Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On August 12, 2024, Student Transportation of America, Inc. (STA), a noncarrier, and its parent entities (collectively, Applicants) filed an application seeking authority for STA to acquire all voting securities of West Point Tours, Inc. (WPT), a passenger motor carrier that holds operating authority issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction, and, if no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of debonding on the leading edge protection of certain part-numbered main rotor blades (MRBs). This AD requires repetitively tap inspecting the MRB and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. This AD also prohibits installing an affected MRB on any helicopter unless its requirements are met. 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant a limited 5-year exemption to the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA) on behalf of motor carriers in Wisconsin to use cargo securement methods that do not comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for securing shortwood logs transported lengthwise in crib-type vehicles that have been modified or manufactured without front structures, rear structures, or which have a center-mounted crane for loading and unloading. The Agency has determined that the use of the alternate cargo securement method will likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than the level of safety achieved by the current regulation.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-20-12, AD 2018-17-21, and AD 2019-14-04, which apply to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2019- 14-04 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations and terminates the provisions of AD 2018-17-21, which in turn terminates the provisions of AD 2016-20-12. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-14-04, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require 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 proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

On April 1, 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a final rule in the Federal Register to incorporate certain Airman Certification Standards and Practical Test Standards by reference into the certification requirements for pilots, flight instructors, flight engineers, aircraft dispatchers, and parachute riggers. That final rule incorrectly set forth certain regulatory text that includes duplicative requirements. This correction remedies the error. This correction does not make any substantive revisions to the regulations.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Beloit, KS. This action is 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 Operating Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant an exemption to the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) to allow commercial driver's license (CDL) holders with a passenger (P) endorsement to operate a school bus without holding a school bus (S) endorsement, provided an adult chaperone is present on the bus who is responsible for ensuring the safe loading and unloading of children. This exemption applies to drivers operating traditional school buses, i.e., buses designed to be school buses, and to motorcoaches and vans not designed to be school buses. Drivers operating a traditional school bus must have an S endorsement commercial learner's permit (CLP) and obtain their full S endorsement within 90 days of the date they obtained the S endorsement CLP. Drivers operating motorcoaches or vans not designed to be a school bus must operate between designated central locations, such as parks or parking lots, and school or school-sponsored events.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by report that some Model 767-300 series airplanes that had been converted into a freighter configuration are missing an electrical bracket for a wire bundle in the main equipment center. This AD requires installing an electrical support bracket and re-installing wire bundles. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) received a request from the Detroit Transportation Corporation (DTC) for a Buy America nonavailability waiver for the procurement of special trackwork turnout switch components needed to keep the DTC's Elevated Guideway in a state of good repair. FTA is providing notice of the nonavailability waiver request and seeks public comment before deciding whether to grant the request. If granted, the waiver would apply for the switch components identified in the waiver request.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440), CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, and 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. AD 2023-10-02 was prompted by the determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied on to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band). This AD was prompted by the determination that this interference can also result in certain failure messages being inhibited longer than intended. This proposed AD would require installing a new radio frequency (RF) bandpass filter on the coaxial line between the radio altimeter and the receive antenna in the aft equipment compartment. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

On September 6, 2024, the Board served a decision announcing the 2023 revenue adequacy determinations for the nation's Class I railroads. Three Class I railroads (BNSF Railway Company, CSX Transportation, Inc., and Union Pacific Railroad Company) were found to be revenue adequate.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-25- 07, which applied to all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 900 airplanes. AD 2023-25-07 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- 25-07 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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-18- 09, which applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX airplanes. AD 2023-18-09 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-18- 09, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require certain actions in AD 2023-18-09 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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-02- 10, which applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X, FALCON 900EX, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. AD 2022-02-10 required replacement of certain titanium screws. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-02-10, affected parts have been found in other areas of certain Falcon 7X airplanes as well as in additional Falcon 7X airplanes. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2022-02-10, adds other locations for screw replacement, and revises the applicability, 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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-22-02, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747-8F, and 747-8 series airplanes. AD 2019-22-02 was prompted by reports of uncommanded fore and aft movement of the Captain's and First Officer's seats. AD 2019-22-02 requires identifying the part number, and the serial number if applicable, of the Captain's and First Officer's seats, and applicable on-condition actions for affected seats. AD 2019- 22-02 also requires a one-time detailed inspection and repetitive checks of the horizontal movement system (HMS) of the Captain's and First Officer's seats, and applicable on-condition actions. AD 2019-22- 02 also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive actions for certain seats. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-22-02, the FAA has determined that additional seats are affected by the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain the actions required by AD 2019-22-02 and adds an inspection of previously omitted part numbers. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to modify the Class D and Class E airspace designated as a surface area and revoke the Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area at Buckley Space Force Base (BKF), Aurora, CO. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's legal description to match the FAA database. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to modify Class D airspace and revoke Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area at Centennial Airport (APA), Denver, CO. Additionally, this action would amend administrative texts with Centennial Airport's legal description. This action would support instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

This action modifies the Class D airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,600 feet mean sea level (MSL) and establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Sacramento Mather Airport, Sacramento, CA. Additionally, this action makes administrative modifications to update the airport's Class D airspace legal description. These actions support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to amend Class E Surface airspace within a 4.2-mile radius of Eastern West Virginia Regional/Shepherd Field Airport by updating the airport coordinates and description formatting to comply with FAA Orders and databases. This action would not change the airspace boundaries or operating requirements.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a missing pintle fuse pin in the left-hand (LH) main landing gear (MLG) discovered during scheduled maintenance. This AD requires doing an inspection of the MLG pintle housing assembly to verify that the pintle fuse pins are present and correctly installed, and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in a Transport Canada Emergency AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FRA announces the sixty-seventh meeting of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC or Committee), a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice and recommendations to FRA on railroad safety matters through a consensus process. This meeting of the RSAC will focus on efforts critical to railroad safety including safety improvements in the wake of the February 3, 2023, East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, electronic devices, remote control operations, and roadway worker protection.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Dubois Airport, Dubois, WY, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.