Federal Aviation Administration April 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) MU-2B series airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to do flight checks of the rigging of the engine and propeller systems. This proposed AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to evaluate the design, operation, and maintenance of the MU-2B series airplanes in order to determine their safety and define what steps, if any, are necessary for their safe operation. Part of that evaluation was the identification of unsafe conditions that exist or could develop on the affected type design airplanes. We are issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct improper adjustment of the flight idle fuel flow setting. This condition, if uncorrected, could result in degraded performance and poor handling qualities with consequent loss of control of the airplane in certain situations.

The Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Airports (ARP) has updated and revised its instructions for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for airport actions. ARP is replacing Order 5050.4A, Airport Environmental Handbook with the updated and revised instructions in Order 5050.4B, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions. This Notice announces the availability of Order 5050.4B and its Preamble. The documents are available at ARP's Web site https://www.faa.gov/ airportsairtraffic/ airports. Although APR is presenting the Preamble on its Web site, it is not including the text of that document in this Notice. ARP expects to publish the text in the Federal Register within the next 10 days. This delay is due to publication procedures associated with the extensively detailed Preamble.

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). The meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 24, 2006, starting at 8 a.m. at the Federal Aviation Administration Headquarters Building, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, in the Bessie Coleman Conference Center, located on the 2nd Floor. This will be the forty-third meeting of the COMSTAC. The proposed agenda for the meeting will feature an update on commercial space transportation legislative activities, briefings on national space and security policies, new RLV technology developments, and the Office of Space Commercialization in the Department of Commerce, and an activities report from FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation. The 2006 Commercial Space Transportation Forecasts on the geosynchronous and non-geosynchronous markets will also be released at this meeting. An agenda will be posted on the FAA Web site at https://ast.faa.gov/COMSTAC. Meetings of the COMSTAC Working Groups (Technology and Innovation, Reusable Launch Vehicle, Risk Management, and Launch Operations and Support) will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2006. For specific information concerning the times and locations of the working group meetings, contact the Contact Person listed below. Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, should inform the Contact Person listed below in advance of the meeting.

On October 1, 1999, the FAA amended the regulations governing takeoff and landing slots and slot allocation procedures at certain High Density Traffic Airports as a result of the ``Open Transborder'' Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of Canada. One element of this final rule established that the deadline for submission of requests for international slots will be published in a Federal Register notice for each scheduling season. The purpose of the amendment is for the FAA deadline for international slots requests to coincide with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) deadline for submission of slot requests. In accordance with this amendment, the FAA announces in this notice that the deadline for submitting requests for international slots at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for allocation under 14 CFR 93.217 is May 11, 2006. The FAA will allocate international slots through December 31, 2006 only, as the High Density Rule expires at JFK on December 31, 2006. (See 49 U.S.C. 41715(a)(2).) After that date, slots will no longer be required for operation at JFK. The FAA has designated Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare) as a Level 2, Schedules Facilitated Airport under the IATA Guidelines and will review international operations based on runway parameters. The FAA requests carriers intending to conduct international service at O'Hare for the Winter 2006/07 Scheduling Season to submit their intended schedules following the same procedures used for submitting requests for slots at JFK. Carriers are advised that this notice does not alter or change any coordination procedures conducted by the City of Chicago for O'Hare's Terminal 5 facilities. Finally, the U.S. scheduling season is consistent with the changes in daylight savings time. In accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58), daylight savings time will begin on March 11, 2007 and end on November 3, 2007. The IATA Northern Winter Scheduling Season will end on March 24, 2007, and its Summer Scheduling Season will only begin on March 25, 2007. There is a two-week period for which the IATA Winter scheduling season will overlap with the U.S. summer scheduling season. We recognize this transition period will cause some carriers to adjust scheduled times based on their network requirements and other considerations. For O'Hare, the FAA will accept carriers' schedule requests for the entire IATA Northern Winter Scheduling Season (ending on March 24, 2007), even though that will be the first two weeks of the U.S. summer scheduling season. This will facilitate carriers seeking to confirm schedules at other worldwide slot coordinated airports in accordance with the IATA season and coordination process. Carriers should clearly indicate any schedule differences during the March 11 to 24, 2007, period. The FAA intends to provide the maximum practical flexibility to accommodate schedule adjustments during this period and does not anticipate any significant issues regarding historic rights due to the earlier introduction of daylight saving time in the U.S. A deadline for submitting the reamining summer schedules for 2007 will by announced in the Federal Register by September 2006. The Department of Transportation reserves the right to withhold the approval of schedules to any foreign air carrier of a country that does not provide equivalent rights of access to its airports for U.S. air carriers, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which establishes a Class E enroute domestic airspace area, Vandenberg AFB, CA, to replace existing Class G uncontrolled airspace.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 207, Airport Security Access Control Systems.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-7R4G2 turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require replacing the old configuration 2nd stage high pressure turbine (HPT) air seal assembly with a new design 2nd stage HPT air seal assembly that increases cooling air flow. This proposed AD results from a report of an uncontained failure of the 2nd stage air seal assembly, caused by the air seal assembly brace disengaging from the air seal, due to insufficient cooling air flow. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the 2nd stage HPT air seal assembly, leading to engine in-flight shutdown and damage to the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 727, 727C, 727-100, and 727-100C series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks in the body skin and bear strap at the upper and lower hinge cutouts of the mid-cabin galley doorway, along the upper fastener row of the stringer 14R lap splice, and in the doorstop fitting adjacent to the upper hinge cutout; and corrective action if necessary. This AD also provides for optional terminating action for certain inspections. This AD results from reports of skin and bear strap cracking at the upper and lower hinge cutout and along the upper fastener row of the stringer 14R lap splice, and cracking in the doorstop fitting adjacent to the upper hinge cutout. There are also reports of cracking on airplanes previously modified in production to resist such cracking. We are issuing this AD to find and fix fatigue cracking of the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

We propose to revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 68-17-03, which applies to all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 series airplanes. AD 68-17-03 currently requires you to repetitively inspect the rudder end rib for cracks and replace the rudder end rib with a modified rudder end rib when you find cracks. Installing the modified rudder end rib terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of AD 68-17-03. Under a licensing agreement with Pilatus, Fairchild Republic Company (also identified as Fairchild Industries, Fairchild Heli Porter, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation) produced Model PC-6 series airplanes (manufacturer serial numbers 2001 through 2092) in the United States. AD 68-17-03 was intended to apply to all affected serial numbers of Model PC-6 series airplanes listed on Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) No. 7A15, including the Fairchild-produced airplanes. Consequently, this proposed AD would clarify that all models of the PC- 6 airplane on TCDS No. 7A15 (including those models produced under the licensing agreement by Fairchild Republic Company) are included in the applicability. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the rudder end rib, which could result in failure of the rudder end rib. This failure could result in loss of directional control.

This final rule will revise the Class E airspace area at Herlong, CA. Additional controlled airspace is necessary for the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft during airborne holding. Holding airspace is designed with specific altitudes and lateral boundaries within controlled airspace. This airborne holding procedure is also an integral part of a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at the Amedee Army Air Field (AFF), Herlong, CA.

This action revises Class E airspace at Middleton Island, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing two new and two amended Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). This rule results in revised Class E airspace established upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Middleton Island, AK.

This action revises Class E airspace at Togiak Village, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing two new and two amended Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). This rule results in revised Class E airspace established upward from 700 feet (ft.) above the surface at Togiak Village, AK.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the availability of proposed Interim Guidelines for Certification and Continued Airworthiness of Unbalanced Control Surfaces with Freeplay and Other Nonlinear Features.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting for excess sealant applied to the attachment bolts of the negative pressure relief valve, and performing corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports that excess sealant was applied to the attachment bolts of the negative pressure relief valve, which interfered with the valve's movable diaphragm. We are proposing this AD to prevent incorrect operation of the negative pressure relief valve, which could result in negative pressures that exceed the structural strength limits of the airframe and lead to reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2002-21- 08, which applies to certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-6 airplanes. AD 2002-21-08 currently requires you to inspect the aileron assembly for correct configuration and modify as necessary. Since we issued AD 2002-21-08, the FAA determined the action should also apply to all the models of the PC-6 airplanes listed in the type certification data sheet of Type Certificate (TC) No. 7A15 that are produced in the United States through a licensing agreement between Pilatus and Fairchild Republic Company (also identified as Fairchild Industries, Fairchild Heli Porter, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation). In addition, the intent of the applicability of AD 2002-21-08 was to apply to all the affected serial numbers of the airplane models listed in TC No. 7A15. Consequently, this proposed AD would retain all the actions of AD 2002-21-08, would add those Fairchild Republic Company airplanes to the applicability of this proposed AD, and would list out the individual specific airplane models. We are proposing this AD to correct improper aileron assembly configuration, which could result in failure of the aileron mass balance weight. Such failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is correcting a typographical error in an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2006 (71 FR 16206). The error resulted in an incorrect Docket No. This AD applies to certain Airbus Model A300-600 series airplanes. This AD requires modifying nine bolt holes in the vertical flange to prevent cracking before the inspection threshold of AD 98-18- 02.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) PW535A turboshaft engines with serial numbers (SNs) lower than DC0241, and with hydromechanical fuel control (HFC) part number (P/N) 819735-4, 819735-5, or 819735-6 installed. This AD requires inspection and verification of the proper adjustment of the ratio unit setscrew adjustment of installed HFC units. This AD results from incidents of PW535A turboshaft engines experiencing lack of response to the power lever input during attempted engine acceleration, due to an incorrect adjustment of the HFC ratio unit setscrew. We are issuing this AD to prevent lack of engine response to power lever input, which could cause a single or dual engine in-flight shutdown event.

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on a proposed advisory circular (AC) which sets forth an acceptable means, but not the only means, of demonstrating compliance with the provisions of the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes related to damage tolerance inspections for repairs. This proposed AC complements revisions to the airworthiness standards that are being proposed by a separate notice. This notice is necessary to give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on the proposed AC.

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

This notice proposes special conditions for the installation of an AmSafe, Inc., Inflatable Two-, Three-, Four or Five-Point Restraint Safety Belt with an Integrated Airbag Device on various airplane models. These airplanes, as modified by AmSafe, Inc., will have novel and unusual design features associated with the lap belt or shoulder harness portion of the safety belt, which contains an integrated airbag device. 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes equipped with certain crew seat bucket assemblies with and without a backrest recline system. This AD requires you to replace the backrest tubes on these crew seat bucket assemblies at a specified time and adds a life limit for these backrest tubes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracks in the backrest tubes of certain crew seat bucket assemblies, which could result in failure of the seat system. This failure could lead to the pilot and co-pilot's reduced ability to control the airplane. This failure could also affect the proper function of the seat restrain system in the case of an emergency landing.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models AT-400, AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, AT-402A, and AT-402B airplanes. This AD requires you to lower the safe life for the wing lower spar cap for certain Models AT-402A and AT-402B airplanes and those that incorporate or have incorporated Marburger Enterprises, Inc. (Marburger) winglets. For Models AT-400, AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, and certain AT-402A, airplanes, this AD requires you to repetitively inspect the wing lower spar cap in order to reach the safe life. We also developed an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to the requirements of this Ad for certain Models AT- 402A and AT-402B airplanes. The AMOC includes repetitive eddy current inspections, modification of the center splice connection, and lower spar cap replacement. This AD is the result of reports of cracks in the \3/8\-inch bolt hole of the wing lower spar cap before reaching the approved safe life. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracks from occurring in the wing lower spar cap before the originally established safe life is reached. Fatigue cracks in the wing lower spar cap, if not detected and corrected, could result in wing separation and loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections to detect cracks in the vertical beam webs of the body station (BS) 178 bulkhead, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also would require a terminating modification for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from reports of numerous cracks in the vertical beam webs. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracks in certain vertical beam webs, which could result in loss of structural integrity of the BS 178 bulkhead, and consequently could impair the operation of the control cables for the elevators, speed brakes, and landing gear, or could cause the loss of cabin pressure.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class E airspace at Scott City, KS.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR Part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On September 7, 2005 the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On March 3, 2006, the FAA approved Buffalo Niagara International Airport's noise compatibility program. Most of the recommendations of the program update were approved. Four measures were disapproved for Part 150 purposes.