Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On March 17, 2023, FHWA published a request for comments on its existing general applicability waiver for manufactured products under its Buy America waiver authorities. Following the review and consideration of comments, FHWA is proposing to discontinue the waiver. The FHWA is also proposing standards for applying Buy America requirements to manufactured products should the waiver be discontinued. To ensure the continued effective implementation of FHWA programs that would be subject to new requirements for manufactured products, FHWA is seeking additional information on the domestic availability of specific manufactured products commonly used in FHWA- funded projects. To ensure the Agency has the most comprehensive and current information available on the domestic market for manufactured products used in FHWA infrastructure projects, FHWA is especially interested in comments detailing domestic materials sourcing, market readiness, timeliness of product supply, and other considerations.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a manufacturing issue with an electrical connector that may prevent the connector from self-locking. This AD requires removing the affected connector, installing a new connector, and testing the emergency power supply units (EPSUs), as specified in a Transport Canada 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) 2021-20- 13, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. AD 2021-20-13 required repetitive lubrication and repetitive detailed visual inspections (DVI) and non-destructive test (NDT) inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) shock strut lower pins, and replacement if necessary. This AD continues to require the lubrication and inspections specified in AD 2021-20-13 until the MLG shock strut assembly is modified by replacing the trailing arm bushing and installing new dynamic joint components. This AD was prompted by a new design solution for this potential failure of the shock strut lower pin. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise other Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and the public that a Revised Supplemental Environmental Assessment (RSEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) have been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act for the proposed Interstate-5 (I-5) Rose Quarter Improvement Project to improve safety and operations on I- 5 between Interstate-84 and Interstate-405 in the Rose Quarter District of downtown Portland, Oregon.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department) is proposing to strengthen its rule implementing the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) to address the serious problems that individuals with disabilities using wheelchairs and scooters face when traveling by air that impact their safety and dignity, including mishandled wheelchairs and scooters and improper transfers to and from aircraft seats, aisle chairs, and personal wheelchairs.

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace and revokes Class E airspace at Clarksburg, WV. This action is the result of a biennial airspace review. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is a high-incidence protection system that limits the angle of attack at which the airplane can be flown during normal low speed operation. 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.

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.

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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a non- conforming installation of spoiler wire bundles that led to unintended spoiler motion, including one instance of spoiler hardover. Further investigation identified the potential for a hardover of more than one flight spoiler on the same wing, which can exceed full lateral control capability leading to loss of control of the airplane. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the clearance between the spoiler control wire bundles and the adjacent structure, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-11-17 and AD 2021-11-22, which apply to all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. AD 2021-11-17 requires a one-time visual inspection of certain part-numbered main rotor actuators (MRAs). AD 2021-11-22 requires revising the life limits of certain parts and removing each part that has reached its life limit. Since the FAA issued those ADs, it was determined that repetitive inspections of the MRAs are necessary, new and more restrictive tasks and limitations have been issued, and that it is necessary to expand the applicability. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions required by AD 2021-11-17 and AD 2021-11-22, except this proposed AD would require changing the one-time MRA inspection to a repetitive inspection and incorporating other new and more restrictive tasks and limitations by revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing helicopter maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable. This proposed AD would also expand the applicability by adding Model EC635T2+ helicopters. These actions are specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing 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 FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model EMB-545 and EMB-550 airplanes. This proposed 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 proposed AD would require initial and repetitive inspections of the flight deck side windows and applicable corrective actions, and would prohibit the installation of affected flight deck side windows, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes special conditions for BETA Technologies Inc. (BETA) Model H500A electric engines that operate using electrical technology installed on the aircraft, for use as an aircraft engine. These engines have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards applicable to aircraft engines. The design feature is the use of an electric motor, motor controller, and high-voltage systems as the primary source of propulsion for an aircraft. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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.

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace at Anderson, IN. This action is the result of an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Muncie very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name of the airport is 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.

This notice announces the FAA's intent to designate North American Flying Service Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA1-150 as abandoned and make the related engineering data available upon request. The FAA has received a request to provide engineering data concerning this STC. The FAA has been unsuccessful in contacting North American Flying Service concerning the STC. This action is intended to enhance aviation safety.

DOT OST announces a virtual meeting of ACTE's Interventions Subcommittee, which will take place via Zoom Webinar.

DOT OST announces a virtual meeting of ACTE's Expanding Access Subcommittee, which will take place via Zoom Webinar.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS), in accordance with the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000, announce the next meeting of the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). This notification provides the date, location, and agenda for the meeting.

This notice announces three meetings of the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC).

Following coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FHWA announces its proposal to adopt the Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET) as a voluntary tool transportation authorities can use to assist in identifying, detecting, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents. The FHWA requests comments on its proposal.

This notice announces a meeting of the TLTF.

This action amends the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, KY, Class B airspace area description by making editorial changes to three sub-area shelf boundaries of the Class B airspace from using the Cincinnati, KY, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) to a reference point. The reference point uses the same geographic coordinates as the Cincinnati VORTAC location listed in the existing description. Additionally, this action also removes the airport name from the airspace designation to comply with FAA regulatory guidance, updates the Airport Reference Point (ARP) geographic coordinates for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to match the FAA National Airspace System Resource (NASR) database, and changes the Class B airspace center point from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to ``Point of Origin''. The point of origin uses the same geographic coordinates as the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport listed in the existing description. Finally, this action makes minor edits to the sub-area descriptions for clarity and readability. These changes are editorial only and do not alter the current boundaries, altitudes, ATC procedures, or operating requirements for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Class B airspace.