Federal Aviation Administration October 10, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all of the airplanes identified above. The existing AD currently requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program to include a new airplane maintenance manual task that specifies a detailed inspection after each ram air turbine (RAT) retraction. That existing AD also currently requires, for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection to detect breaks in the bottom flange fitting of the RAT and corrective actions, if necessary; for certain airplanes, an adjustment of the ejection jack; and, for certain other airplanes, replacement of the aluminum part with an improved steel part. This proposed AD also would continue to require certain actions for additional airplanes and would revise the FAA-approved maintenance program to include procedures for replacing the RAT swivel coupling fork fitting with a new steel part only. This proposed AD results from a report that an additional swivel coupling of the RAT yoke fitting was found cracked while accomplishing the requirements of the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent misrigging of the ejection jack of the RAT and to ensure removal of any RAT yoke fitting made from aluminum material. Such conditions could result in a broken or cracked swivel coupling and consequent failure of the RAT yoke fitting, which could result in the loss of RAT function and possible loss of critical flight control systems in the event of certain emergency situations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to authorize the release of 10.73 acres of the airport property. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is seeking an easement on the east edge of the airport to construct a local connector road (Bartillon Drive extension) between USH 51 and Portage Road in Madison. WisDOT will also construct a sidewalk along the west side of Portage Road from Rieder Road to Melody Lane. The acreage being released is not needed for aeronautical use as currently identified on the Airport Layout Plan. The acreage comprising this parcel was originally acquired under Grant No. ADAP 10 in 1980. The County of Dane (Wisconsin), as airport owner, has concluded that the subject airport land is not needed for expansion of airport facilities. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to dispose of the property. The airport will receive the appraised fair market value of the land. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the disposal of the airport property will be in accordance with FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with section 47107(h) of title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

Today the FAA is publishing a final rule to address congestion at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LaGuardia). The rule grandfathers the majority of operations at the airport and will develop a robust secondary market by annually auctioning off a limited number of slots; the FAA plans to use the proceeds from the auctions to mitigate congestion and delay in the New York City area. In addition, the hourly cap on scheduled operations will be reduced to 71 per hour during the regulated hours. This reduction will lead to an estimated 41 percent reduction in modeled delay at the airport. This rule also contains provisions for use-or-lose, unscheduled operations, and withdrawal for operational need. The rule will sunset in ten years.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 600N helicopters. The AD currently requires modifying the fuselage aft section within the next 24 months to strengthen the tailboom attachment fittings and upper longerons. This amendment retains the current required modification and adds the following requirements: Repetitively inspecting the tailboom attachment fittings; installing inspection holes and attachment bolt washers; modifying both access covers; and replacing broken attachment bolts. These additional requirements were inadvertently omitted from the current AD. This amendment is prompted by the need to correct our mistake and continue the repetitive inspections of the tailboom attachment fittings until the fuselage aft section is modified. This series of ADs is prompted by an accident due to failure of the tailboom attach points resulting in loss of control of the helicopter. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the tailboom attachment fittings, separation of the tailboom from the helicopter, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.