Federal Aviation Administration 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the RTCA Program Management Committee.

The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) a new task to identify and develop recommendations on additional requirements for low speed alerting. Phase 1 of the task addresses new standards for transport category airplanes. Phase 2 of the task addresses possible retrofit standards for existing transport category airplanes. This notice is to inform the public that the ARAC working group has completed activity for Phase 1 of the task and will begin activity for Phase 2.

The FAA is considering restructuring the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice is to inform the public of FAA's intent and invites the public to provide any ideas or thoughts it may have on this matter.

This action proposes to establish two new restricted areas at the Warren Grove Range, NJ, in order to raise the maximum altitude of the range from the current 14,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), up to flight level (FL) 230; and to expand the lateral dimensions of the range airspace. In addition, the using agency for all Warren Grove restricted areas would be updated to reflect the current organization tasked with that responsibility. The New Jersey Air National Guard requested that the FAA take this action due to the increased need for aircrew training in high-altitude weapons delivery tactics.

This notice advises interested persons that the First Annual Meeting of the Aviation Noise Impacts Roadmap will be held on April 19- 20, 2011, in Washington, DC, to coordinate and communicate research activities and findings among stakeholders and other parties with an interest in aviation noise impacts. The purpose of the meeting is to update and advance our collective scientific knowledge of the impact of aircraft noise on society in order to improve our ability to address various aspects of noise impacts and develop optimal mitigation solutions.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) S-76 model helicopters with a certain life raft deployment system (LRDS) installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SR09211RC. This proposed AD would require removing and replacing the pilot or co-pilot life raft deployment handle (handle) located on the left side of the ``broom closet'' of the helicopter. This proposed AD is prompted by an incident that occurred where the handle bent prior to the life raft deploying, and this prohibited the crew from successfully deploying and using the life raft. It was determined that the handle in this incident was not manufactured to the approved Type Design. We are proposing this AD to prevent the bending of the handle, which could result in failure of the life raft to deploy. This failure could lead to loss of access to the life raft after an emergency ditching on water.

The FAA's Office of Hazardous Materials and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety announce a public meeting on March 11, 2011 to hear comments and gather information regarding Notification to Pilot in Command (NOPICs) (see 49 CFR 175.33 and ICAO TI 7;4.1). The International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel has begun to examine this issue and consider the informational needs of those who rely on this document. Statements by interested parties will be considered as the U.S. develops its position on this issue.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of the airport from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the sale of the airport property. The proposal consists of the sale of vacant land, containing trees, brush, wetland, and streams owned by the Holmes County Airport Authority. Parcel 8A is approximately 14.000 acres. The land was acquired under grant 3-39-0056-0607. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to dispose of the property. The proposed land for release is vacant, not required for future development, safety, or compatible land use. The intended land use is to remain vacant. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the disposal of the airport property will be in accordance with FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with section 47107(h) of title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

This action proposes special conditions for the Gulfstream GVI airplane. This airplane may have novel or unusual design features associated with connectivity of the passenger domain computer systems to the airplane critical systems and data networks. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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 Boeing Model 787-8 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with an overhead flightcrew-rest (OFCR) compartment, which is proposed to be occupiable during taxi, takeoff, and landing (TT&L). 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. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspections to detect cracking or corrosion of the fail-safe straps between the side fitting of the rear spar bulkhead at body station 955 and the skin; and follow-on and corrective actions. Since we issued that AD, we have received additional reports of cracks in 51 fail-safe straps on 41 airplanes; we have also received a report of a crack found in the ``T'' fitting that connects the fail-safe strap to the outboard edge of the pressure deck. This proposed AD would expand the applicability, and would add an inspection for cracking in the fail-safe strap, and repair or replacement if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking or corrosion of the fail-safe straps and the ``T'' fittings, which could result in cracking of adjacent structure and consequent reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

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) that applies to 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) 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 propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above, except for those that are currently affected by similar action through any of five ADs applicable to Boeing products. This proposed AD would require an inspection/records check to determine the manufacturer and part number of the oxygen mask assemblies installed, an inspection to determine the manufacturing date and modification status if certain oxygen mask assemblies are installed, and corrective action for certain oxygen mask assemblies. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that several oxygen mask assemblies with broken in-line flow indicators were found following a mask deployment. We are proposing this AD to prevent the in-line flow indicators of the oxygen mask assembly from fracturing and separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks. This condition could consequently result in occupants developing hypoxia following a depressurization event.

This action corrects errors in the legal description of a final rule published in the Federal Register on December 20, 2010 that amends Class E airspace at Henderson, KY.

This action amends Class E surface airspace and airspace 700 feet above the surface, and removes Class E airspace designated as an extension to Class D airspace at Easton, MD. The Easton Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) have been developed for Easton Airport/ Newnam Field. This action enhances the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

By Federal Register notice (See 75 FR 68023; November 4, 2010) the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invited interested persons to apply to fill two vacant positions on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). These notices invited interested persons to apply to fill two vacancies representing environmental concerns due to the incumbent member's completion of their three-year term appointments on May 30, 2011. This notice informs the public of the persons selected to fill the vacancies on the NPOAG ARC.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

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:

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 224: Airport Security Access Control Systems.

This document incorporates the FRFA for Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-17-18, which applied to these products: Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. We have since revised AD 2010-17-18, which requires you to repetitively inspect (using the eddy current method) the two outboard fastener holes in both of the wing main spar lower caps at the center splice joint for cracks and repair or replace any cracked spar, and changes the safe life for certain serial number (SN) ranges. Our initial analysis indicated that a FRFA was necessary for AD 2010-17-18. We issued AD 2010-17-18 without the FRFA to immediately address the unsafe condition. This action presents the FRFA for AD 2010-17-18, which is required to be published in the Federal Register.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS), in accordance with the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000, announce the next meeting of the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). This notification provides the dates, location, and agenda for the meeting. Dates and Location: The NPOAG ARC will meet on March 9-10, 2011. The meeting will take place in Salon 5 at the Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. The phone number is (888) 800-2174. The meetings will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 9-10, 2011. This NPOAG meeting will be open to the public.

This action proposes special conditions for the Gulfstream GVI airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features include an electronic flight control system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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.