Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule, in accordance with existing regulation, raises the liability limits for denied boarding compensation that U.S. and foreign air carriers may impose from the current figures of $775 and $1,550 to $1,075 and $2,150. Also, in accordance with existing regulation, this final rule raises the liability limit U.S. carriers may impose for mishandled baggage in domestic air transportation from the current amount of $3,800 to $4,700.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-492 and T-494 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).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a request for an extension without change to an existing information collection: Transit COVID-19 Response Program.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent XWB-97 engines. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the existing engine time limits manual (TLM) to introduce new or more restrictive instructions and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited parts. This AD requires revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the operator's existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive instructions and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited parts, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action revokes Jet Route J-179 in its entirety and amends United States Area Navigation Route (RNAV) Q-10 in the vicinity of Emmonak, AK. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Aniak, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) and the St Marys, AK, NDB.

This document provides the public with notice that, on October 11, 2024, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) to install Construction Zone (CZ) Transponders to reconfigure its positive train control (PTC) system on the South Side Middleboro Main Line (MML) at the Pilgrim Interlocking at Milepost (MP) 34.86 to its final configuration in order to interface with the adjacent new South Coast Rail (SCR) Lines. The CZ will result in the suspension of portions of the PTC system on the MML from December 1, 2024, to December 15, 2024. As this RFA involves a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA- certified PTC system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on MBTA's RFA to its PTC system.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, Council on Environmental Quality NEPA-implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of the Written Re- Evaluation for the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program regarding updates to the forward heat shield interstage, sonic boom coverage, use of the deluge system during return to launch site landings, and use of US Coast Guard Safety Zones at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on the application from Casey's Services Company, USDOT No. 162449, (Casey) for an exemption from the requirement that lighting devices be steady burning. The exemption would allow the company to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) equipped with a module manufactured by Intellistop, Inc. (Intellistop), which pulses the rear clearance, identification, and brake lamps from low-level lighting intensity to high-level lighting intensity 4 times in 2 seconds when the brakes are applied. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request for exemption.

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. Customer Interactions provide the Federal Aviation Administration valuable information and connect the agency to the public. The Federal Aviation Administration would utilized a Generic Clearance for Customer Interactions that support the Agency's mission to become more accessible and transparent.

NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of a currently approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB extension approval titled "Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety" and is identified by OMB Control Number 2127-0723, currently approved through February 28, 2025. The burden hour calculations have been adjusted to reflect a reduction in annual respondents resulting in a reduction in burden hours from 12,000 annually to 2,400 annually.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-04-06 and AD 2024-04-07, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. AD 2023-04-06 and AD 2024-04-07 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 2023-04-06 and AD 2024-04-07 and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; as specified in the 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 Gaylord, MI. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Gaylord 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 El Dorado, AR. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the development of new instrument procedures. The geographic coordinates and name of the airport and the name of the El Dorado VOR/DME 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.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-13- 11, which applied to certain AVOX Systems Inc. (formerly Scott Aviation) oxygen cylinder and valve assemblies, and oxygen valve assemblies, installed on but not limited to various transport airplanes. AD 2023-13-11 required inspecting the oxygen valve assemblies, and oxygen cylinder and valve assemblies, to determine the serial number of the valve, cylinder, and entire assembly; inspecting certain assemblies and parts for correct spacing of the gap between the bottom of the packing retainer and top of the valve body on the assemblies, and replacing assemblies having unacceptable gaps. AD 2023- 13-11 also limited the installation of affected parts and required reporting inspection results and returning certain assemblies to the manufacturer. This AD was prompted by the determination that additional assemblies and parts are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD requires the actions specified in AD 2023-13-11 and expands the list of affected assemblies and parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-08-08 for all SOCATA (type certificate now held by DAHER) Model MS 880B, MS 885, MS 892A-150, MS 892E-150, MS 893A, MS 893E, MS 894A, MS 894E, Rallye 100S, Rallye 150ST, Rallye 150T, Rallye 235C, and Rallye 235E airplanes. AD 2016-08-08 required doing repetitive detailed visual inspections of the intersection between the axle radius and the nose landing gear (NLG) fork area for chafing; doing repetitive dye penetrant inspections on the NLG wheel axle for cracks, distortion, and nicks or wear; doing corrective actions if necessary; and replacing the NLG wheel axle attachment screws with new screws. This AD is prompted by the introduction of a new inspection method and a new design for the affected NLG wheel axle that provides terminating action for the repetitive inspections, as specified in updated service information published by the manufacturer. This AD requires preparing, inspecting, replacing, reconditioning the NLG wheel axle, and prohibiting affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew an exemption requested jointly by the Automobile Carriers Conference (ACC) of the American Trucking Associations and the Auto Haulers Association of America (AHAA) to relieve motor carriers operating stinger-steered automobile transporter equipment from the requirement to place warning flags on projecting loads of new and used motor vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) require any commercial motor vehicle (CMV) transporting a load which extends more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle be marked with a single red or orange fluorescent warning flag at the extreme rear if the projecting load is 2 feet wide or less and two warning flags if the projecting load is wider than 2 feet. The exemption is renewed for 5 years, unless revoked earlier.

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.

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 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.