Federal Aviation Administration 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the overhead bin attachment could fail under certain conditions. This AD requires replacing existing overhead bin hook assemblies and support tubes with a different type, as specified in a Transport Canada 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 certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -200PF series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a crack growth analysis, which indicated that current inspections are not adequate to detect cracks in certain sections of the upper frame at the frame splice between certain stringers before a single frame fails. This AD requires an inspection or records review for existing repairs, repetitive inspections for cracks of the upper frame at the frame splices between certain stringers in certain sections, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-38, V-133, and V-144; and to revoke VOR Federal Airway V-214. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Zanesville, OH (ZZV), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Zanesville VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-24- 05, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2022-24-05 required repetitive inspections of certain galleys for corrosion of trolley retainer aluminum blocks and delamination of the upper panel of the trolley compartment, and applicable corrective action. This AD was prompted by the list of affected galleys being revised, and a new modification that was developed to restore the design integrity of the affected galleys. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2022-24-05, provides optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections, revises the list of affected parts, and prohibits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions; 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 amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-216 and revokes VOR Federal Airways V-549 and V- 551. VOR Federal Airway V-380 was revoked by a separate airspace docket and is removed from this action. The FAA is taking 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 United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes Q-117 and Q-135 by changing the name of the "CUDLE", NC, waypoint (WP) to "RREGG". The FAA is taking this action due to a similarly pronounced and sounding route point (KALDA, VA) located 186 nautical miles (NM) northeast of the CUDLE WP. This action is an administrative change and does not affect the airspace boundaries or operating requirements.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Gainesville Regional Airport, Gainesville, FL, as new instrument approach procedures have been designed for Shands Cair Heliport and Shands Helistop Heliport, Gainesville, FL. This action also replaces the terms Notice to Airmen with Notice to Air Missions and Airport/Facility Directory with Chart Supplement in the Class D and Class E descriptions.

The FAA issues this document to assess interest in and invite public comment on the possible expansion of FAA's delegation program to include new certification tasks that might be accomplished by individual designees or Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) holders. The expanded tasks being considered are certification of all commuter and on-demand operator types, excluding 10 or more passenger operations. The effort may require the FAA to initiate rulemaking corresponding with additional certification tasks for individual designees and a revision to policy for additional ODA authorized functions.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Buckeye, AZ. The FAA is proposing this action to support new instrument procedures and to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a cracked main rotor hub (MRH) sleeve. This AD requires repetitively inspecting certain MRH sleeves and prohibits installing those MRH sleeves unless the inspection is done, 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.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Roswell Air Center under the provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, and the Surplus Property Act of 1944.

This action delays the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2024, establishing Class E airspace at Rose Hill, KS to support new public instrument procedures. The FAA is delaying the effective date to allow sufficient time for charting cut-off date compliance.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Austin, TX, and establish Class E airspace at Austin, Lago Vista, and Lakeway, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of biennial airspace reviews. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-24- 06, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 1000 engines. AD 2023-24-06 required revising the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of the operator's existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited parts. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the time limits manual (TLM) to introduce new or more restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited parts. This AD requires revisions to the ALS of the operator's existing approved engine 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 (737 MAX) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a non-conforming installation of spoiler wire bundles that led to unintended spoiler motion, including one instance of a flight spoiler hardover. Further investigation identified the potential for a hardover of more than one flight spoiler on the same wing, which can exceed full lateral control capability leading to loss of control of the airplane. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the clearance between the spoiler control wire bundles and the adjacent structure, and applicable on-condition actions. 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 The Boeing Company Model 737-300 and -400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that flight control rigging tolerances could result in spoiler deflection not reaching the minimal level required to engage the cruise thrust split monitor (MONFD) used by the autothrottle (A/T) system. This AD requires changing certain wire bundles, installing a new housing assembly, removing the mechanical aileron force limiter (MAFL), doing an inspection or records check to determine if certain flight control computers (FCCs) are installed, and performing applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes special conditions for The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 747-8 series airplane. This airplane, as modified by Boeing, 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 stairs for flightcrew to access the forward and aft lower lobe compartments during flight. These compartments will have two main functions: storage of service items and that of a Class C cargo compartment. 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 proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-10-01 and AD 2010-05-51, which apply to certain Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC120B helicopters. AD 2008-10-01 requires replacing certain part-numbered and serial-numbered spherical thrust bearings. AD 2010-05-51 requires repetitively inspecting the main rotor (M/R) head rotor hub (rotor hub) and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. Since the FAA issued those ADs, the manufacturer revised the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) to incorporate various airworthiness limitations, tasks, and associated thresholds and intervals that were previously contained in service bulletins, as well as incorporate a new task. This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the existing maintenance manual (MM) or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICAs) and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, 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 action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Goldsboro, NC, by adding airspace for Wayne Memorial Hospital Inc. Heliport, Goldsboro, NC. Additionally, this action would bring the Goldsboro Class D and Class E airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-05- 08, which applied to certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. AD 2023-05-08 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 2023-05-08 and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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 action proposes to amend domestic Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-1, V-29, V-38, V-139, and V-286 in the eastern United States. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the Salisbury, MD (SBY) VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Snow Hill, MD (SWL), VORTAC. This action is in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during manufacture of drag brace lower lock link assemblies for the main landing gear (MLG), a certain required inspection was not performed. This AD requires doing a check of maintenance records or an inspection to determine if certain drag brace lower lock link assemblies are installed, and applicable on-condition actions. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-24-06, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model BR700-710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 engines. AD 2022-24-06 requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain low-pressure compressor (LPC) rotor (fan) disks and replacement of any LPC rotor (fan) disk with cracks detected. AD 2022-24-06 also allows for modification of the engine in accordance with RRD service information as a terminating action to these inspections. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-24-06, the manufacturer published updated service information and revised the engine maintenance manual (EMM) to provide instructions for an improved ultrasonic inspection method, which prompted this AD. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC rotor (fan) disks and replacement of any LPC rotor (fan) disk with cracks detected and would allow modification of the engine as a terminating action to the inspections, 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 FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran) Model ARRIUS 2F engines. This AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shut-down (IFSD) of a Safran Model ARRIUS 2F engine, followed by an investigation that revealed the IFSD was due to a missing lubricating and balancing groove on one of the bearings of the fuel control unit (FCU) fuel pump related to a non-conforming manufacturing process. This AD requires removal of the affected fuel pump from service and replacement with a serviceable part, 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 modify the Class D airspace and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D airspace at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, CA. This action would more appropriately contain instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport. Additionally, the airport's legal description would be amended to match the FAA's database.