Federal Aviation Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA has determined to extend through October 29, 2022, the Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related limited, conditional waiver of the minimum slot usage requirement at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that the FAA has already made available through March 26, 2022, for international operations only. Similarly, the FAA has determined to extend through October 29, 2022, its COVID-19-related limited, conditional policy for prioritizing flights canceled at designated International Air Transport Association (IATA) Level 2 airports in the United States, for purposes of establishing a carrier's operational baseline in the next corresponding season, for international operations only. These IATA Level 2 airports include Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This relief is limited to slots and approved operating times used by any carrier for international operations only, through October 29, 2022, and will be subject to the same terms and conditions, that the FAA has already applied to the relief that remains available through March 26, 2022.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series 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 proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-15-01, which applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, Trent XWB-84, and Trent XWB-97 model turbofan engines. AD 2021-15-01 requires revisions to the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent XWB time limits manual (TLM) and the operator's existing approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP). Since the FAA issued AD 2021-15-01, the manufacturer has revised the TLM life limits and updated mandatory inspection intervals of certain critical rotating parts. This proposed AD would require revisions to the ALS of the RR Trent XWB TLM and the operator's existing approved AMP, 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.

The FAA announces the special class airworthiness criteria for the Airobotics Inc. Model OPTIMUS 1-EX unmanned aircraft (UA). This document sets forth the airworthiness criteria the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the UA design.

The FAA announces the special class airworthiness criteria for the Percepto Robotics, Ltd. Model Percepto System 2.4 unmanned aircraft (UA). This document sets forth the airworthiness criteria the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the UA design.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 75- 23-03, which applies to all Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau (Alexander Schleicher) Model Ka2B, Ka 6, Ka 6 B, Ka 6 BR, Ka 6 C, Ka 6 CR, K 7, K 8, and AS-K 13 gliders. AD 75-23-03 requires visually inspecting the glue joint between the elevator nose rib number 1 and the nose plywood skin and replacing the glue joint if insufficient glue adhesion is found. Since the FAA issued AD 75-23-03, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded prior EASA ADs for the unsafe condition on these products. This proposed AD would add the Model K 8 B gliders to the applicability and would require repetitively inspecting the glue joint at elevator rib number 1 and repairing any damage found. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, MBB-BK117 C-1, MBB-BK117 C-2, and MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the FAA's determination that aging of the elastomeric material of certain tension torsion straps (TT-Straps), during the period since manufacturing date up to first flight on a helicopter, may affect its structural characteristics. This proposed AD would require the replacement of certain TT-Straps, implementation of storage life limits for TT-Straps, a prohibition on installing certain TT-Straps and conditions for installation of certain other TT-Straps, 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.

The FAA proposes to amend two VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways, establish one RNAV T-route, and revoke one Low Altitude Reporting Point in the vicinity of Wausau, Wisconsin. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Wausau, WI, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) which provides navigational guidance to portions of the affected Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes. The Wausau VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) program.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a crack found in a front spar lower chord undergoing an underwing longeron replacement. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the left and right side ring chords, repair angles, front spar lower chords, and front spar webs (depending on configuration) common to the underwing longeron located at station (STA) 1035; modification of the front spar lower chord for some airplanes; repetitive post-modification inspections; and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on March 4, 2022, establishing Class E airspace for Falmouth Airpark, Falmouth, MA. This action corrects the legal description of the Class E airspace by correcting a typographical error in the geographic coordinates.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-12-03, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. AD 2015-12-03 requires repetitive freeplay inspections and lubrication of the right and left elevators, rudder, and rudder tab, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. Since the FAA issued AD 2015-12-03, engineering testing revealed that the force being applied to the elevator to detect excessive freeplay was insufficient. This proposed AD would continue to require certain actions in AD 2015-12-03 for certain airplanes, and would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, for certain other airplanes, to incorporate a revised or new elevator freeplay maintenance procedure, as applicable. This proposed AD would also add airplanes to the applicability. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Aviation (Dassault) Model Falcon 6X airplane. This airplane 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 digital systems architecture for the installation of a system with wireless and hardwired network and hosted application functionality that allows access, from sources internal to the airplane, to the airplane's internal electronic components. 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.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-377 in the vicinity of Sitka, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-230 in the vicinity of St. Paul Island, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-386 in the vicinity of Fairbanks, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-380 in the vicinity of Emmonak, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of broken P- clamps on the pressure relief line and the motive flow line in the fuel tanks, and a subsequent determination that certain service information lacked instructions for maintaining appropriate clearance between certain fuel tubes and their support brackets, and may also have led to incorrect installation of certain TeflonTM sleeves. This proposed AD was also prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require inspecting the motive flow line, vent line, and related parts, and adding support or additional clearance if necessary. This proposed AD would also require inspection, and replacement or relocation if necessary, of affected TeflonTM sleeves on the vent line, and installation of TeflonTM sleeves on the vent line at additional wing stations. This proposed AD would also require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-282 in the vicinity of Ruby, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-379 in the vicinity of Discovery, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Textron Inc., Model 412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters. This AD was prompted by evaluation results showing flight loads that impact the collective lever fatigue life. This AD requires adding a permanent hours time-in-service (TIS) penalty for certain collective levers and prohibits installing those collective levers unless the permanent hours TIS penalty has been added. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Kansas City, MO. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of a biennial airspace review.

These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Aviation (Dassault) Model Falcon 6X airplane. This airplane 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 airplane is equipped with an electronic flight-control system that includes pilot controls through a side stick instead of through a conventional wheel or control stick. 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 all British Aerospace (Operations) Limited Model Jetstream Model 3101 and British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Model Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as stress corrosion cracking of the primary flight control cable terminals. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the turnbuckle type control cable terminals in the rudder and elevator primary flight control circuits for corrosion, pitting, and cracking and, depending on the inspection results, replacing an affected cable assembly. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-20- 06, which applied to certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (now Bell Textron Canada Limited) Model 429 helicopters. AD 2020-20-06 required repetitive inspections of certain cyclic and collective assembly bearings. This AD was prompted by new bellcrank assemblies, which have been upgraded with corrosion resistant steel bearings. This AD retains certain requirements of AD 2020-20-06, and depending on the inspection results, requires removing certain parts from service and installing the upgraded cyclic and collective bellcrank assemblies. This AD also requires installing the upgraded collective and cyclic bellcrank assemblies on certain helicopters if not already installed, and prohibits installing certain bellcrank assemblies. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-25- 11, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, -121, and - 122 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-111, -211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2013-25-11 required repetitive inspections of the 80VU rack lower lateral fittings, upper fittings, and shelves for damage, repetitive inspections of the 80VU rack lower central support for cracking, and corrective action if necessary. AD 2013-25-11 also specified optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. Since the FAA issued AD 2013-25-11, new damage occurrences have been reported, and a different compliance time has been determined for certain inspections, depending on airplane configuration. This AD expands the applicability, removes the optional terminating action, and requires new 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.