Federal Aviation Administration May 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. For certain airplanes, this AD requires repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the tube assemblies and insulation of the metered fire extinguisher system and the bleed air duct couplings of the auxiliary power unit (APU) located in the aft cargo compartment, and corrective actions if necessary. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires a one-time inspection for sufficient clearance between the fire extinguishing tube and the APU bleed air duct in the aft cargo compartment, and modification if necessary. This AD also requires an inspection for signs of chafing and to verify sufficient clearance between the fire extinguisher system and the bleed air duct couplings of the APU. This AD results from one report indicating that an operator found a hole in the discharge tube assembly for the metered fire extinguishing system; and another report indicating that an operator found chafing of the fire extinguishing tube against the APU duct that resulted in a crack in the tube. We are issuing this AD to prevent fire extinguishing agent from leaking out of the tube assembly in the aft cargo compartment which, in the event of a fire in the aft cargo compartment, could result in an insufficient concentration of fire extinguishing agent, and consequent inability of the fire extinguishing system to suppress the fire.

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) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). In addition, the FAA and NPS are announcing the next meeting of the Grand Canyon Working Group (GCWG). The GCWG is a self-contained group within the NPOAG. This notification provides the dates, location, and agendas for the meetings.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a first meeting of RTCA Special Committee 214, Data CommunicationNext Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) & Single European Sky ATM Research Initiatives.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD- 83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections to detect cracks in the horizontal stabilizer, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of cracks found in the horizontal stabilizerin the upper and lower aft skin panels at the aft inboard corner at station XH = 8.2, and in the rear spar upper caps adjacent to the aft skin panel at station XH = 10.0. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the upper and lower aft skin panels and rear spar upper caps, which, if not corrected, could lead to the loss of overall structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a meeting of the Federal Aviation Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC) will be held to review present air traffic control procedures and practices for standardization, clarification, and upgrading of terminology and procedures.

This action establishes Class D and E4 airspace at Aguadilla, PR. A Federal contract tower with a weather reporting system has been constructed at Rafael Hernandez Airport. Therefore, the airport meets criteria for Class D and E4 airspace. Class D and E4 surface area airspace is required when the control tower is open to contain Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and other Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action establishes Class E and E4 airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,700 feet MSL within a 4.5-mile radius of the airport and within 2.4 miles each side of the Borinquen VORTAC 257[deg] radial extending from the 4.5 mile radius to 7 miles west of the VORTAC.

This action amends Class E5 airspace at Middlesboro, KY. An Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) A has been developed for MiddlesboroBell County Airport. As a result, additional controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP.

This action proposes to establish a high altitude RNAV route in the Seattle, WA area to facilitate air traffic operations by providing a direct route to the Phoenix, AZ area. The FAA is implementing this route to enhance safety and to provide a more efficient use of navigable airspace.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing to amend OEI rating definitions and type certification standards for 30- second OEI, 2-minute OEI, and 30-minute OEI ratings for rotorcraft turbine engines. This proposed rule, if adopted, would revise the ratings' standards to reflect recent analyses of the ratings' usage and lessons learned from completed engine certifications and service experience. This proposal harmonizes FAA type certification standards for these ratings with the requirements of the European Aviation Safety Agency in the Certification Specifications for Engines (CS-E) and with proposed requirements for Transport Canada Civil Aviation. If adopted, the proposed changes would establish nearly uniform certification standards for ratings for rotorcraft turbine engines certificated in the United States under part 33 and in European countries under CS-E, thus simplifying airworthiness approvals for import and export.

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on the proposed design criteria for the Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH model LZ N07 airship. The German aviation airworthiness authority, the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), forwarded an application for type validation of the Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH (ZLT) model LZ N07 airship on October 1, 2001. The airship will meet the provisions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) normal category for airships operations and will be certificated for day and night visual flight rules (VFR); additionally, an operator of this airship may petition for exemption to operate the airship in other desired operations.

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.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR 71) by modifying Class E airspace at Bolivar Municipal Airport, MO. Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed for Bolivar Municipal Airport, MO. Additional controlled airspace extending upward from the surface and upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth is needed to contain aircraft executing these approaches. This action increases the area of the existing controlled airspace for Bolivar Municipal Airport, MO.