Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

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.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Utopia, TX. The FAA is taking this action to support new public instrument procedures.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MD Helicopters, LLC, Model 369 (Army YOH-6A), 369A (Army OH-6A), 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of cracked tail rotor (T/R) pedal support brackets. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting certain part-numbered T/R pedal support brackets and depending on the results, replacing the T/R pedal support bracket or refinishing any exposed areas. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing certain part-numbered T/R pedal support brackets. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 May 28, 2024. The collection involves applying for a repair station certificate, requesting amendments to the certificate, developing required programs and manuals, and maintaining employee qualification and training records. Additionally, repair stations located outside of the United States must apply to renew their FAA air agency certificate every two years. The information to be collected will be used to ensure applicants and certificate holders of FAA-issued repair station certificates use appropriate facilities and equipment, have sufficient processes and procedures, and use qualified personnel with appropriate training to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations of aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component parts. The title of this collection is being revised to better reflect the purpose of the information collected.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Embraer S.A. Model EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, and -135LR airplanes; and Model EMB-145, -145EP, -145ER, -145LR, -145MP, -145MR, and -145XR airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a structural assessment that indicated certain central fuselage longitudinal splices are subjected to fatigue damage on multiple sites due to loose fasteners, which may reduce the structural residual strength below the required levels. This proposed AD would require performing repetitive inspections of certain upper central fuselage longitudinal splices and reporting the inspection results, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD would also require performing corrective actions if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) 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 safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA is amending certain airworthiness regulations to standardize the criteria for conducting safety assessments for systems, including flight controls and powerplants, installed on transport category airplanes. With this action, the FAA seeks to reduce risk associated with airplane accidents and incidents that have occurred in service, and reduce risk associated with new technology in flight control systems. The intended effect of this rulemaking is to improve aviation safety by making system safety assessment (SSA) certification requirements more comprehensive and consistent.

By Federal Register notice on June 26, 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS), invited interested persons to apply to fill one current and one upcoming vacancy on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). This notice informs the public of the selections made for the one current vacancy representing Native American tribes and one upcoming vacancy representing commercial air tour operators.

On August 7, 2024, NHTSA received a request to extend the period during which manufacturers and any interested person may submit written information in response to the agency's Supplemental Initial Decision published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2024. The original written submission deadline was September 4, 2024. NHTSA is extending the deadline to October 4, 2024.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Zeeland, MI. The FAA is proposing this action due to the development of new public instrument procedures at The Ottawa Executive Airport, Zeeland, MI, and to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

Polaris Industries Inc. (Polaris) and Indian Motorcycle Company have determined that windscreens installed on certain model year (MY) 2015-2021 Slingshot three-wheeled motorcycles and MY 2019- 2022 Indian motorcycles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing Materials and ANSI/SAE Z26.1- 1996. On September 29, 2021, Polaris and Indian Motorcycle Company each filed a noncompliance report. Polaris subsequently amended its noncompliance report on October 27, 2021, and on August 23, 2022. On October 29, 2021, Polaris (the parent company of Indian Motorcycle) petitioned NHTSA, on behalf of both companies, regarding the two noncompliance reports for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Polaris' two petitions.

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 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 January 26, 2024. The collection involves requesting that small on- demand operators voluntarily provide the number of revenue passengers that boarded their aircraft at each airport annually. This information is used in determining an airport's category and eligibility for federal funding on an annual basis. It is not available through any other federal data source.

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.

Under this notice, the FAA announces the submission deadline of October 10, 2024, for Summer 2025 flight schedules at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

On June 21, 2024, Bus Company Holdings Topco LP (Topco) and Bus Company Holdings US LLC (Holdings US) (collectively, Bus Company Holdings), both noncarriers, along with certain of their subsidiaries (collectively, Applicants), filed an application for control over the assets of certain interstate passenger motor carriers controlled by Coach USA, Inc. (Coach USA). The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction subject to the Renco Group, Inc. (Renco) filing to join the application. If Renco's filing is satisfactory and no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.

This rule prohibits civil aircraft operations conducted with supplemental restraint systems (SRS) unless operators meet certain requirements for ensuring passenger and crewmember safety during all phases of the operation. The FAA expects these requirements to increase the safety of individuals on board civil aircraft operations conducted with SRS. This rule addresses recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. Additionally, this rule will codify, with updates, an Emergency Order of Prohibition currently in effect addressing safety concerns regarding the use of supplemental restraints. The rule applies to all civil aircraft operations conducted with use of SRS. The rule does not apply to parachute operations, rotorcraft external-load operations, or public aircraft operations.

This final rule amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," updating the child restraint systems (CRSs) listed in the standard. NHTSA uses the CRSs to test the performance of advanced air bag suppression and low risk deployment systems in either suppressing or deploying the air bag in a low-risk manner in the presence of a CRS. The amendments will ensure that the CRSs used by NHTSA to test advanced air bags are representative of the current CRS market and will make it easier for vehicle manufacturers and test laboratories to acquire CRSs for testing purposes.

This action amends Jet Route J-183, United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes Q-4 and T-254, and Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-76, V-161, V-558, V-565, and V-568; and establishes RNAV Route T-499. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Llano, TX (LLO), VOR/ Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Llano VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This document denies a February 12, 2019 petition for rulemaking submitted by Mr. Stevan Panin ("petitioner") requesting that NHTSA amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 104 or create a new FMVSS to require the year-round use of a standardized winter specification windshield washer fluid to prevent accidents allegedly caused by obstructed visibility from frozen windshield washer fluid. NHTSA is denying this petition for rulemaking because the agency does not believe the petitioner has demonstrated there is an unmet safety need related to windshield washer fluid, or that a mandated standardized winter-specification windshield washer fluid would effectively decrease or prevent crashes and injuries or fatalities.

These special conditions are issued for the Bell Model 525 helicopter. This helicopter will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category helicopters. This design feature is a four-axis full authority digital fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system (FCS) that provides for aircraft control through pilot input or coupled auto pilot modes. 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 ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that for airplanes converted from passenger to cargo configuration using certain supplemental type certificates, no height limitation for the cargo, when loaded in the cargo compartment, is defined, and that as a consequence, cargo might be loaded up to the ceiling of the cargo compartment. This proposed AD would require modification of the cargo compartment and implementation of updated cargo loading procedures. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.