Federal Aviation Administration 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-09-09, which applies to certain Airbus Model A318 series airplanes and Model A319 series airplanes; all Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and all Model A321-111, -112, -131, - 211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2018-09-09 requires modifying the holes of the upper cleat to upper stringer attachments at certain areas of the left-and right-hand wings. Since the FAA issued AD 2018-09-09, additional affected configurations were identified and, for certain airplanes, it was determined that additional modification work and revised compliance times are necessary. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2018-09-09 and add airplanes, require different compliance times for certain airplane configurations, and, for certain airplanes, require additional modifications or reduce compliance times, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Daher Aerospace (type certificate previously held by SOCATA) (Daher) Model TBM 700 airplanes. 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 unsafe condition that is the subject of the MCAI is ice accumulation on the oil cooler air inlet duct fin. This AD requires modifying the oil cooler air induction duct. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the determination that certain part-numbered fairings were never introduced into the main rotor (MR) tip lights kit design definition and were not certified for icing conditions. This AD requires replacing affected parts. This AD also prohibits, after modification of the helicopter as required, installing any affected part on any helicopter as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves reporting exceeded flight duty periods and flight times, including scheduled maximum and actual flight duty periods and flight times, basic flight information (e.g., city pairs, departure times, flight number), and reason for exceedance. Reporting and recordkeeping are required any time a certificated air carrier has exceeded a maximum daily flight time limit or a maximum daily Flight Duty Period (FDP) limit. It is also required for the voluntary development of a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS), and for fatigue training. The information is necessary to monitor trends in exceedance and possible underlying systemic causes requiring operator action, and to determine whether operator is scheduling realistically.

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

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and establish Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a Class D Surface Area in the Atlanta, GA area. This action would replace the Atlanta VORTAC (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Collocated Tactical Air Navigation) with the term Point of Origin. This action would update several airport names and geographic coordinates. This action would also make an editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of bleed air leaks in the wing box area and failure of the leak detection shroud. This proposed AD would require removing and inspecting the affected V-band coupling and check valve seals, doing corrective actions if necessary, and replacing the coupling and seals with a redesigned assembly. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that in the event of a specific discrete wire failure, the landing gear extension and retraction system (LGERS) may not be able to complete landing gear retraction when commanded by moving the landing gear lever to the UP position. This proposed AD would require revising the operator's existing FAA-approved minimum equipment list (MEL) for the landing gear extension and retraction system, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners (Airport Sponsor) for Witham Field/Martin County Airport under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act and are in compliance with applicable requirements.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-241 in the vicinity of Level Island, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This document announces the acceptance of a means of compliance (MOC) in accordance with a rule issued by the FAA on January 21, 2021, and went into effect on April 21, 2021. The Administrator finds the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (VT MAAP) MOC Version 1.0 an acceptable means, but not the only means, of demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Category 2 and Category 3 small unmanned aircraft systems (small UAS) operations over people.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new Information Collection (IC) effort. The collection involves in-person sessions between researchers, certified pilots, and air traffic control specialists (ATCS). Computerized neurocognitive tests are a non-invasive way to measure cognitive function (e.g., attention, working memory, information processing speed, reaction time) and are used as part of the FAA's overall aeromedical physical exam process to determine if a pilot is safe to operate an aircraft within the National Airspace System (NAS) and if an ATCS is safe to return to duty. Neurocognitive tests are required only for pilots and ATCSs with certain medical conditions associated with aeromedically significant cognitive impairments (i.e., not all pilots and ATCSs are tested). The FAA needs to ensure that the tests and data used to maintain the safety of the NAS are based on the most current scientific knowledge. The purpose of this IC effort is to obtain updated pilot and ATCS normative data for the FAA's current neurocognitive test and alternative neurocognitive tests under consideration. The IC effort will be used to potentially revise the FAA's Aviation Medical Examiners (AME) Guide, update clinical practices, and assure aeromedical safety. Information will be collected from representative pilots and ATCSs across the United States, who will complete two different 1-hour neurocognitive tests. Total IC effort/time per person will be approximately four hours (i.e., to include check-in processing, informed consent, neurocognitive test-taking, rest breaks, and participant debrief).

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Griffin-Spalding County Airport, Griffin, GA. This action would remove the city associated with the Griffin-Spalding County Airport legal description. In addition, this action would increase the airport's radius and increase the extensions to the northwest and to the southeast of the airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (RRD) Trent 1000 model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the engine Time Limits Manual (TLM) life limits of certain critical rotating parts and direct accumulation counting (DAC) data files. This AD requires the operator to revise the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of their existing approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP) by incorporating the revised tasks of the applicable TLM for each affected model turbofan engine, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Brantly Helicopters Industries U.S.A. Co., Ltd., Model 305 helicopters and Brantly International, Inc., Model B-2, B-2A, and B-2B helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack in the tail rotor (T/R) hub. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the T/R hub and depending on the results, removing the T/R hub from service. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters with certain Air Comm Corporation air conditioning systems installed. This AD was prompted by reports of damage to the drive ring spline teeth and the mating spline teeth. This AD requires visually inspecting the drive ring spline teeth and the mating area spline teeth on the oil cooler blower shaft for signs of deformation and fretting and depending on the results of the inspection, removing certain parts from service. This AD also requires reinstalling certain parts, applying torque, and aligning certain bolt holes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reduced life limits being established for certain part-numbered tail rotor (TR) blades. This AD requires determining the total hours time-in-service (TIS) of certain part- numbered TR blades, establishing a life limit for certain part-numbered TR blades, removing from service any TR blade that has reached or exceeded its life limit, creating a component history card, re- identifying certain part-numbered TR blades, and removing any TR blade from service before reaching its retirement life. This AD also prohibits installing certain TR blades on certain model helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Daher Aerospace (type certificate previously held by SOCATA) Model TB 20 and TB 21 airplanes. This AD was prompted by 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 cracks on the main landing gear (MLG) legs. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the MLG and performing all applicable corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to modify 7 VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways, (V-18, V-115, V-222, V-241, V-245, V-321, and V- 333) and remove 5 VOR Federal Airways, (V-311, V-325, V-415, V-417, and V-463) in association with the Atlanta VOR Minimum Operation Network (MON) project in the southeastern United States. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the following five ground-based navigational aids (NAVAIDs): Dyersburg, TN, (DYR) VOR and Tactical Air Navigational System (VORTAC); Crimson, AL, (LDK) VORTAC; Malden, MO, (MAW) VORTAC; Monticello, AR, (MON) VOR/DME; and the Muscle Shoals, AL, (MSL) VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME). This proposal would provide for the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace within the National Airspace System (NAS) while reducing NAVAID dependencies throughout the NAS as part of the FAA VOR MON program.

The FAA proposes to amend two Jet Routes; extend one high altitude RNAV Q-route; amend four VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways; remove one VOR Federal airway; and remove one Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point, in the vicinity of Fort Dodge, IA. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Fort Dodge, IA, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC), which provides navigation guidance to portions of the affected Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes. The Fort Dodge VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) program. Although the Fort Dodge VOR is being decommissioned, the FAA plans to retain the collocated Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) portions of the navigational aid.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-229 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to amend three jet routes and remove four jet routes in the eastern United States. This action supports the VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) program to improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) and reduce dependency on ground-based navigational systems.