Federal Aviation Administration 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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, adding new obstacles, or changing 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 are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and - 500 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required doing repetitive internal eddy current and detailed inspections to detect cracked stringer tie clips; measuring the fastener spacing and the edge margin if applicable, and doing applicable corrective and related investigative actions. As a temporary alternative to doing the actions described previously, the original NPRM would have required repetitive inspections of the skin and lap joints for cracks and evidence of overload resulting from cracked stringer tie clips, and applicable corrective actions if necessary. The original NPRM resulted from a report of several cracked stringer tie clips. This action revises the original NPRM by including repetitive external eddy current sliding probe inspections of the lap joints for cracks and evidence of overload resulting from cracked stringer tie clips. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to detect and correct multiple adjacent cracked stringer tie clips and damaged skin and frames, which could lead to the skin and frame structure developing cracks and consequent decompression of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 777 airplanes. The existing AD requires, for the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer, repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies, repetitive lubrication of the ballnut and ballscrew, repetitive measurements of the freeplay between the ballnut and the ballscrew, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would revise the compliance times of the existing AD. This proposed AD results from a report of extensive corrosion of a ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer on a Boeing Model 757 airplane, which is similar in design to the ballscrew on Model 777 airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent an undetected failure of the primary load path for the ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent wear and failure of the secondary load path, which could lead to loss of control of the horizontal stabilizer and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the McDonnell Douglas airplanes listed above. This proposed AD would require modifying the fuel boost pumps for the center wing, and forward or aft auxiliary fuel tanks. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent possible sources of ignition in a fuel tank caused by an electrical fault or uncommanded dry operation of the fuel boost pumps. An ignition source in the fuel tank could result in a fire or an explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Love Field Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

This action amends the Class E airspace area at Factoryville, PA, to provide additional controlled airspace accommodating a new Runway 4 Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) developed for Seamans Field, Factoryville, PA. This action increases the radius of the current Class E airspace and includes airspace on each side of the Lake Henry VORTAC 299[deg] radial extending to the VORTAC.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 747 airplanes. This AD requires a one-time inspection of certain fuselage skins at section 41 to find any external doublers that cover the inspection areas and to identify the external doublers that end on a stringer and those that do not, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of cracks found at fastener locations in the fuselage skins at section 41. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fuselage skin cracks at fastener locations along the skin-to-stringer attachments, which could join together and become large and consequently result in rapid decompression of the cabin.

This action confirms the effective date of a direct final rule published in the Federal Register (73 FR 16751) that modifies the effective time of the Class E Airspace at Staunton, VA. The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission has requested to change their current Class E2 Airspace from part time (currently 1200 to 0400 Zulu) to full time. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations in the area by providing the required controlled airspace to support terminal operations continuously at Staunton, VA.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes equipped with certain Litton air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs). That AD currently requires modifying the shelf (floor panel) above ADIRU 3, modifying the polycarbonate guard that covers the ADIRUs for certain airplanes, and modifying the ladder located in the avionics compartment for certain airplanes. This new AD requires those modifications on additional airplanes. This new AD also requires replacing all three ADIRUs with improved ADIRUs. This new AD also adds Model A318 series airplanes to the applicability. This AD results from reports that ``NAV IR FAULT'' messages have occurred during takeoff due to failure of an ADIRU and subsequent analysis showing that the shelf modification has not sufficiently addressed failure of an ADIRU. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of an ADIRU during flight, which could result in loss of one source of critical attitude and airspeed data and reduce the ability of the flightcrew to control the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections to detect cracks and corrosion on any existing repairs and at certain body stations of the visible surfaces of the wing to body terminal fittings including the web, flanges, and ribs; and applicable related investigative and corrective actions. This AD results from reports of cracks found in the wing to body terminal fittings during routine inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracks and corrosion in the body terminal fittings, which could cause loss of support for the wing and could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. This proposed AD results from 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 describes the unsafe condition as:

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures. This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new and more restrictive life limits for certain items and new and more restrictive inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures. This proposed AD results from issuance of a later revision to the airworthiness limitations of the BAe/Avro 146 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, which specifies new inspections and compliance times for inspection and replacement actions. We are proposing this AD to ensure that fatigue cracking of certain structural elements is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could adversely affect the structural integrity of these airplanes.

This notice contains a summary of a petition 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 the petition or its final disposition.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the exchange of the property for land needed to protect the transitional surface of Runway 18/36. The proposal consists of a 2.1-acre portion of Parcel 1 in exchange for 9.6 acres of Parcel 3. Presently the 2.1 acres of Parcel 1 is located outside of the fenced in portion of airport property and any protected zone (runway protection zone, object free area, object free zone, etc.) This land is currently being used as residential and has a mobile home located on it. Parcel 1 was acquired in 1986 with Federal participation. It is the intent of the City of Beardstown, as owner and operator of the Greater Beardstown Airport (K06) to exchange the subject portion of Parcel 1 (2.1 Acres) to Ms. Hardwick, Beardstown, IL in exchange for 9.6 acres of land (portion of Parcel 3), which is in the side transition area of Runway 18/36. This notice announces that the FAA is considering the proposal to authorize the exchange of the subject airport property at the Greater Beardstown Airport, Beardstown, IL with a portion of Parcel 3 (9.6 acres). Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination that all measures covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. 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.

This action corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2008; Airspace Docket No. 07-ASO-27, FAA Docket No. FAA-2008-0187. In that rule, an error was made in the navigation aid radials stated in the description for jet route J-73. This action corrects that error. The description of area navigation route Q-110 is correct as published in the rule.

This notice contains a summary of a petition 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 the petition or its final disposition.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Cessna Model 560 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires installing new minimum airspeed placards to notify the flightcrew of the proper airspeeds for operating in both normal and icing conditions. The existing AD also requires revising the airplane flight manual to provide limitations and procedures for operating in icing conditions, for operating with anti-ice systems selected ``on'' independent of icing conditions, and for recognizing and recovering from inadvertent stall. The existing AD also provides an optional terminating action for the placard installation. This proposed AD would require the previously optional terminating action. This proposed AD results from an evaluation of in-service airplanes following an accident. The evaluation indicated that some airplanes might have an improperly adjusted stall warning system. We are proposing this AD to prevent an inadvertent stall due to the inadequate stall warning margin provided by an improperly adjusted stall warning system, which could result in loss of controllability of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from 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 describes the unsafe condition as:

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Honeywell FMSs served by Honeywell NZ-2000 navigation computers and IC-800 integrated avionics computers. The existing AD currently requires identifying affected computers by part number and software modification level and revising the Limitations section of applicable airplane flight manuals to provide procedures for retaining optimum position determination and intended navigation. This proposed AD would require uploading new software, which would terminate the existing requirements. This proposed AD results from reports of in-flight unannunciated shifts of computed position in airplanes with the subject FMS computers. We are proposing this AD to prevent a shift in the FMS computed position, which could result in uncommanded deviations from the intended flight path of the airplane and, if those deviations are undetected by the flight crew, compromised terrain/traffic avoidance.

This action revises Restricted Area 5107A (R-5107A), White Sands Missile Range, NM, by subdividing the area to reduce the size of R-5107A, and establish R-5107K. Together, R-5107A and R-5107K will occupy the same vertical, but slightly smaller lateral area than the existing R-5107A. The FAA is taking this action in response to a request from the United States (U.S.) Army to divide the existing R- 5107A into two restricted areas, R-5107A and R-5107K. This action will fulfill Department of Defense training requirements while freeing unused airspace for use by nonparticipating civil aircraft. Additionally, this action will allow the U.S. Army to activate only that portion of the airspace necessary to contain their operations.

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.

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 May 15, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 95, page 28183. The form is used by private citizens involved in aviation to nominate private citizens for recognition of their volunteer service to the FAA.

This notice announces the bi-annual meeting of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Charting Forum (ACF) to discuss informational content and design of aeronautical charts and related products, as well as instrument flight procedures development policy and design criteria.

This action removes the Class E4 Airspace at Chicago, IL as there is no longer a Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) for Chicago Aurora Municipal Airport requiring Class E4 airspace.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from 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 describes the unsafe condition as: