Significant Regulatory Activity

Air Safety Week, July 25, 2005

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 28

Final rule

FR Doc 05-12635

Docket No. 2001-NM-296-AD

AD 2005-13-34

Electrical system safety

Summary of Situation

Boeing 777-200 and -300 series airplanes.

Requires replacement of ceiling and sidewall light connectors to prevent overheating, which can lead to smoke and possible fire in the passenger cabin (see also July 11 final rule below regarding lighting problems in cargo compartment of same aircraft).

Action Date & Comments

Effective Aug. 2.

The manufacturer requested that the AD be withdrawn, noting that the extensive rework called for would increase the probability of latent failures because of the large number of connectors involved and the close space in which to do the work. The FAA says it contacted the manufacturer, who now agrees that "an unsafe condition exists" and that the action called for is appropriate.

Cost estimated at $9,300 per airplane.

About 264 airplanes in the worldwide fleet, of which 72 are U.S. registered -200s.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 30

Final rule

FR Doc 05-12930

Docket No. FAA-2005-15421

Military personnel serving outside the U.S.

Summary of Situation

The FAA proposes additional time for U.S. military personnel to renew their flight instructor certificates, inspection authorizations and airman written test reports.

Action Date & Comments

Effective June 30, 2005, through June 20, 2010.

Seems to apply particularly to Reserve Component (RC) personnel assigned to Iraq and Afghanistan, and allows additional time for renewal.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

July 1

Notice of availability and request for public comment

FR Doc 05-13080

Guidance for certifying military derived aircraft

Summary of Situation

The FAA seeks comments on the adequacy of guidance for certifying new- production, military-derived aircraft for use in restricted special purpose operations.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Aug. 30.

It is apparent from a reading of the draft guidance that this applies significantly to firefighting aircraft, such as, "Several accidents in recent years involving military surplus aircraft resulted in a review of the overall safety of military aircraft performing special purpose operations."

"To address the safety concerns identified in the Blue Ribbon Panel's December 2002 report, we support the notion of the availability" of new military aircraft for firefighting missions, the guidance said. (For background, see ASW, Dec. 9, 2002)

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

July 5

Final rule

FR Doc 05-12842

Docket No. FAA-2005-20872

AD 2005-13-36

Flight control safety

Summary of Situation

Learjet Model 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 31, 31A, 35, 35A, and 36 series airplanes.

Requires inspection of aileron control cable to prevent severe weakening and consequent reduced controllability.

Action Date & Comments

AD effective Aug. 9.

Prompted by report of aileron cable failure.

Cost $65 per airplane.

Affects 1,704 airplanes worldwide, of which 1,136 are in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

July 6

Notice

FR Doc 05-13267

Public collection of information

Summary of Situation

The FAA requests comments on the survey of human factors in maintenance.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Sept. 6.

To be a Web-based survey of Part 145 repair stations, conducted by the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) on behalf of the FAA aviation safety (AVS) organization.

July 6

Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), reopening of comment period

FR Doc 05-13221

Docket No. FAA-2004-19540

Electrical system safety

Summary of Situation

Boeing 757 series airplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce engines.

Expands on original NPRM by adding a requirement for p-clamps and associated re-routing of the wire bundles.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Aug. 1.

Given the expanded scope of the action, the comment period is reopened.

Cost varies from $1,640 to $3,460 per airplane.

About 618 airplanes in worldwide service, of which 342 are in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

July 6

Notice of proposed rulemaking

FR Doc 05-13225

Docket No. FAA-2005-21716

Flight control safety

Summary of Situation

Boeing 767-200 and -300 series airplanes.

Requires installation of modified unit to preclude jam in the pilot's aileron control system, which could affect lateral controllability of the airplane.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Aug. 22.

Based on field report of seized bearings in override system attributed to corrosion. Described as a latent failure that does not affect normal operation.

Cost about $800 per airplane.

About 127 airplanes in the worldwide fleet.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

July 6

Final rule

FR Doc 05-13142

Docket No. 2004-NM-37-AD

AD 2005-14-03

Engine safety

Summary of Situation

Embraer EMB-135 and EMB-145 airplanes.

Requires replacement of engine-driven hydraulic pump to prevent oil leakage, which could result in in-flight engine shutdown.