Federal Aviation Administration November 18, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program update submitted by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA).

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 206/EUROCAE WG 76 Plenary: AIS and MET Data Link Services.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking in certain fuselage skin lap joints, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would expand the inspection area in the existing AD, add a modification of certain lap joints, and add certain post-repair inspections of the lap joints. Accomplishing the modification would end the repetitive inspections required by the existing AD for the length of lap joint that is modified. This proposed AD results from a structural review of affected skin lap joints for widespread fatigue damage. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking in certain lap joints, which could result in rapid depressurization 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:

This action amends Class E airspace at Mankato, MN. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Mankato Regional Airport, Mankato, MN. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at Mankato Regional Airport.