Federal Aviation Administration 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Airbus Model A300 B2, B4-100, and B4-200 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires supplemental structural inspections to detect fatigue cracking, and repair of cracked structure. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance program by incorporating new and revised supplemental structural inspections, inspection intervals, and repairs; and repair of any damaged, cracked, or corroded structure; which would end the existing supplement structural inspections. This proposed AD results from a review of service history and reports received from the current supplemental structural inspection document program. We are proposing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of these airplanes due to fatigue cracking.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 and A310 airplanes; and Model A300 B4- 600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes). This proposed AD would require replacing the pressure limiter of the parking brake system with a new or modified pressure limiter. This proposed AD results from a report indicating that failure of the parking brake system occurred on a Model A300-600 airplane. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the parking braking system and interference with emergency use of the brake pedals, which could lead to airplane collision with surrounding objects or departure from the runway.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on March 15, 2006, vol. 71, no. 50, pages 13444-13445. Fractional Ownership is a program that offers increased flexibility in aircraft ownership.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the lower web of the aft fairing of engine struts for any discoloration and doing any related investigative and corrective action if necessary; inspecting the heat shield castings for any damage and doing any corrective action if necessary; installing gap cover strips; and replacing insulation blankets with new insulation blankets. This AD results from a report that several discolored fairing lower webs and some damaged/deteriorated insulation blankets were found in the aft fairings of engine struts. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking of lower webs of the aft fairings, which could result in flammable hydraulic fluid leaking onto or near an ignition source, and possibly result in an uncontrollable fire in the engine strut area.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 202: Portable Electronic Devices.

The FAA announces in this notice that the deadline for submitting requests for international Arrival Authorizations at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) for allocation under 14 CFR 93.29 is October 12, 2006. This date coincides with the deadline established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the Schedule Coordination Conference for the Summer 2007 season. The FAA will allocate ORD international Arrival Authorizations for the period covering the U.S. Summer Scheduling Season in accordance with recent changes to the start and end dates of daylight saving time in the United States. The applicable period is March 11 through November 3, 2007. The FAA recognizes that these dates differ from the March 25 through October 27, 2007 period used by IATA for the Summer 2007 schedule. Therefore, for those carriers who previously submitted schedules to the FAA through March 24, 2007, as part of the Winter 2006 submission, resubmission is not necessary unless schedule information has changed because the FAA has acted on those submissions. Carriers also may choose to file initial summer schedules through October 27, 2007, the end of the IATA Northern Summer Scheduling Season, and submit the period October 28 through November 3, 2007, as part of winter schedules. Previously, the FAA designated Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare) as a Level 2, Schedules Facilitated Airport under the IATA Guidelines. The FAA has changed the designation for O'Hare to Level 3 based on runway movement parameters under an August 29, 2006, final rule (71 FR 51382). Carriers are advised that this notice does not alter or change any coordination procedures conducted separately for O'Hare's Terminal 5 facilities. The IATA designation for those flights remains Level 2 and information on those submission requirements is available from IATA. Finally, the FAA notes that the High Density Rule slot limitations for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) will not apply after January 1, 2007, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. Sec. 41715(a)(2). Consequently, the FAA determination for JFK under IATA guidelines has changed to Level 1. Carriers do not need to submit JFK schedules for slot approval.

On March 27, 2006, the FAA published a Notice of Intent to prepare a PEIS for Experimental Permits in the Federal Register (71 FR 15251). On May 9, 2006, the FAA published a Notice of Extension of scoping for the PEIS. The FAA has decided to extend the scoping period for the preparation of the PEIS to October 31, 2006. All comments received by October 31, 2006 will be considered in the preparation of the Draft PEIS.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) Model B300 airplanes. This AD requires you to modify the cabin passenger seats by installing a modification kit on each passenger seat, removing the existing technical standard order (TSO) label, and re-identifying each modified passenger seat assembly with a new part number. This AD results from the seats not meeting the ultimate load requirements of 14 CFR part 23 during structural testing of the seat with design changes. We are issuing this AD to prevent the passenger seats from failing during emergency landing conditions when high inertial loadings occur. Passenger seat failure may result in occupant injury.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Stemme GmbH & Co. KG Model STEMME S10-VT sailplanes. This AD requires you to do a one-time inspection of all exhaust bends (each cylinder 1 to 4) in the area of the curvature bend near the cylinder flange, replace any damaged exhaust pipes found, and recondition the heat protection wrapping. This AD results from deformations and cracks found at an exhaust bend during maintenance work. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the exhaust pipes. Damaged exhaust pipes could cause exhaust gases to expand into the engine compartment and/or carbon monoxide (CO) to leak into the cockpit section.

The FAA issues these special conditions for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G150 airplanes modified by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Dallas, Texas. These modified airplanes will have novel or unusual design features when compared with the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The modification consists of installing an electronic laser inertial reference system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for protecting these systems from effects of high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF). 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 amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address an unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

On August 17, 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued FAA Order 8000.89, Designation of Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program (VDRP) Information as Protected from Public Disclosure under 14 CFR Part 193. There is a regulatory requirement to print the order in its entirety in the Federal Register. The entire order follows after the subtitle, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

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, October 25, 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-fourth meeting of the COMSTAC. The proposed agenda for the meeting will feature information on recipients of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services award; briefings on a study of the Commercial Space Launch Liability Risk-Sharing Regime and the environmental activities in FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST); and an AST activities report. 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, October 24, 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.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has tentatively determined that it will be necessary to place temporary limitations on flight operations at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LaGuardia), as described in this proposed order. The period during which the FAA anticipates that these limitations will remain in effect is January 2, 2007, through September 30, 2007.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the city of Fort Worth, Texas for Fort Worth Alliance Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq (Aviation Safety and Noise abatement Act) and 14 CFR Part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to aprove a current information collection. Title 49 U.S.C. 44720 authorizes the appointment of appropriately qualified persons to be representatives of the Administrator to allow those persons to examine, text and certify other persons for the purpose of issuing them pilot and instructor certificates.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. This project involves collecting data on the quality of flight training and testing.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. FAR Part 157 requires that each person who intends to construct, deactivate, or change the status of an airport, runway, or taxiway must notify the FAA of such activity.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 147: Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems Airborne Equipment.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed to rule and invites public comment on the release of approximately 1.5 acres of airport property at Brown Field Municipal Airport, San Diego, California, from all restrictions of the surplus property agreement since the parcel of land is not needed for airport purposes. Reuse of the land for State of California roadway improvements to State Route 905 represents a compatible land use. Sale of the property to the State at the appraised fair market values will be reinvested in airport improvements. The property is not needed for airport purposes and reinvestment of the sale proceeds will benefit the airport and the interests of civil aviation.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly Rolls-Royce plc) (RRD) Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 series turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of high pressure turbine (HPT) blade platforms and shrouds, and reworking the engines if the inspections reveal excessive gaps between blade shrouds. This proposed AD results from reports of HPT disk rim failures. We are proposing this AD to prevent HPT disk rim failures resulting in the release of portions of the HPT disk, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Honeywell COM units and transponders, installed on but not limited to certain transport category airplanes. This AD requires a revision to the Normal Procedures section of the airplane flight manual to advise the flightcrew to check the status of the transponder after changing the air traffic control (ATC) code. This AD also requires replacing certain identification plate(s) with new plate(s), testing certain COM units or transponders as applicable, and corrective action if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD requires replacing the transponders of certain COM units with new or modified transponders. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires installing a modification into certain transponders. This AD results from the transponder erroneously going into standby mode if the flightcrew takes longer than five seconds when using the rotary knob of the radio management unit to change the ATC code. We are issuing this AD to prevent the transponder of the COM unit from going into standby mode, which could increase the workload on the flightcrew and result in improper functioning of the traffic alert and collision avoidance system.

This amendment establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and/or Weather Takeoff Minimums 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, addition of new obstacles, or changes in 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.