHD EV charger technology and standardization; and workforce, supply chain, and manufacturing to support charging of MHD battery EVs. The goal is to inform appropriate future Federal Government activities to support the development and deployment of EV chargers to support the anticipated needs of MHD EV original equipment manufacturers, fleet operators, drivers, charging station operators, and electric utilities. Comments should also address how to balance advances in technology with the need to expeditiously build out the national EV charging infrastructure, including support for MHD segments.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final. The action relates to the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) plans to build and operate a light rail Operations and Maintenance Facility in its South Corridor (OMF South). The facility will meet Sound Transit's needs for an expanded fleet of light rail vehicles (LRVs) and will support the expansion of the Link light rail system. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) project is located in the City of Federal Way in King County, in the State of Washington, and is adjacent to the Interstate 5 (I-5) right-of-way. Portions of OMF South will be accommodated within or will affect the I- 5 right-of-way, which requires Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approval.

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 February 21, 2024. The collection involves aircraft operators seeking specific operational approval to conduct Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) operations who must submit application to the FAA for RVSM specific approval. Specific approval is required when aircraft operators intend to operate outside the United States (U.S.) or their aircraft are not equipped with Automatic Dependent SurveillanceBroadcast (ADS-B) Out.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.