Federal Aviation Administration July 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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:

This action amends the regulations governing objects that may affect the navigable airspace. These rules have not been revised in several decades, and the FAA has determined it is necessary to update the regulations, incorporate case law and legislative action, and simplify the rule language. These changes will improve safety and promote the efficient use of the National Airspace System.

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.

This document announces the availability of and request for comments on the Supplemental Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for the previously published proposed rule entitled, Prohibition Against Certain Flights Within the Territory and Airspace of Afghanistan.

This document announces the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of the information collection requirement contained in the FAA's final rule, ``Certification of Aircraft and Airmen for the Operation of Light-Sport Aircraft; Modifications to Rules for Sport Pilots and Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating,'' which was published on February 1, 2010.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Pendleton, OR. Decommissioning of the Foris Non-Directional Radio Beacon (NDB) at Eastern Oregon Regional Airport at Pendleton has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would reflect the new name of the airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace for Syracuse, KS, to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Syracuse-Hamilton County Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action establishes Class D airspace for San Marcos Municipal Airport, San Marcos, TX. Establishment of an air traffic control tower has made this action necessary to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. A minor change in the airport descriptor also has been made.

This action proposes to establish Class E surface airspace and modify existing Class E airspace at Deer Park Airport, Deer Park, WA, to accommodate aircraft using the existing Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Deer Park Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Arco, ID. Decommissioning of the Arco-Butte County Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) at Arco-Butte County Airport has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Arco-Butte County Airport. This action also would adjust the geographic coordinates of the airport.

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Robinson Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, and R22 Mariner helicopters, and Model R44 and R44 II helicopters. The AD would require visually inspecting each tail rotor (T/R) control pedal bearing block support (support) for a crack, measuring the thickness of each uncracked support, installing support safety tabs on certain supports, and replacing supports of a certain thickness during overhaul. This proposal is prompted by two reports of Model R22 helicopters experiencing broken supports during flight, which resulted in the T/R control pedals becoming jammed. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the supports from breaking, which can bind the T/R control pedals, resulting in a reduction of yaw control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Monterey, CA, to accommodate aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Monterey Peninsula Airport. This action will improve the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action will amend Class D and E airspace at Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), Everett, WA, by updating the geographic coordinates of the airport, and removes the operating hours established by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the Class E surface area airspace. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field).

This document 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.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Kemmerer, WY to accommodate aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Kemmerer Municipal Airport. This will improve the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

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: Analysis performed in the frame of the Extended Service Goal has led Airbus to modify the inspection programme [modification of thresholds, intervals and associated configurations] which is currently required by DGAC (Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile) France AD F-2005-001. This modified inspection programme is necessary to detect and prevent damage associated with a structural fatigue phenomenon of the rear spar internal angle and the tee fitting located in the centre wing box. This condition, if not corrected, could affect the structural integrity of the centre wing box. The unsafe condition is reduced structural integrity of the wings. The proposed AD would require actions that are

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:

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 superseding an existing 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 certain Model 777 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the bolt, nut, and downstop of the slat track assembly to determine if the bolt, nut, or stops are missing and to determine if the thread protrusion of the bolt from the nut is within specified limits and parts are correctly installed, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires inspecting the slat cans at the outboard slat number 3 and 12 outboard main track locations for holes and wear damage, and corrective actions if necessary; and replacing the downstop hardware for the outboard slats number 3 and 12 outboard and inboard main track locations. This AD results from a report of a hole in the inboard main track slat can for outboard slat number 12 on a Model 777 airplane. The hole was caused when the bolt securing the downstop migrated out of the fitting and contacted the slat can. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage to the outboard slat main track slat cans, which can allow fuel leakage into the fixed wing leading edge in excess of the capacity of the draining system. Excess fuel leakage could result in an uncontained fire.

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:

This action amends Special Federal Aviation Regulation 106 (SFAR 106), Rules for Use of Portable Oxygen Concentrator Systems on Board Aircraft, to allow for the use of one additional portable oxygen concentrator (POC) device on board aircraft, provided certain conditions in the SFAR are met. This action is necessary to allow all POC devices deemed acceptable by the FAA for use in air commerce to be available to the traveling public in need of oxygen therapy. When this rule becomes effective, there will be 12 different POC devices the FAA finds acceptable for use on board aircraft. Passengers will be able to carry these devices on board the aircraft and use them with the approval of the aircraft operator.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. (Eclipse) Model EA500 airplanes. This proposed AD would require incorporating changes to the electronic flight information system and the airplane flight manuals. This proposed AD results from reports of uncommanded changes to the communications radio frequency, altitude preselect, and/or transponder codes. We are proposing this AD to correct faulty integration of hardware and software, which could result in unannunciated, uncommanded changes in communications radio frequency, transponder codes, and altitude preselect settings. These uncommanded changes could result in loss of communication with air traffic control due to improper communications frequency, autopilot level off at the incorrect altitude, or air traffic control loss of proper tracking of the aircraft.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Model 747 airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking in the body skin around the aft corners of the nose wheel well; for certain airplanes, repetitive inspections for cracking in the skin splice plate at the aft corners of the nose wheel well; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require repetitive post-modification inspections for cracking in the body skin and the skin splice plate; for certain airplanes, an inspection for steel cross-shaped doublers on the larger aluminum doublers; and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would also require repetitive surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of a certain bulkhead outer chord, skin splice plate, and outer chord radius filler for cracking; repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the bulkhead frame web and body skin; and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would provide for optional terminating action for certain repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from reports of cracking of the fuselage skin and adjacent internal skin splice plate at the left and right nose wheel well aft corners, and the outer chord of the body station (BS) 400 bulkhead. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the fuselage skin or splice plate, which, together with cracking of the bulkhead outer chord, could result in large skin cracks and subsequent in-flight rapid decompression of the airplane.

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified type-certificated military surplus helicopters. The AD would require: Creating a component history card or equivalent record for each main rotor grip (grip); determining and recording the total hours time-in-service (TIS) for each grip; visually inspecting the upper and lower tangs of the grip for a crack; inspecting the grip buffer pads for delamination and if delamination is present, inspecting the grip surface for corrosion or other damage; inspecting the grip for a crack using ultrasonic (UT) and fluorescent-penetrant inspection methods; and establishing a retirement life for certain grips. This proposal is prompted by three in-flight failures of grips installed on Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) Model 212 helicopters, which resulted from cracks originating in the lower main rotor blade bolt lug. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the grip, separation of a main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.