Federal Aviation Administration May 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is superseding four airworthiness directives (ADs) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-C-37 engines. The superseded ADs required recalculating the cyclic life for certain engine life-limited rotating parts and replacing those parts that have exceeded their cyclic life limit within specified compliance times. Since the FAA issued those ADs, the manufacturer has revised the engine time limits manual (TLM), introducing new and more restrictive instructions. This AD requires revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, 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 establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at White Sulphur Springs Airport, White Sulphur Springs, MT. This action would support the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) operations to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

This action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the Hollister Municipal Airport, Hollister, CA due to the newly developed Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS]) Runway (RWY) 13 approach. This action supports the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that the pylon-to-wing area motive flow flexible fuel line assemblies may have been installed incorrectly. This proposed AD would require inspecting the motive flow flexible fuel line assemblies and corrective actions, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Current FAA regulations require that foreign applicants for operating specifications must hold a valid air operator certificate issued by the State of the Operator. Some International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States have joined together to form Regional Safety Oversight Organizations. These organizations may provide a uniform regulatory structure for safety oversight and provide technical assistance and the execution of safety oversight functions on behalf of their member States. Regional Safety Oversight Organizations have been established in many parts of the world. These organizations may be formed based on a variety of differing arrangements among member States. The institutional structures of these organizations range from highly formalized intergovernmental organizations established on the basis of formal legal agreements, to less formalized organizations established under the International Civil Aviation Organization Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Program. States participating in Regional Safety Oversight Organizations may delegate various functions or tasks to these organizations based on the extent of delegated legal authority stipulated in the Regional Safety Oversight Organization's formation documentation. One of the functions member States may delegate to some of the highly formalized and more fully resourced Regional Safety Oversight Organizations is the issuance of air operator certificates on behalf of the State of the Operator. This regulation change would allow the FAA to review and, if acceptable to the Administrator, recognize as valid air operator certificates issued by the Regional Safety Oversight Organization to foreign air carriers on behalf of the State of the Operator for purposes of evaluating foreign applicants for operating specifications.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-28-181, PA-28R-201, PA- 34-220T, and PA-44-180 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a double-drilled bolt hole of the rear wing spar attachment fitting found during an unscheduled inspection of an airplane due to a ground collision with an automobile. This AD requires inspecting the rear wing spar attachment fitting and, if discrepancies are found, inspecting the forward wing spar attachment fitting, accomplishing corrective actions as required, and reporting to the FAA when corrective actions are required. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-25-13, which applies to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100- 1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes. AD 2009-25-13 requires the deactivation of the left-hand (LH) baggage bay heater mat. Since the FAA issued AD 2009-25-13, Bombardier developed a new design solution for the potential uncontrolled heating of the baggage bay sidewall heater mat. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2009- 25-13, and would also require modifying the baggage bay sidewall interior panel, heater mat, and water tank heater installation, and doing functional testing. Upon the completion of the new actions, the retained requirements of AD 2009-25-13 would terminate. This proposed AD would also revise the applicability and prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Textron Aviation, Inc. (Textron) 550 (Bravo), 560 (Ultra Encore), and 560XL (Excel) series airplanes as modified by Aerospace Design & Compliance, LLC (ADC). This airplane 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 the installation of an electronic networks system architecture that will allow increased connectivity to and access from external network sources to the airplane's previously isolated electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases). 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 proposes special conditions for the Bell Model 525 helicopter. This helicopter will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category helicopters. This design feature is a four-axis full authority digital fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system (FCS) that provides for aircraft control through pilot input or coupled auto pilot modes. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-17-02, which applies to all ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by proposing additional modification of the affected wiring for certain airplanes. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of operators receiving No. 1 flight compartment windows that may not meet type design requirements for withstanding a bird impact. This proposed AD would require replacing affected No. 1 flight compartment windows and would prohibit the installation of affected windows. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to remove Class E surface airspace for Manchester Boston Regional Airport, Manchester, NH, as the overlying Class C airspace deems the Class E surface airspace unnecessary.

This action establishes Class C airspace and removes Class D airspace at the Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), PA. The Class C airspace created is larger than the existing Class D airspace at MDT and is described as areas A through F. In addition, the non-regulatory Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA) is removed. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the efficient management of air traffic operations and reduce the potential for midair collision in the MDT terminal area.

This notification announces a limited, conditional policy for prioritizing returned operations at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) due to a construction-related runway closure at SFO for purposes of establishing a carrier's operational baseline in the next corresponding scheduling seasons. In addition, the FAA will provide similar limited, conditional relief at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) under the FAA's Level 2 schedule facilitation process as well as a limited, conditional waiver of minimum usage requirements at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for impacted flights between SFO and the listed airports.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Britten-Norman Aerospace Ltd. Model BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-2A-6, BN-2A-8, BN-2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN- 2A-27, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21, BN-2B-26, BN-2B-27, BN-2T, BN2T-4R, and BN2T-4S airplanes; and Model BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the determination that in order to ensure the continued structural integrity of certain landing gear and associated components, it is necessary to require removal of these components from service prior to exceeding established fatigue lives. This proposed AD would require determining the number of landings on affected main landing gears (MLGs), nose landing gears (NLGs), and associated components; removing from service any part that has reached or exceeded the established fatigue life and installing a replacement part; and prohibiting the installation of any affected part unless the number of landings for that part is below the established fatigue life. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-258 and V-519, and Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-426; and revoke Jet Routes J-213 and J-526, and VOR Federal Airway V-59. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Beckley, WV (BKW), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Beckley VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-216 and V-380, and to revoke VOR Federal Airways V-549 and V-551. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Mankato, KS (TKO), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Mankato VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action amends 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 taking 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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of water in the oil of a main gearbox (MGB). This AD requires replacing certain main rotor (M/R) mast upper stops assembly screws. This proposed AD would also require inspecting certain M/R mast cover plates and accomplishing MGB oil analyses and, depending on the results, replacing the M/R mast cover plate, accomplishing an additional inspection, or replacing the MGB. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing certain M/R mast upper stops assembly screws, M/R masts with an affected M/R mast upper stops assembly screw installed, or used M/R mast cover plates on any helicopter. Lastly, this proposed AD would prohibit installing affected M/R masts unless the inspections are done. These actions are 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.

These special conditions are issued for non-rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems on Boeing Model 757-200 airplanes, as modified by H4 Aerospace (UK) Ltd (H4). Non-rechargeable lithium batteries are a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. 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 Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace, which is designated as an extension to a Class D surface area at Capital City Airport, Harrisburg, PA. In addition, this action makes administrative updates.

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace at Lake Charles, LA. This action is the result of airspace reviews conducted due to the decommissioning of the Beaumont very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of various airports. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and supports instrument flight rule (IFR) operations and procedures.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Thomaston-Upson County Airport, Thomaston, GA, as the YATES Non-directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and associated instrument approaches canceled. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace at Saginaw, MI. This action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Mount Pleasant very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The names and geographic coordinates of various airports are being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations and procedures.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model SA330J helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a main rotor gearbox (MGB) flange assembly coupling (coupling) that was incorrectly assembled. This proposed AD would require a one-time visual inspection to determine correct assembly of each sliding flange installed on each MGB coupling, and if necessary, further corrective actions. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing certain MGB couplings or any MGB equipped with certain MGB couplings on any helicopter. These actions are 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.