Federal Aviation Administration 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces amendments to the technical specification in the Interagency Air Cartographic Committee Specifications that address the depiction of man-made obstructions 500 feet or more above ground level (AGL) on the World Aeronautical Chart series.

This action establishes four Federal airways in the National Airspace System (NAS) to replace four non-part 95 routes in Alaska. The routes consist of three Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways, and one Low/Medium Frequency (L/MF) Colored Federal airway in Alaska. The conversion of these non-part 95 routes would change uncharted nonregulatory airways requiring special aircrew authorization to Federal Airways, thus adding to the instrument flight rules (IFR) airway and route infrastructure in Alaska. The addition of these routes improves the management of air traffic operations and thereby enhances safety. A minor change to the description of V-619 also is being made.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for IAE V2500-A1, V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-D5, and V2528-D5 turbofan engines. This AD requires removing certain No. 4 bearing oil system components from service at the next shop visit or by an end date determined by the engine model. This AD results from instances of oil loss from the No. 4 bearing compartment. We are issuing this AD to prevent heat damage to high- pressure turbine (HPT) and low-pressure turbine (LPT) critical life limited hardware such as the HPT stage 1-2 airseal. Damage to the HPT stage 1-2 airseal could cause uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

This notice announces revisions to (1) Chapter 4, Special Airworthiness Certification, Section 9 of the FAA Order 8130.2F, Airworthiness Certification of Aircraft and Related Products, (2) Advisory Circular (AC) 20-27G, Certification and Operation of Amateur- Built Aircraft (AC 20-27G is the result of combining AC 20-27F and AC 20-139, Commercial Assistance During Construction of Amateur-Built Aircraft), and (3), requests comments on the percentage of fabrication and assembly that must be completed by an amateur builder to obtain an experimental airworthiness certificate for an amateur-built aircraft. This action is being taken because the FAA has determined that the existing Order and ACs do not adequately state the required levels of fabrication/assembly or guidance on use of commercial assistance. As a result, the existing Order and Advisory Circulars require revision. The FAA is seeking comments on these revisions.

This notice announces two fact-finding informal airspace meetings to solicit information from airspace users and others concerning a proposal to revise the Class B airspace area at Cleveland, OH. The purpose of these meetings is to provide interested parties an opportunity to present views, recommendations, and comments on the proposal. All comments received during these meetings will be considered prior to any revision or issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Times and Dates: The informal airspace meetings will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, from 2 p.m.-7 p.m., and Wednesday, September 17, 2008, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Comments must be received on or before September 25, 2008.

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.

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

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Meadows Field Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR Part 150 by County of Kern, California. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR Part 150 for Meadows Field Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements, effective January 16, 2008, 73 FR 9401. The proposed noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before December 19, 2008.

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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes. This AD requires you to replace the cabin door rod ends with new parts including a redesigned non-binding hinge pin that replaces the existing pin at the upper door hinge. This AD results from two known occurrences of in-flight cabin door separation (one total separation and one retained by the door strut). The rod ends, a component of the door hinges, may fail and result in a door separation from the airplane while in flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight failure of the cabin door, which could result in door separation from the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 747 airplanes listed above. This AD requires repetitive inspections for broken or missing fasteners in the single-row hinge fasteners of the forward and aft cargo doors, and related investigative/corrective actions. This AD results from reports of broken and missing fasteners in the hinges of the forward and aft cargo doors in both the body hinge segments and the door hinge segments. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct broken or missing fasteners in the hinge segments with a single fastener row, which could lead to opening of the cargo door during flight and result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain fuel injected reciprocating engines manufactured by Lycoming Engines. That AD currently requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector fuel lines. This AD requires the same actions but adds additional engine models and clarifies certain compliance time wording. This AD also exempts engines that have a Maintenance and Overhaul Manual with an Airworthiness Limitations Section that requires inspection and replacement, if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector lines. This AD results from Lycoming Engines revising their Mandatory Service Bulletin to add new engine models requiring inspection, and from the need to clarify a repetitive inspection compliance time. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel injector fuel lines that would allow fuel to spray into the engine compartment, resulting in an engine fire.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) helicopters. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The Aviation Authority of Canada with whom we have a bilateral agreement states in the MCAI: ``Horizontal stabilizers part numbers 206-023-119-167 and 407-023-801-109 may have manufacturing flaws on the inside surface of the upper and/or lower skin at the tailboom attachment inserts. These flaws may result in cracking of the skin and failure of the horizontal stabilizer.'' The manufacturer's service information states that in addition to cracks, the horizontal stabilizer may have deformation or debonding around and between the inserts. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft EIS for the Spaceport America Commercial Launch Site, Sierra County, New Mexico. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of Commercial Space Transportation is the lead Federal agency for the development of this EIS. Cooperating agencies include the Bureau of Land Management; the National Park Service; United States Department of the Army, White Sands Missile Range (WSMR); and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Draft EIS was prepared in response to an application for a launch site operator license from the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA). Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue a launch site operator license to NMSA to operate a launch facility capable of accommodating both horizontal and vertical launches of suborbital launch vehicles (LVs). The vehicles may carry space flight participants, scientific experiments, or other payloads. The proposed site is located in Sierra County, approximately 30 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and 45 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Draft EIS addresses the potential environmental impacts of issuing a launch site operator license for horizontal launches only (Alternative 1), vertical launches only (Alternative 2), and the No Action Alternative.

This action establishes Class D airspace at Albuquerque, NM. Establishment of an air traffic control tower at Double Eagle II Airport, Albuquerque, NM, has made this action necessary for the safety of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also makes minor corrections to the geographic coordinates of the airport.

A direct final rule, published in the Federal Register April 14, 2008 (73 FR 19997) docket No. FAA-2008-0339, adding additional Class D and Class E airspace at Altus AFB, Altus, OK, is being withdrawn. Although the rule became effective June 5, 2008, charting of this airspace was never completed. A new rulemaking will be forthcoming with an effective date that coincides with the new charting date.

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:

On October 25, 2002, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the final rule for Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations part 136, National Parks Air Tour Management (67 FR 65662). The rule became effective on January 23, 2003. On January 27, 2005, the FAA published a notice of opportunity for commercial air tour operators granted interim operating authority (IOA) under the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (the Act) to review and self correct annual authorizations (70 FR 3972). The results were published by operator in the Federal Register on Thursday, June 23, 2005, (70 FR 36456). The comment due date was set for 70 FR 36456 and the IOA republished in the Federal Register on Friday, October 7, 2005 by park instead of by operator (70 FR 58778). This Notice is pursuant to the review and accepting of five (5) New Entrant applications and seeks public comment regarding this matter from interested parties.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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:

We are 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 for cracking of the overwing frames from stations 845 to 905 (MD-87 stations 731 to 791), left and right sides, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of cracked overwing frames. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could sever the frame, increase the loading of adjacent frames, and result in damage to adjacent structure and loss of overall structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Lockheed Model 1329 series airplanes. This AD requires determining the part number on the steering cylinder assembly for the nose landing gear (NLG), determining the total flight cycles accumulated on the NLG steering cylinder assembly, repetitively replacing the assembly, inspecting for missing tow turning limit markings, and performing corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of numerous failures of the NLG steering cylinder. We are issuing this AD to prevent the loss of hydraulic pressure and steering control.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330 airplanes and Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit the flightcrew from performing CAT 2 and CAT 3 automatic landings and roll-outs at certain airports. This AD also provides an optional terminating action for the AFM revision. This AD results from data showing that the magnetic variation table installed in certain Honeywell and Northrop Grumman air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs) is obsolete at certain airports. We are issuing this AD to prevent the airplane from departing the runway during a CAT 2 or CAT 3 automatic landing or roll-out, due to differences between actual magnetic variation and the values in the ADIRU magnetic variation tables.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Lockheed Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, 382G, and 382J series airplanes. This AD requires, among other actions, an inspection to determine whether a certain upper engine mount bolt is installed, and replacement of any discrepant upper engine mount bolt with a new one. This AD results from a report indicating that several upper engine mount bolts manufactured by a certain supplier broke during installation. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the upper engine mount bolts, which could result in reduced structural capability of an engine mount, and possible separation of a strut and engine from the airplane during flight.

This action establishes Class E5 airspace at Pampa, TX. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using new RNAV Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Mesa Vista Ranch Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Mesa Vista Ranch Airport, Pampa, TX.