Federal Aviation Administration April 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the renewal of the RTCA Charter (FAA Order 1110.77S) for two years, effective April 2, 2011. The administrator is the sponsor of the committee. The objective of the advisory committee is to seek solutions to problems involving applied technology (for example, electronics, computers, and telecommunications) to aeronautical operations that impact the future air traffic management system. The solutions are often about recommended minimum operational performance standards and technical guidance documents that are acceptable to Government, industry, and users. Standards ensure equivalent performance of the same generic equipment built by different manufacturers. Government regulatory and procurement practices reference or use RTCA standards (with or without change). The Secretary of Transportation has determined that that information and use of committee are necessary in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.

This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was published on January 12, 2009. In that document, the FAA proposed to revise the regulations for crewmember and aircraft dispatcher training programs in domestic, flag, and supplemental operations. This extension is a result of a request from the Air Transport Association of America, Inc., Air Carrier Association of America, Regional Airline Association, and National Air Carrier Association on behalf of their members, and Airbus Americas, Inc. to extend the comment period to the proposal.

This action confirms the effective date of the direct final rule that establishes controlled airspace at Dallas, GA, published in the Federal Register on October 22, 2008, (73 FR 62876). This action also changes the airport name from Paulding County Airport to Paulding County Regional Airport.

This action modifies the Class D and E airspace at Binghamton Regional/Edwin A. Link Field Airport in Binghamton, NY. After the development of specific Approach Procedures (APs) at the airfield, it was determined the Class D and E Surface airspace should be modified to facilitate a more efficient operation. This rule increases the safety and management of the National Airspace System (NAS) around Binghamton Regional/Edwin A. Link Field.

This notice revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), and supersedes an existing AD applicable to General Electric Company (GE) CF34-1A, -3A, -3A1, -3A2, -3B, and -3B1 turbofan engines. This proposed AD reopens the comment period, since we added additional requirements based on responses we received. This proposed AD would now require:

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 aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

In accordance with 14 CFR 11.47(c), the FAA has received a petition from NetJets Aviation, Inc. That petition requested an extension of the comment period for a petition from CitationShares Management LLC. The FAA will extend the comment period for 40 days after date of publication.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Floydada, TX. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Floydada Municipal Airport, Floydada, TX. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Floydada Municipal Airport.

This action proposes special conditions for the Cessna Model 525C airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with a Single Point Refuel/Defuel system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC Model Freedom S-40 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with engine location, certain performance, flight characteristics and operating limitations necessary for this type of airplane. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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 action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Ada, OK. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Ada Municipal Airport, Ada, OK. This action would also update the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAAs National Aeronautical Charting Office. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Ada Municipal Airport.

This action amends the geographic coordinates of the Class D and E Airspace areas for Corpus Christi Naval Air Station (NAS)/Truax Field, Corpus Christi, TX. The FAA's National Aeronautical Charting Office is requesting this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Corpus Christi NAS/Truax Field.

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 aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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:

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Hamilton Sundstrand Power Systems T-62T-46C12 auxiliary power units (APUs). This proposed AD would require upgrading the software in the APU full-authority digital controller (FADEC), from software version 02.01.000 to version 03.00.000. This proposed AD results from two reports of APU compartment explosions due to over-fueling of the APU at low rpm during the start sequence. We are proposing this AD to prevent over-fueling of the APU during the start sequence, which could lead to fuel explosions, injury, and damage to the APU and the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Honeywell International Inc. TFE731 series turbofan engines with certain second and third stage low-pressure compressor rotor (LPCR) discs installed. This proposed AD would require removing from service, certain second and third stage LPCR discs, part numbers (P/Ns) 3072396- 1, 3072397-1, 3075109-1, or 2075192-1. This proposed AD results from a report of cracks found during a fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) of the disc bore. We are proposing this AD to prevent an uncontained failure of a second and third stage LPCR disc due to cracks in the bore, which could result in damage to the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Honeywell International Inc. ALF502L-2 and ALF502L-2C turbofan engines with certain high-pressure compressor (HPC) first stage discs installed. This AD requires performing a dimensional inspection to determine if excessive disc balance material was removed and a magnetic particle inspection if the disc passes the dimensional inspection. This AD results from reports of discs found with excessive material removed from the balancing locations of the disc. We are issuing this AD to prevent the discs from fracturing before reaching the currently published life limit. A disc fracture could result in an uncontained failure of the disc and damage to the airplane.

New requirements within the American Recovery and Reimbursement Act of 2009 have made necessary a revision to the OMB- approved collection ``Airports Grants Program'' to include further burden. The information listed below represents the new totals for the complete ``Airports Grants Program'' with the new requirements per the American Recovery and Reimbursement Act of 2009.

The National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as required by the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000, established the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) in March 2001. The NPOAG was formed to provide continuing advice and counsel with respect to commercial air tour operations over and near national parks. This notice informs the public of six vacancies (due to completion of membership on October 9, 2009) on the NPOAG (now the NPOAG Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)) for members representing general aviation (one vacancy), commercial air tour operators (two vacancies), environmental concerns (two vacancies), and Native American tribal concerns (one vacancy) and invites interested persons to apply to fill the vacancies.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus model series airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness to incorporate new fuel system limitations for airplanes modified in accordance with STC ST00092BO. This AD also requires performing a general visual inspection for tank unit separation and compensator separation of the: center, inner, outer fuel tanks, and trim fuel tanks of the tank units, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent a potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank fire or explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Liberty Aerospace Incorporated Model XL-2 airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively inspect the exhaust muffler for cracks and to replace the exhaust muffler when cracks are found. This AD is the result of reports that cracks have been found in the exhaust muffler during maintenance and service inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the exhaust muffler, which could result in carbon monoxide entering the cabin through the heating system. Carbon monoxide entering into the airplane cabin could lead to incapacitation of the pilot.

We are adopting a superseding airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427, and 430 helicopters. That AD currently requires replacing each affected tail rotor blade (blade) with an airworthy blade that has a serial number not listed in the Rotor Blades, Inc. (RBI) document that is attached to each of the Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletins (ASBs) listed in the applicability section of the AD. That AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of Canada. The MCAI states that there have been three reports of blade tip weights departing from the blade during flight. Since issuing that AD, BHTC has issued revised service information to correct part numbers and serial numbers listed in the RBI document that is attached to each BHTC ASB and to add additional part-numbered and serial-numbered blades to the list. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent loss of a blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA is issuing this Notice of Intent to advise the public that the FAA will prepare an EIS under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. The EIS will