Federal Aviation Administration 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to the products listed above. The existing AD currently requires revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to advise the flight crew of procedures to follow to ensure that a fuel filter impending bypass condition due to gross fuel contamination is detected in a timely manner. Since we issued that AD, a new design change has been developed that will correct an error in the operating program software (OPS) of the engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS). This proposed AD would require installing new OPS (Version 7) of the EICAS in the EICAS computers. This proposed AD would also require various concurrent actions, depending on the airplane configuration, including installing a certain EICAS OPS version, making wiring changes, replacing the audio accessory unit, replacing certain handsets and EICAS computers, changing EICAS computer connector keying, and loading Operational Program Configuration (OPC) software. This proposed AD also retains the existing AD provision that relieves certain airplanes (those equipped with certain EICAS OPS versions) from the proposed requirements. Accomplishment of the new proposed actions would terminate the requirements of the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent malfunction and thrust loss on both engines, which could result in a forced off-airport landing.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 135: Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 221: Aircraft Secondary Barriers and Alternative Flight Deck Security Procedures.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC).

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 220: Automatic Flight Guidance and Control.

This action amends Class E airspace for the Indianapolis Executive Airport, IN, area, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Clarian North Medical Center Heliport, Carmel, IN, and Methodist Hospital of Indiana Heliport, Indianapolis, IN. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the heliport.

This action amends Class E airspace at Raton, NM, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Raton Municipal Airport/Crews Field, Raton, NM. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends Class E airspace at Kenton, OH, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Hardin County Airport, Kenton, OH. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends Class E airspace at Point Lookout, MO, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at M. Graham ClarkTaney Field Airport, Point Lookout, MO. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD requires inspecting the fuselage surface for corrosion and cracking behind the external adapter plate of the antennae installation, and repair if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack found behind the external adapter plate of the antennae during inspection. Similar cracking was found on two additional airplanes, and extensive corrosion was found on one airplane. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion and cracking behind the external adapter plate of the antennae of certain damage-tolerant structure, which could result in reduced structural integrity and consequent rapid depressurization of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Houma Terrebonne Airport, Houma, Louisiana. The property consists of two small parcels of land, together with all the improvements situated thereon, and all the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes and advantages thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining. This land is located approximately 4,700 feet west of the Houma Terrebonne Airport, of Houma, Louisiana. The land in question was acquired by the Terrebonne Parish on June 17, 1958, through provisions of the Federal Property Administrative Services Act of 1949 (63 Stat. 765), the Surplus Property Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 765) as amended thereby. As airport owner, the Terrebonne Parish has requested to release two parcels in an effort to obtain additional funding for airport improvement at the Houma Terrebonne Airport. As part of this release, this parcel will change from aeronautical to non-aeronautical use and be limited to some type of commercial or industrial use under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

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, with National Park Service (NPS) as a cooperating agency, has initiated development of an Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) for Big Cypress National Preserve (Big Cypress), pursuant to the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-181) and its implementing regulations (14 CFR Part 136, Subpart B, National Parks Air Tour Management). The objective of the ATMP is to develop acceptable and effective measures to mitigate or prevent the significant adverse impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations on the natural resources, cultural resources, and visitor experiences of a national park unit and any tribal lands within or abutting the park. It should be noted that the ATMP has no authorization over other non-air-tour operations such as military and general aviation operations.In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and FAA Order 1050.1E, an Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared. The FAA and NPS are now inviting the public, agencies, tribes, and other interested parties to provide comments, suggestions, and input on the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental process.

The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) a new task to provide advice and recommendations to the FAA about how to prioritize rulemaking projects. This task addresses, in part, one of the Department of Transportation's Future of Aviation Advisory Committee (FAAC) recommendations. This notice informs the public of a new ARAC activity and solicits membership for the new Rulemaking Prioritization Working Group.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Mobridge, SD. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Mobridge Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the St. Louis Airport Authority for the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``Part 150'') are in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before October 2, 2011.

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

The FAA has issued the final EA and FONSI/ROD for the proposed Runway 13 extension and associated actions for Devils Lake Regional Airport. The EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, FAA Orders 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures'' and FAA Order 5050.4B, ``NEPA Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions''. Point of Contact: Ms. Patricia Dressler, Environmental Protection Specialist, FAA Bismarck Airports District Office (ADO), 2301 University Drive, Building 23B, Bismarck, North Dakota, 58504. Telephone number (701) 323-7380.

We propose to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to the products listed above. The existing AD currently requires initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections of propeller hubs, part number (P/N) 660709201. Since we issued that AD, Dowty Propellers introduced a new hub assembly P/N. This proposed AD would revise that AD by introducing as an optional terminating action for the initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections of that AD, replacement of propeller hub P/N 660709201 with a new propeller hub, P/N 660717226. We are proposing this AD to prevent that same propeller hub failure due to cracks in the hub, which could result in loss of control of the airplane, and to introduce an optional terminating action.

This draft letter of interpretation addresses a request by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) to rescind a letter of interpretation issued May 18, 2010 which clarified what activities may constitute duty for maintenance personnel and the application of the rest provisions under 14 CFR 121.377. The FAA requests comment on the May 18, 2010 proposed response to United Technologies Corporation.

This notice requests comments on a petition to accept an air service incentive program at McCarran International Airport (Airport) as consistent with Federal law and policies on the use of airport revenue and on airport rates and charges. The petitioner Clark County Department of Aviation is the owner and operator of the Airport. The petitioner is the recipient of Federal grants under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), and is subject to obligations under AIP grant agreements, including Federal law and policy on the use of airport revenue and on airport rates and charges. The FAA has interpreted these policies, and the underlying Federal statutes, to permit a temporary waiver of standard airport fees for carriers that provide new air service at an airport, as an incentive to begin or expand air service. The agency recently issued the Air Carrier Incentive Program Guidebook to provide specific guidance to airport operators on the use of air service incentive programs. That guidance restates FAA's previously issued opinions regarding what constitutes new service as characterized in the FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue (Revenue Use Policy) (64 FR 7696). Since the inception of the Revenue Use Policy in 1999, the FAA has defined new air service as: (a) Service to an airport destination not currently served, (b) nonstop service where no nonstop service is currently offered, (c) new entrant carrier, and/or (d) increased frequency of flights to a specific destination. The FAA's interpretation has not permitted an airport operator to offer an incentive program that provides discounts based on increased aircraft weight or an increased number of seats on existing flights. The petitioner proposes an incentive program that would reward air carriers for an increase in landed weight. An increase in landed weight could result from an increase in the size of aircraft used, or ``upgauging,'' on existing flights as well as from added flights. The petitioner requests that the FAA amend existing guidance to make clear that its proposed incentive plan is consistent with Federal law and general agency policies on the use of airport revenue and on airport rates and charges. The FAA is publishing this notice of the petition for public comment on whether agency guidance should be interpreted or amended as requested.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by Louisville Regional Airport Authority for Louisville International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

This 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 propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Univair Aircraft Corporation Models (ERCO) 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, E, G; (Forney) F-1 and F-1A; (Alon) A-2 and A2-A; and (Mooney) M10 Airplanes. The existing AD currently requires an inspection of the aileron balance assembly and ailerons for cracks and excessive looseness of associated parts with the required repair or replacement of defective parts as necessary. Since we issued that AD, we received a report of a Univair Aircraft Corporation Model ERCO 415-D Ercoupe that crashed after an in-flight breakup due to possible aileron flutter. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the Applicability section and require inspections of the ailerons, inspections of the aileron balance assembly and aileron rigging for looseness or wear with a required repair or replacement of parts as necessary, and a reporting of the inspection results. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent failure of the aileron assembly and associated parts, which could result in loss of control.

This action delays the effective date for the amendment of four VOR Federal airways in the vicinity of Kona, HI; V-1, V-7, V-11 and V-20. The FAA is taking this action due to procedural changes requiring additional flight inspection.