Federal Aviation Administration 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Grand Coulee Dam Airport, Electric City, WA, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

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

This action amends the Class E airspace at Madison Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field, WI, and establishes Class E airspace at Madison, WI. This action is the result of an airspace review requested by the FAA Airspace Rules and Regulations office. The name and geographic coordinates of various airports are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This final rule amends certain airworthiness regulations applicable to cabin pressurization systems and oxygen dispensing equipment on transport category airplanes, to facilitate certification of those airplanes, systems, and equipment for operation at high elevation airports. This rule eliminates the need for certain equivalent level of safety findings and exemptions.

This action removes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for A.P. Hill AAF (Fort A.P. Hill), VA, as instrument approach procedures for this airport no longer exist.

This action proposes a Special Federal Aviation Regulation for alternate eligibility requirements to safely certificate initial groups of powered-lift pilots, as well as determine which operating rules apply to powered-lift on a temporary basis to enable the FAA to gather additional information and determine the most appropriate permanent rulemaking path for these aircraft. Powered-lift will be type certificated as special class aircraft under the existing regulations. Currently, there is not an established path for civilian pilots to be certificated with a powered-lift category rating. The general and commercial operating regulations do not contemplate operation of powered-lift. In addition to proposed changes for powered-lift, this action also proposes changes that would affect practical tests in aircraft that require type ratings, including airplanes and helicopters, training center rotorcraft instructor eligibility, training, and testing requirements, and training center use of rotorcraft in flight instruction.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of malformed scallop edge geometry and surface conditions at the front flange scallops of affected low-pressure compressor (LPC) booster rotors. This proposed AD would require repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the front flange scallops of the LPC booster rotor for any cracks, replacement or repair of the LPC booster rotor if necessary and, as an optional terminating action to the repetitive FPIs, a visual inspection for malformed scallop edge geometry and malformed surface conditions, 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 amends the Class E airspace at Van Horn, TX. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Van Horn non-directional beacon (NDB). The name and geographic coordinates of Culberson County Airport, Van Horn, TX, will also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action amends Class D airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Lakeland Linder International Airport, Lakeland, FL. This action updates this airport's name and geographic coordinates, as well as the names of Bartow Executive Airport, Plant City Airport, and Winter Haven Regional Airport. In addition, this action removes the Lakeland VORTAC from the Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area description.

The FAA is amending its standards for pressurized compartment loads such that partitions located adjacent to a decompression hole need not be designed to withstand a certain decompression condition. This rulemaking is necessary because, in some cases, it is not practical to design partitions in certain airplane compartments to withstand this decompression condition if it occurs within that compartment.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport, Gillette, WY. This action would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G500 and GVII-G600 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of two landing incidents in which the alpha limiter engaged in the landing flare in unstable air, resulting in high rate of descent landings and damage to the airplanes. This AD requires updating the flight control computer (FCC) software. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for turbocharged, reciprocating engine-powered airplanes and helicopters and turbocharged, reciprocating engines with a certain v-band coupling installed. This AD was prompted by multiple failures of spot-welded, multi-segment v-band couplings at the tailpipe to the turbocharger exhaust housing flange (also referred to as ``spot-welded, multi- segment exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling''). This AD establishes a life limit for the spot-welded, multi-segment exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling and requires repetitively inspecting the spot-welded, multi- segment exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) invite interested persons to apply to fill one current and five upcoming vacancies on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). This notice invites interested persons to apply for the openings. The current opening is for a representative of Native American tribes. The upcoming openings are for another representative of Native American tribes, two representatives of the commercial air tour operators, and three representatives of environmental concerns.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH (Schempp-Hirth) Model Ventus-2a and Ventus-2b gliders. 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 identifies the unsafe condition as the uncommanded extraction of the airbrakes on one or both wings, possibly resulting in reduced control of the glider. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting airbrake bell cranks and airbrake drive funnels for cracking, repetitively inspecting the clearance of the airbrake control system, and taking corrective action as necessary. This proposed AD would also require modifying the airbrake system, which is terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Engine Alliance (EA) Model GP7270, GP7272, and GP7277 engines. This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed that certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) interstage seals were manufactured from material suspected to contain iron inclusion. This AD requires replacement of the affected HPT interstage seals. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA announces the availability of, and requests comments on, the proposed airworthiness criteria for the AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation (AWPC) Model AW609 powered-lift. This document proposes airworthiness criteria the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the powered-lift design.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus SAS (Airbus) Model A320-251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N; and Model A321-251NX, -252NX, -253NX, -271NX, and -272NX airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is a mini emergency power supply unit containing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. 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.

This action amends the West Palm Beach, FL Class E airspace legal description by removing ``West Palm Beach'' from the Palm Beach International Airport name in the West Palm Beach Class E airspace legal description sub-header as it is excessive and unnecessary. This action does not change the boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements of the Class E airspace area.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that some batches of nose landing gear (NLG) drag brace panels (DBP) having certain part numbers were affected by a quality deficiency that was not detected in production. This proposed AD would require a measurement of the affected part and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). 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.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-445 by removing segments of the route from the PAACK, NC, waypoint (WP) to the BRIGS, NJ Fix. This amendment is proposed because those route segments are unused due to multiple other routes in the same area.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-36 and establish Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-675 in the northcentral United States. The airway amendments are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Wawa, Ontario (ON), Canada, VOR navigational aid (NAVAID). This action is in support of NAV CANADA's NAVAID Modernization Program within Canada.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-25- 16, which applied to all ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes. AD 2022-25-16 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require certain actions in AD 2022-25-16 and requires 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 incorporated by reference (IBR). 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 Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes). This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires 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 incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend six United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Q-routes in the eastern United States. This action supports the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Routes (NEC ACR) Optimization Project to improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).