Federal Aviation Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that non-conforming washers may have been installed in production on engine 1 and 3 forward yokes. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection for non-conforming washers and, depending on findings, related investigative and corrective actions, 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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. Model DA 62 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain revisions of the airplane maintenance manual (AMM) specified incorrect torque values for the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts. This AD requires reviewing the airplane maintenance records to determine the torque values for the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and torquing the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts to the correct torque value if necessary. 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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on November 6, 2023. The collection involves identifying information regarding foreign-registered civil unmanned aircraft operated in the airspace of the United States. The information to be collected will be used to associate a foreign- registered unmanned aircraft operating in the United States with Remote Identification to the unmanned aircraft operator.

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.

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 area for Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg, WV, as the BUSHI non-directional beacon (NDB) is removed from the airspace descriptions. This action amends verbiage in the descriptions, as well as adding additional extensions to the northeast and southwest of the airport.

This document announces the acceptance of a means of compliance with FAA regulations for small unmanned aircraft (sUA) Category 2 and Category 3 operations over human beings. The Administrator finds that VT MAAP's "Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Over People," version 2.0, dated January 18, 2024, provides an acceptable means, but not the only means, of showing compliance with FAA regulations.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-21-01, which applies to 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). AD 2019-21-01 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-21-01, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD 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.

These special conditions are issued for The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 737-8 series airplane. This airplane, as modified by Jet Aviation AG (Jet Aviation), 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 oblique (side-facing) single-occupant seats equipped with airbag devices or 3-point restraints. 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 to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-83 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).

This action announces May 20, 2024, as the deadline for each airport sponsor to notify the FAA if it will use its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 entitlement funds to accomplish Airport Improvement Program (AIP) eligible projects. Each sponsor has previously identified to the FAA such projects through the Airports Capital Improvement Plan process. This action further announces May 20, 2024, as the deadline for an airport sponsor to submit a final grant application, based on bids, for grants that will be funded with FY 2024 entitlement funds only.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A320-214, A320-216, A320-251N, A320-271N, and A321-253NX airplanes. This AD was prompted by a quality review of the forward cargo door frame-to-fuselage skin panel assembly identified several fastener holes that deviated from the manufacturing requirements. This AD requires a geometrical check of the diameter of certain fastener holes for deviations, and if any deviation is found, repetitive special detailed inspections of the affected area for discrepancies and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions, 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 767 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracks on the forward entry door and forward service door cutout aft lower corner fuselage skin and bear strap. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking at the affected area, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturing quality escape concerning some overheat detection system (ODS) sensing elements. This proposed AD would require inspecting the ODS sensing elements and performing applicable corrective actions, and would prohibit the installation of affected parts, 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 proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Fayetteville Regional/ Grannis Field, Fayetteville, NC, by replacing the reference to decommissioned non-directional beacon (Pope NDB), removing reference to decommissioned Simmons Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR), and updating the airports' geographic coordinates and names. This action would not change the airspace boundaries or operating requirements.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the determination that fatigue cracks may develop at the root section of certain tail rotor blades (TRBs). This proposed AD would require repetitively fluorescent penetrant inspecting those TRBs and, depending on the results, accomplishing corrective action. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing certain TRBs unless certain actions are accomplished. 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.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) 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 safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This final rule revises certain regulations governing airman certification. Specifically, the FAA Airman Certification Standards and Practical Test Standards comprise the testing standard for practical tests and proficiency checks for persons seeking or holding an airman certificate and/or rating. This rule incorporates these Airman Certification Standards and Practical Test Standards by reference into the certification requirements for pilots, flight instructors, flight engineers, aircraft dispatchers, and parachute riggers.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that some overheat detection 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 AD requires maintenance records verification, and if an affected part is installed, would prohibit the use of certain Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) items under certain conditions by requiring revising the operator's existing Minimum Equipment List (MEL). This AD also requires testing the overheat detection sensing elements, marking each serviceable sensing element with a witness mark, and replacing each nonserviceable part with a serviceable part. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating multiple findings of cracks in the fuselage skin common to the underwing longeron (UWL). This proposed AD would require external or internal (depending on configuration) inspections for any cracking of the left and right side fuselage skin common to the UWL, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-11-08, which applies to all Airbus SAS Model A330-841 and -941 airplanes. AD 2023-11-08 requires maintenance actions, including a high-pressure valve (HPV) seal integrity test, repetitive replacement of the HPV clips, revision of the existing airplane flight manual (AFM), and implementation of updates to the FAA-approved operator's minimum equipment list (MEL). Since the FAA issued AD 2023-11-08, the agency determined that the replacement intervals required by AD 2023- 11-08 must be reduced in order to address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2023-11-08 and would reduce the HPV clip replacement intervals, and would require, for certain airplanes, an additional revision of the existing AFM. This proposed AD would also limit the installation of HPV clips, 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.

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 for the renewal of an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on January 4, 2024. The collection involves information about requests for waivers from certain operational rules that apply to small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). The FAA uses the collected information to make determinations whether to authorize or deny the requested operations of sUAS. The information collected is necessary to issue such authorizations or denials consistent with the FAA's mandate to ensure safe and efficient use of national airspace.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) Model PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521GA, PW1521G- 3, PW1524G, PW1524G-3, PW1525G, PW1525G-3, PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A engines. This AD was prompted by an updated analysis of an event involving an International Aero Engines, LLC (IAE LLC) Model PW1127GA-JM engine, which experienced a high-pressure compressor (HPC) 7th-stage integrally bladed rotor (IBR-7) separation that resulted in an engine shutdown and aborted takeoff. This AD requires performing an angled ultrasonic inspection (AUSI) of certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage hubs, HPT 2nd-stage hubs, and HPC 8th-stage disks for cracks and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacing the HPT 1st-stage hubs, HPT 2nd-stage hubs, or HPC 8th-stage disks. This AD also requires accelerated replacement of certain HPC 7th-stage rotors, HPC 8th-stage disks, HPC rear hubs, HPT 1st-stage hubs, HPT 2nd-stage hubs, HPT 1st-stage air seals, HPT 2nd- stage air seals, HPT 1st-stage blade retaining plates, and HPT 2nd- stage blade retaining plates. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-19-15 for certain International Aero Engines, LLC (IAE LLC) Model PW1100G series engines; and AD 2023-16-07 for certain IAE LLC Model PW1100G series engines and PW1400G series engines. AD 2022-19-15 required an angled ultrasonic inspection (AUSI) of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk, and replacement, if necessary. AD 2023-16-07 required an AUSI of the HPT 1st-stage hub (also known as the HPT 1st-stage disk) and HPT 2nd-stage hub (also known as the HPT 2nd-stage disk) for cracks, and replacement, if necessary, which is terminating action for AD 2022-19-15. This AD was prompted by an investigation that determined an increased risk of powdered metal anomalies for all powdered metal parts in certain powdered metal production campaigns, which are susceptible to failure significantly earlier than previously determined. This AD retains the AUSI requirement for certain HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage hubs from AD 2023-16-07. This AD requires performing an AUSI of the HPT 1st-stage hub, HPT 2nd-stage hub, high-pressure compressor (HPC) 7th-stage integrally bladed rotor (IBR-7), and HPC 8th-stage integrally bladed rotor (IBR-8) for cracks, and replacing if necessary. This AD also requires accelerated replacement of the HPC IBR-7, HPC IBR-8, HPC rear hub, HPT 1st-stage hub, and HPT 2nd-stage hub. 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 Embraer S.A. Model EMB-545 and EMB-550 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a hard landing event with substantial damage to the airplane, in which the angle of attack (AOA) limiter was engaged during the final approach phase in unstable air conditions and remained engaged until the airplane touched down on the runway. This AD requires revising the Limitations and Normal Procedures sections of the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate new operational airspeed limitations, and flight control limitations and approach procedures when AOA limiter protection is engaged, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD also requires inspecting records for instances of AOA limiter engagement during a certain phase of flight and reporting findings to the FAA. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth at Yerington Municipal Airport, Yerington, NV. This action would support the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.