Federal Aviation Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace area designated as surface area, establish a Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area, modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth, and remove Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Battle Mountain Airport, Battle Mountain, NV. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal descriptions. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Giddings, TX. This action is the result of airspace reviews conducted due to the decommissioning of the Industry very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational 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 and supports instrument flight rule (IFR) operations and procedures.

This action amends the Class E airspace at El Dorado, AR. This action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the development of new instrument procedures. The geographic coordinates and name of the airport and the name of the El Dorado VOR/DME are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Pontiac, IL. This action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Pontiac very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational 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 and supports instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Ashley, ND. This action is due to the development of new public instrument procedures at Ashley Municipal Airport, Ashley, ND, and to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of engine-driven pump hydraulic pressure hoses for hydraulic systems number 1 and 2 chafing against the pylon in the aft equipment bay. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the engine-driven pump pressure hoses for any damage and minimum clearance between the engine-driven pump hydraulic pressure hose and case drain, suction pressure hose, and surrounding pylon structure; and corrective actions if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

On October 8, 2024, the FAA published a final rule that will require individuals with foreign addresses and no U.S. physical address on file with the FAA who apply for certain certificates, ratings, or authorizations to designate a U.S. agent for service. This final rule extends the deadline for those individuals to designate a U.S. agent for service from January 6, 2025, to April 2, 2025. This final rule does not apply to individuals with foreign addresses who currently hold certain certificates, ratings, or authorizations, as the compliance date for those individuals continues to be July 7, 2025.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of broken main landing gear (MLG) shock absorber piston rod eye ends. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the MLG shock absorber piston rod eye ends, reporting the results of the inspection, and, depending on the results, replacing the MLG shock absorber assembly. It also prohibits installing certain MLG shock absorber assemblies unless specific requirements are met, 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 all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 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 vibrations of the yaw axis during a hover taxi. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the bolted joint between the cardan- pivot joint assembly and the tail rotor actuator piston rod and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. This AD also prohibits installing certain tail rotor actuators unless its requirements are met. These actions are 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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; Model A321-211, -212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, -251NX, -252N, -252NX, -253N, -253NX, - 253NY, -271N, -271NX, -272N, and -272NX airplanes; Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes; Model A330-300 series airplanes; Model A330- 800 series airplanes; Model A330-900 series airplanes; Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes; and Model A380-800 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of corrosion and cracks on the broadband antenna adapter plate during an inspection. This proposed AD would require repetitive general visual inspections (GVI) of the broadband antenna adapter plate, skirt, vents, and attachment fittings and limit the installation of affected parts under certain conditions, 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.

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.

This action extends the prohibition against certain flight operations in specified areas of the Sanaa Flight Information Region (FIR) (OYSC) 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, for an additional three years, from January 7, 2025, until January 7, 2028. The FAA finds this action necessary to address significant, unacceptable safety-of-flight risks to U.S. civil aviation operations in the specified areas of the Sanaa FIR (OYSC) stemming from heightened regional tensions associated with Houthi weapons employment and operational activities. Most recently, Houthi forces have engaged in increased weapons employment and operational activities related to the Israel-Gaza Conflict, leading in some cases to air defense responses. The FAA also takes into account the Houthis' recent history of having conducted long-range attacks emanating from the Sanaa FIR (OYSC) in other directions, notably against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022. The FAA also republishes the approval process and exemption information for this Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.

This document announces the acceptance of a means of compliance with FAA regulations for small unmanned aircraft (sUA) Category 3 operations over human beings. The Administrator finds that Wingtra AG's "Proposed Means of Compliance for Operations Over People (OOP)," dated April 30, 2024, provides an acceptable means, but not the only means, of showing compliance with FAA regulations.

This final rule provides the statutorily prescribed 2025 adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Dubois Airport, Dubois, WY, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the identification of missing electrical bonding on a certain part-numbered additional and optional search light (search light). This proposed AD would require installing an electrical bonding braid modification and prohibit installing that part-numbered search light unless the modification is 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.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-09-06, which applies to all CFM International, S.A. Model (CFM) LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A (LEAP-1A) engines. AD 2023-09-06 requires replacement of certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage 1 disks (HPT stage 1 disks), forward outer seals, and compressor rotor stages 6-10 spools. AD 2023-09-06 also prohibits installation of an HPT stage 1 disk, forward outer seal, or compressor rotor stages 6-10 spool that has a part number and serial number identified in the service information onto any engine. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-09-06, the manufacturer identified additional affected parts that were manufactured from material suspected to have reduced material properties due to iron inclusion, which prompted this AD. This proposed AD would retain the requirements to replace certain HPT stage 1 disks, forward outer seals, and compressor rotor stages 6-10 spools and expand the applicability to include additional affected parts manufactured from the same material suspected to have reduced material properties due to iron inclusion. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action modifies the Class D airspace and Class E airspace designated as a surface area and revokes the Class E airspace designated as an extension to the Class D or Class E surface area at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO. Additionally, this action modifies the administrative portions of the airport's legal descriptions to match the FAA's database. These actions will support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

This action modifies the Class D airspace, Class E airspace area designated as a surface area (Class E2 surface area), and Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth (Class E5 airspace area) at Camp Guernsey Airport, Guernsey, WY. This modification supports the containment of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Additionally, this action updates the administrative caption of the airport's legal descriptions.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by an investigation of an in- service hydraulic fluid leakage event that indicated the potential use of an uncalibrated torque wrench when tightening the union fittings at the pressure and return interfaces of all three rudder hydraulic power control units (PCUs). This proposed AD would require properly torquing the rudder PCU hydraulic fittings and applying the torque seal on the rudder PCU hydraulic fittings, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) Update submitted by the Naples Airport Authority (NAA) for the Naples Municipal Airport (the Airport). On December 9, 2021, the FAA determined that Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs) submitted by the NAA were in compliance with applicable requirements. The NCP Update was submitted to the FAA for review on June 14, 2023. After completing initial reviews, the FAA accepted the Noise Compatibility Program and initiated the review process on June 18, 2024. On December 9, 2024 the FAA approved the Naples Airport NCP Update. The NCP contains one noise abatement measure, three land use measures, and six program management measures for which the NAA seeks approval. The noise abatement measure proposed at the airport is related to revised flight procedures. No action is taken at this time on the proposed noise abatement measure as it requires further FAA review. The FAA approved the nine other measures.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that the pivot door pressure seals on the thrust reverser fixed structure were found disbonded or missing on several airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the pivot door pressure seals and accomplishing applicable corrective actions. This AD also requires a functional test of the thrust reversers. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action adds the proposed amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-409 that was inadvertently omitted from the NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2024-2352. Additionally, this action corrects the OYVAY waypoint (WP) state location to Delaware in RNAV Route Q-437. This action supports the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route (NEC ACR) Optimization Project to improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

This amendment will allow the FAA to review and, if acceptable to the Administrator, recognize as valid air operator certificates issued by a Regional Safety Oversight Organization to foreign air carriers when the State of the Operator is a member of that Regional Safety Oversight Organization, for purposes of evaluating foreign applicants for operating specifications.