Federal Aviation Administration 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and - 402 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the main landing gear (MLG) aft door not opening when using the alternate extension system. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the spring box assembly, repetitive inspections of the cam assembly and alternate release cable assembly, corrective actions if necessary, and a replacement of certain alternate release cable assemblies. In addition, this AD requires certain aircraft maintenance manuals tasks when installing the cam assembly or alternate release cable assembly. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. 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 all Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of mechanical wear damage found on the engine fuel feed system tubes and fuel tube connections. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the fuel feed system for damage, and replacement if necessary, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This proposed rule would incorporate various changes required by the United States Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of November 2015. This proposed rule would provide regulatory clarity to applicants seeking licenses for space flight operations involving government astronauts by adding two new subparts to the human space flight regulations containing requirements for operators with government astronauts with and without safety-critical roles on board vehicles. The proposed rule would also require an operator to demonstrate any government astronauts on board can perform their role in safety-critical tasks. This proposed requirement would maintain public safety by ensuring operators provide mission specific training on safety-critical tasks to government astronauts, as has been done in the NASA Commercial Crew Program. The proposed rule would also update definitions relating to commercial space launch and reentry vehicles and occupants to reflect current legislative definitions, expand applicability of permitted operations for reusable suborbital rockets to include reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory or reentered from a suborbital trajectory, as well as implement clarifications to financial responsibility requirements in accordance with the United States Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act. Finally, this proposed rule would move the templates for waiver of claims to an advisory circular.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary and a determination by the design approval holder (DAH) that some structural elements are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, and for certain airplanes would require a structural modification of the wing lower skin panels, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action extends the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking, (NPRM), Public Aircraft Logging of Flight Time, Training in Certain Aircraft Holding Special Airworthiness Certificates, and Flight Instructor Privileges. On June 23, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published this proposed rule. The NPRM proposed to allow pilots conducting public aircraft operations (PAO) to credit their flight time towards FAA civil regulatory requirements. Additionally, the FAA proposed to amend the operating rules for experimental aircraft to permit certain flight training, testing, and checking in these aircraft without a letter of deviation authority (LODA). The FAA proposed to extend the same relief to certain flight training, testing, and checking in limited category, primary category, and experimental light sport aircraft. The FAA also proposed miscellaneous amendments related to recent flight experience, flight instructor privileges, flight training in certain aircraft holding special airworthiness certificates, and the related prohibitions on conducting these activities for compensation or hire. The FAA is extending the comment period for this NPRM to allow commenters additional time to analyze the proposed rule and prepare a response.

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to adequately contain all instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures at Alliance Municipal Airport, NE. This action supports the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piaggio Aviation S.p.A. (Piaggio) Model P-180 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of corrosion-induced cracking on the horizontal tail trim actuator (HTTA) fitting assembly. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the HTTA fitting assembly for corrosion and cracking until the HTTA fitting assembly is replaced with a new part. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA has determined to extend through October 28, 2023, the limited, conditional waiver of the minimum usage requirement that applies to Operating Authorizations or ``slots'' at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) due to post-pandemic effects on Air Traffic Controller (ATC) staffing at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility (N90) the FAA has already made available through September 15, 2023. Carriers will be permitted to voluntarily turn in up to 10 percent of their slots held at JFK and LGA as well as impacted slots at DCA for the period from September 16, 2023, through October 28, 2023. In addition, the FAA has determined to extend through October 28, 2023, the limited policy for prioritizing returned operations at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) due to post-pandemic effects on ATC staffing at N90 for purposes of establishing a carrier's operational baseline in the next corresponding season. Carriers will be permitted to voluntarily turn in up to 10 percent of their approved operating timings at EWR for the period from September 16, 2023, through October 28, 2023. These extensions through October 28, 2023, are available on the same conditions and limitations as the relief that the FAA already has announced through September 15, 2023. Carriers seeking to take advantage of this relief must identify the slots and approved operating timings they wish to return to the FAA before September 2, 2023.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (601-3A, 601-3R, and 604 Variants) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports from the supplier that sensing elements of the bleed air leak detection system were manufactured with insufficient salt fill, which can result in an inability to detect hot bleed air leaks. This proposed AD would require testing of all affected overheat detection sensing elements of the bleed air leak detection system, and replacement if necessary. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-23-10, which applies to certain Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON and FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes. AD 2020- 23-10 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-23-10, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-23-10 and would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). 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 certain ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42- 500 and ATR72-212A airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of loose fasteners and cracks in the horizontal stabilizer (HS) left- and right-hand leading edge lateral ribs, the box in between, the center box upper panel, and HS forward back-up fitting. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the HS affected areas for discrepancies and applicable corrective action, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, remove Class D airspace, amend Class E surface airspace, and amend Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area at Capital City Airport, Harrisburg, PA. In addition, this action would make administrative updates.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-44, V-128, and V-493, and United States Area Navigation (RNAV) routes T-315 and T-323. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the York, KY (YRK), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The York VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-02-13, which applies to certain Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON, FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes. AD 2020-02- 13 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-02-13, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require certain actions in AD 2020- 02-13 and would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, NV. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal description. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Rush City, MN. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Rush City non-directional beacon (NDB). The geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes establishing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Warrenton, VA, as new instrument approach procedures have been designed for Fauquier Hospital Emergency Transport Heliport, Warrenton, VA.

The FAA is correcting a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on July 24, 2023, that amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-228 in the vicinity of Cape Newenham, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. The geographical coordinates listed for ZIKNI, AK, Waypoint (WP) and RUFVY, AK, WP in the route description are incorrect.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Yankton, SD. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Yankton very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Covington Municipal Airport, Covington, TN, as a new instrument approach procedure has been designed for this airport.

A final rule was published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2023, amending Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class C surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Nashville, TN. This action corrects the geographic coordinates of Nashville International Airport and Nashville VORTAC under the Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class C surface area.

This action corrects a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on July 18, 2023, that amends the Palm Beach International Airport, FL Class C airspace description as published in FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022. In the rule, the text describing Area C of the Class C airspace area was inadvertently omitted from the Palm Beach, FL Class C airspace description. This action restores the text for Area C to the Class C description.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737 airplanes equipped with CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Model LEAP-1B series turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that use of engine anti-ice (EAI) in dry air for more than five minutes during certain environmental and operational conditions can cause overheating of the engine inlet inner barrel beyond the material design limit, resulting in failure of the engine inlet inner barrel and severe engine inlet cowl damage. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to limit the use of EAI in certain conditions and revising the operator's existing minimum equipment list to prohibit dispatch under a certain item. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.