Significant Regulatory Activity

Air Safety Week, Dec 5, 2005

Please note the Nov. 23 proposed mandate for fuel tank inerting.

Electrical system safety: Extension of comment period -- Relates to advisory circulars (ACs) published concurrent with Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) ruling

Nov. 8 FR Doc 05-22250

Extends the comment period for the EWIS draft ACs from Dec. 5th and 19th to Feb. 3, 2006, thereby making those comments due the same time as commentary on the basic rule. This is important, as 12 draft ACs apply, and the proposed rule must be evaluated in light of what the ACs have to say.

Electrical system safety: Final rule -- Boeing B727 airplanes

Nov. 8 FR Doc 05-22214 Docket No. FAA-2005-21975 AD 2005-23-07

Prohibits resetting a tripped circuit breaker for a fuel pump. Results from design reviews of fuel system safety (see ASW, July 11).

AD effective Dec. 13.

By this action, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking to prevent ignition sources inside fuel tanks. By separate action, outlined below in the Nov. 23 entry below, the FAA seeks to contain the hazard posed by flammable vapors.

Engine strut safety: NPRM -- Boeing B777-200 and -300 series airplanes

Nov. 9 FR Doc 05-22306 Docket No. FAA-2005-22874

Proposes corrective action to prevent cracking in aft fairings of engine struts, which allows engine heat to enter, degrading thermal/acoustic insulation blankets and the cracking can become a leak path for hydraulic fluid, which can lead to an uncontrolled fire in the engine strut area.

Costs estimated at $15,900 to $16,800 per airplane.

Affects 294 airplanes worldwide, of which 72 are in U.S. registry.

Comments due Dec. 27.

Aviation employee safety: Notice -- The FAA outlines random alcohol and drug testing parameters

Nov. 10 FR Doc 05-22398

The FAA has determined that the minimum random alcohol and drug-testing rate shall be 10 percent for alcohol and 25 percent for drugs for the period Jan. 1, 2006, through Dec. 31, 2006. This is based on current results of those who test positive well below these rates, which therefore are to remain in effect. No comment is invited.

Supplemental oxygen safety: Final rule, request for comments ? amended regulation

Nov. 10 FR Doc 05-22456 Docket No. FAA-2005-22915

Changes the flight level at which the remaining pilot must be on supplemental oxygen if the other pilot leaves his control station from "above flight level [FL] 250" to "above flight level 350." The FAA argues that this action will "reduce needless expenditures to replace oxygen equipment that is subject to excessive wear and tear."

Some commentators to the original 2004 proposal sought relief up to flight level 410. The FAA disagreed, saying:

"The FAA finds that FL 250 could safely be raised but an increase to FL 410, as requested, would not provide an acceptable level of safety. After reviewing the different TUCs [times of useful consciousness], the FAA finds that FL 350 is the highest FL that provides acceptable TUCs. The mean TUC at FL 350 is 34 seconds and the minimum observed TUC is 17 seconds. ... [This] is the shortest TUC to which the FAA can safely revise the affected regulation."

The new rule is effective Jan. 9, 2006. Any comments are due Dec. 27, 2005.

Fuel system safety: Final rule ? British Aerospace BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series airplanes

Nov. 16 FR Doc 05-22592 Docket No. FAA-2005-22427 AD 2005-23-15

Requires revisions to airplane flight manual and the maintenance program to prevent ignition of flammable vapors in the fuel system. Stems from SFAR 88 mandated review of fuel system safety (see ASW, July 11).

Cost estimated at $130 per airplane; 11 airplanes in U.S. registry.

AD effective Dec. 21.

This is one of a number of smaller airplanes listed in Appendix 5 of proposed AC 21.981-2A that are candidates for fuel tank inerting (see related Nov. 23 and Nov. 28 entries below).

Fuel system safety: Final rule -- Boeing B737-600, -700, -800 and -900 airplanes

Nov. 16 FR Doc 05-22593 Docket No. FAA-2005-21714 AD 2005-23-16

Requires modifying wire bundles above the center fuel tank to minimize potential for chafing and resulting arcing. Stems from SFAR 88 mandated review of fuel system safety (see ASW, July 11).

Cost about $1,700 per airplane. Affects 1,636 airplanes in the worldwide fleet, of which 650 are in U.S. registry.

AD effective Dec. 21.

Fuel system safety: Final rule -- Boeing B737s

Nov. 16 FR Doc 05-22591 Docket No. 2004-19539 AD 2005-23-17

Requires one-time inspection and corrective action to fix chafed wiring and resulting arcing behind the P15 refuel panel.

Cost $195 per airplane. Affects 4,254 airplanes worldwide, of which 1,653 are in U.S. registry.

AD effective Dec. 21.

Cabin fitting safety: Notice of availability of proposed advisory circular (AC) and request for comments -- FAA publishes proposed update to AC 25-17A, "Transport Airplane Cabin Interiors Crashworthiness Handbook"

Nov. 16 FR Doc 05-22651

This long-anticipated update runs to some 200 pages and covers such topics as:

* Emergency exits.

* Emergency exit marking and lighting.