Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On October 2, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments related to the proposed collection of information.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of a new (periodic) information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on September 30, 2023. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, 382G, and 382J airplanes; and Model C-130A, HP- C-130A, EC-130Q, 282-44A-05 (C-130B), C-130B, and C-130H airplanes. This AD was prompted by the determination that certain aft fuselage sloping longerons may have been exposed to excessively hot forming temperatures for excessive amounts of time, which will reduce the mechanical properties of the longerons and affect their static strength. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, a records review to determine if a conductivity check has been performed on the longerons and to determine if the check was measured at least every four inches. This AD also requires, for certain airplanes, an inspection and applicable repairs. This AD also prohibits installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 16 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The annual Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award (the award) seeks to raise awareness among transportation stakeholders about human trafficking and increase training and prevention to combat the crime. The award is a component of the Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative. Additional information regarding the Department's counter-trafficking activities can be found at www.transportation.gov/stophumantrafficking. The award serves as a platform for transportation stakeholders to creatively develop impactful and innovative counter-trafficking tools, initiatives, campaigns, and technologies that can help stop these heinous crimes. The award is open to individuals and entities, including non- governmental organizations, transportation industry associations, research institutions, and state and local government organizations. Entrants compete for a cash award of up to $50,000 to be awarded to the individual(s) or entity selected for creating the most impactful counter-trafficking initiative or technology. DOT intends to incentivize individuals and entities to think creatively in developing innovative solutions to combat human trafficking in the transportation industry, and to share those innovations with the broader community.

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.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of a 21.81 acre parcel of land at the Grand Junction Regional Airport.

This document initiates rulemaking that would gather the information necessary to develop performance requirements and require that new passenger motor vehicles be equipped with advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology through a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). In this document, NHTSA presents its various activities related to preventing drunk and impaired driving and discusses the current state of advanced impaired driving technology. NHTSA also asks many questions to gather the information necessary to develop a notice of proposed rulemaking on advanced drunk and impaired driving technology.

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice of its intent to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of the information collections of the Joint Notice of Intent to Arbitrate and Notice of Availability for Arbitrator Roster, as described separately below.

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 for a renewal of information collection. The FAA must continue collecting information about requests for waivers from certain operational rules that apply to small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). The FAA will continue to use the collected information to make determinations whether to authorize or deny the requested operations of sUAS. The information collected is necessary to issue such authorizations or denials consistent with the FAA's mandate to ensure safe and efficient use of national airspace.

On December 14, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice in the Federal Register containing a summary of a petition from Equinox Innovative Systems seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The FAA is extending the comment period for this petition for exemption to allow commenters additional time to analyze the petition and prepare a response.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-300 and -400 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that the method for calculating level-off altitude by the computerized airplane flight manual (CAFM), may result in a non- conservative level-off height. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate new CAFM versions 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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-24- 12, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. AD 2020-24-12 required replacing certain center wing box (CWB) fasteners with fasteners having improved friction efficiency. This AD was prompted by reports that certain CWB fasteners had rotated inside the fastener holes due to insufficient friction for the application, and by the determination that additional work is necessary to ensure the correct application of the fuel vapor barrier structure paint on the outside of the CWB. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-24-12; and requires the additional work; as specified in 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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-02- 18, which applied to all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes and Model C-295 airplanes. AD 2021-02-18 required repetitive inspections for cracking or broken rivets of certain left- and right-hand stringers and surrounding structure, and repair if necessary. This AD was prompted by a modification that was developed to reinforce the structure in the affected area, providing terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by AD 2021-02-18. This AD continues to require certain actions in AD 2021-02-18 and requires the new terminating action for the repetitive inspections, 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 amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for three individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 1000-AE3, Trent 1000-CE3, Trent 1000-D3, Trent 1000-G3, Trent 1000-H3, Trent 1000-J3, Trent 1000-K3, Trent 1000-L3, Trent 1000-M3, Trent 1000-N3, Trent 1000- P3, Trent 1000-Q3, and Trent 1000-R3 engines. This AD is prompted by a determination that certain intervals for visual inspection of the intermediate-pressure stage 8 (IP8) and high-pressure stage 3 (HP3) air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes need to be reduced. This AD requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement, if necessary, 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A321, A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330- 300, A330-800, A330-900, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, - 271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that a production deficiency of some SafeLav gaseous oxygen container (SLGOC) batches was identified during production testing of newly manufactured oxygen containers. This AD requires replacing affected SLGOCs and prohibiting the installation of affected SLGOCs, 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 Saab AB, Support and Services Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a review of the anti-skid system that revealed the possibility of inadvertently connecting the inboard harness to the outboard channel (and vice versa) of the wheel speed transducers in the main landing gear (MLG) wheel axles. This AD requires installing color markings on the harnesses and the wheel axles, to ensure proper installation and connection of the anti-skid harnesses, 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 MHI RJ Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a passenger seat Y-belt (lap belt) re-installed in the wrong orientation, due to an incorrect maintenance manual. This AD requires inspecting certain Y-belts for correct installation and damage and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also prohibits the use of certain revisions of a maintenance task. 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 Airbus SAS Model A310 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD 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 announces the availability of, and requests comments on, the proposed airworthiness criteria for the Blackshape S.p.A., Model BK160-200 Very Light Airplane (VLA). This document proposes the airworthiness criteria that the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the VLA design.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model A109E, A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of excessive axial play on the ball bearing of the lower half of the main rotor (MR) rotating scissor assembly. This AD requires one-time scissor coupling and axial play inspections and repetitive quantitative axial play inspections and, depending on the results, additional inspections and replacing certain parts. This AD also requires reporting information and prohibits installing certain parts unless certain inspections have been accomplished. 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.