Federal Aviation Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 or 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 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of mechanical wear damage on the motive flow fuel-feed tubes that were secured by bonding clamps and clamp blocks inside the collector tank. This AD requires repetitive operational checks of the gravity cross flow shut-off valve and, for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection of the motive flow fuel-feed tubes at the clamp blocks location, and corrective action 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 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.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA- implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of the Final Tiered Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for SpaceX Starship Indian Ocean Landings (Final Tiered EA and FONSI/ROD).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) Model CT7-2E1, CT7-2F1, CT7-8A, CT7-8E, CT7-8F5 engines, and various restricted category helicopters with GE Model T700-GE-700,-701A, -701C, -701D/CC, -701D, -401, -401C, CT7-2D or CT7-2D1 engines installed. This AD was prompted by at least four reports of failures of the torque reference tube magnetic insert braze joint of the power turbine drive shaft assembly within the last several months. This AD requires a phase array ultrasonic inspection of the torque reference tube magnetic insert braze joint of the power turbine drive shaft assembly for inadequate braze coverage, and repair or replacement of the power turbine drive shaft assembly if necessary. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these engines and helicopters and is now issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend the Class D and Class E airspace at Cincinnati, OH. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Cincinnati very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action would also update the name of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

This action proposes amending Class D airspace extending upward from the surface for Simmons Army Air Field, Fort Liberty, NC, updating the geographic coordinates, and amending verbiage in the description.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 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 modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and removes the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Klawock Airport, Klawock, AK. Additionally, this action updates the administrative portion of the airport's existing Class E airspace legal description. These modifications support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

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 collection involves maintaining and recording ``the status of life-limited parts of each airframe, engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance. The information to be collected is necessary for maintaining and recording that the part is airworthy.

The FAA announces a clarification of the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) policy regarding the review of payloads to be launched or reentered under an FAA license. Given the increasing complexity of payloads on the growing volume of FAA-licensed launches or reentries, the FAA is updating its payload review policy to require applicants for a payload review to disclose the contents and composition of all payloads, including those of all hosted payloads.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-13-16 for all GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) (type certificate previously held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.) Model M601D-11 engines; and AD 2022-14-12, for certain GEAC Model M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F engines. AD 2022- 13-16 required revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing engine maintenance manual (EMM) to incorporate a visual inspection of the centrifugal compressor case for cracks. AD 2022-14-12 required replacing the propeller shaft for Model M601F engines. AD 2022-14-12 also required calculating the accumulated life of the propeller shaft and replacing the propeller shaft, if necessary, for model M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, and M601E-11S engines. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-13-16 and AD 2022-14-12, the manufacturer revised the ALS of the existing EMM to introduce new and more restrictive tasks and limitations, expand the applicability to all Model M601 engines, and incorporate certain requirements addressed by AD 2021-13-07 and AD 2023-01-10, which prompted this AD. This AD requires revising the ALS of the existing EMM and the operator's existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new and more restrictive tasks and 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series 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 side-facing seats oriented in the aircraft with the occupant facing 90 degrees to the direction of aircraft travel. 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a manufacturing issue with an electrical connector that may prevent the connector from self-locking. This AD requires removing the affected connector, installing a new connector, and testing the emergency power supply units (EPSUs), 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.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-20- 13, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. AD 2021-20-13 required repetitive lubrication and repetitive detailed visual inspections (DVI) and non-destructive test (NDT) inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) shock strut lower pins, and replacement if necessary. This AD continues to require the lubrication and inspections specified in AD 2021-20-13 until the MLG shock strut assembly is modified by replacing the trailing arm bushing and installing new dynamic joint components. This AD was prompted by a new design solution for this potential failure of the shock strut lower pin. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace and revokes Class E airspace at Clarksburg, WV. This action is the result of a biennial airspace review. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 airplanes. This proposed 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 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 proposed AD would require 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 proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-11-17 and AD 2021-11-22, which apply to all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. AD 2021-11-17 requires a one-time visual inspection of certain part-numbered main rotor actuators (MRAs). AD 2021-11-22 requires revising the life limits of certain parts and removing each part that has reached its life limit. Since the FAA issued those ADs, it was determined that repetitive inspections of the MRAs are necessary, new and more restrictive tasks and limitations have been issued, and that it is necessary to expand the applicability. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions required by AD 2021-11-17 and AD 2021-11-22, except this proposed AD would require changing the one-time MRA inspection to a repetitive inspection and incorporating other new and more restrictive tasks and limitations by revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing helicopter maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable. This proposed AD would also expand the applicability by adding Model EC635T2+ helicopters. 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 action withdraws the final rule published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2024, amending Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-4 in the vicinity of Burley, ID. Unanticipated issues affecting the completion of this action have made this withdrawal action necessary.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of multiple in-service failures of engine feed check valves, which have resulted in fuel imbalance conditions in flight. This proposed AD would require repetitive replacement of the left- and right-side engine feed check valves with new engine feed check valves, 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.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Ebensburg, PA. This action is the result of an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Revloc very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport are also 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.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Mankato, MN. This action is the result of an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Mankato very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name of an airport is also 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.

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 June 23, 2023 under docket number FAA-2020-0385. The collection involves information on the availability of airport gates and related facilities, leasing and sub-leasing arrangements, gate-use requirements, gate-assignment policy, financial constraints, airport controls over air- and ground-side capacity, and whether the airport intends to build or acquire gates that would be used as common facilities. The information to be collected is necessary because it is required by statute that a covered airport submits a written competition plan to the Secretary/Administrator in order to receive approval to impose a Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) or to receive a grant under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

This notice announces three meetings of the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC).