Federal Aviation Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action amends one and establishes three low altitude United States Area Navigation (RNAV) routes. The purpose of the new RNAV routes is to expand the availability of the enroute structure and provide additional RNAV routing within the National Airspace System (NAS) in support of transitioning it from ground-based to satellite- based navigation.

A draft policy statement would state that proposed type design changes that would materially alter safety critical information have the potential to affect airworthiness, and therefore do not qualify as minor design changes.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-225 in the vicinity of Galena, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-481 in the vicinity of Sitka, AK. This action is in support of a large and comprehensive RNAV T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. Due to an error, this route was originally proposed as number T-383, which is already assigned as a RNAV T-Route in the vicinity of Gopher, MN. The FAA assigns number T-481 to this T-Route in the vicinity of Sitka, AK.

This action prohibits certain flight operations in the Kabul Flight Information Region (FIR) (OAKX) at altitudes below Flight Level (FL) 320 by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The FAA finds this action necessary to address hazards to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations due to the risk posed by violent extremist and militant activity and the lack of adequate risk mitigation capabilities to counter such activity. However, the FAA has determined that U.S. civil overflights of the Kabul FIR (OAKX) at altitudes at and above FL320 may resume due to diminished risks to U.S. civil aviation operations at those altitudes. This action also provides information regarding the approval and exemption processes for this Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.

This action amends 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).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900 and -900ER airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the forward galley door cutout forward upper corner bear strap. It has been determined that the cracks were caused by high operating stresses in the fuselage skin door cutout corner area due to stress concentration at the door cutout. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the fuselage skin and the bear strap at the forward galley door cutout forward upper corner for existing repairs, and applicable related investigative and corrective inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-05-03 for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2021-05-03 required various inspections of a certain part-numbered left-hand (LH) engine fuel supply (fuel supply) hose and depending on the inspection results, reinstalling or removing the fuel supply hose from service. AD 2021-05-03 also required installing an improved part and prohibited installing an affected fuel supply hose on any helicopter unless it was installed by following certain procedures. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-05-03, there were reports of difficulties using an adjusting tool to install the improved fuel supply hose. This AD continues to require the actions of AD 2021-05-03, expands the applicability, expands the parts installation limitations, and requires using an improved adjusting tool and updated procedures. This AD also updates certain compliance times and clarifies certain requirements. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-271, in the vicinity of Iliamna, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-260, in the vicinity of Nome, AK. The RNAV route amendments are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) portion of the Tin City, AK (TNC), NDB/Distance Measuring Equipment (NDB/DME) and the Point Hope, AK, (PHO) NDB. Although the Tin City, AK, (TNC) NDB will decommission, the co-located Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) will remain for use within the National Airspace System (NAS).

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) T-route T-379, in the vicinity of Discovery, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action amends the Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class C surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Nashville, TN, as the result of a Class C Airspace modification and a biennial evaluation. This action reduces the Class E airspace designated as an extension to the Nashville International Airport Class C airspace. This action also extends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface surrounding Music City Executive Airport and reduces the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface surrounding Lebanon Municipal Airport, Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, and John C. Tune Airport.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-19-08 which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters. AD 2022-19-08 was prompted by a report of manufacturing defects on multiple tail rotor blades (TRBs) and required visually inspecting certain part-numbered TRBs for the presence of a linear indication, and, depending on the inspection results, fluorescent penetrant inspecting the TRB and further corrective actions if necessary. AD 2022-19-08 also prohibited installing an affected TRB unless certain requirements had been met. This AD was prompted by the determination that parts that have accumulated more than 500 flight hours (FH) since new are also affected by the unsafe condition. In addition, the defined compliance time for the visual inspection of the root area of each affected part was determined to be too strict. This AD retains certain requirements of AD 2022-19-08, includes all TRBs in the inspection requirements, and increases a compliance time as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-04-10, which applies to all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 900 airplanes. AD 2023-04-10 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-04- 10, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2023-04-10 and 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 Textron Aviation, Inc. (Textron) Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane. 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 associated with the installation of a digital system that contains a wireless and hardwired network with hosted application functionality that allows access, from a source internal to the airplane, to the airplane's internal electronic component. 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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. (Embraer) Model EMB-505 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by an occurrence of corrosion on the clutch retaining bolt of the aileron autopilot servo mount. This proposed AD would require repetitively replacing the clutch retaining bolt and washer of the aileron autopilot servo mount, 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A321neo XLR airplanes. The 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 side-stick controllers for pitch and roll control. 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 all The Boeing Company Model 767 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of inoperative manual and alternate horizontal stabilizer trim switches. This AD requires repetitive inspections for immersion of each limit switch and position transmitter module (LSPTM) and of the LSPTM electrical wiring, repetitive inspections for blockage of the drain holes and cleaning of each drain hole, repetitive inspections for loose or cracked leveling compound, and applicable on-condition actions. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires installing two new drain holes, performing repetitive inspections for blockage of the drain holes and cleaning each drain hole, 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 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report the engine fire extinguishing control and indication system did not illuminate correctly. This proposed AD would require installing a software update to the integrated cockpit control panel (ICCP) remote data concentrator (RDC), 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G600 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an addition of a life limit in the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) for GVII-G600 flap yokes. The life limit for the GVII-G600 flap yokes was informed by a GVII-G500 flap yoke failure that occurred during flight testing and, ultimately, resulted in additional test and analysis to establish more accurate life limits reflective of each model's design features and stress levels. The FAA is issuing this AD to require revising the existing ALS to prevent the GVII-G600 inboard flap yoke from remaining in service beyond its life limit. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Greenville Municipal Airport, Greenville, ME, as a new instrument approach procedure has been designed for this airport. This action also updates the airport's existing extension.

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) T-route T-388, in the vicinity of Port Heiden, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action removes Jet Route J-590, amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-11 and V- 70, and establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-365. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Greene County, MS (GCV), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Greene County VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-01-13, which applies to all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes. AD 2020-01-13 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-01- 13, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-01-13 and 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.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-07- 03, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes. AD 2013-07-03 required repetitive inspections for degradation of the bogie pivot pins and for any cracks and damage of the pivot pin bushes of the main and central landing gear; an inspection of the affected bogie pivot pins for corrosion and base metal cracks; and repairing or replacing bogie pivot pins and pivot pin bushes, if necessary. This AD was prompted by development of a modification that address the unsafe condition and a determination that a parts installation prohibition is necessary. This AD continues to require certain actions in AD 2013-07-03, add an optional modification that would terminate the repetitive inspections, and add a parts installation prohibition, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.