Significant Regulatory Activity

Air Safety Week, Jan 9, 2006

Fuel system safety: Final rule, request for comments -- Airbus A318-100, A319-100, A320-111 and -200, and A321-100 and -200 airplanes

Dec. 27 FR Doc 05-24344 Docket No. FAA-2005-23382 AD 2005-26-07

Requires revising airplane flight manual such that, if a fuel leak is suspected, it must be isolated. As the FAA says, "Once a fuel leak is detected, fuel management procedures are a critical factor in limiting the consequences of the fuel leak."

As the discussion part of this rulemaking indicates, this AD relates to the total loss of fuel on an Air Transat A330-200 in 2001 while the airplane was cruising high over the Atlantic Ocean. The fuel escaped out of a leaking fuel line fitting, and the flight crew allowed themselves to be convinced that the computers were peddling bad data. When both engines failed from fuel starvation, the crew was able to pilot the airplane to a deadstick landing in the Azores (see ASW, Nov. 8, 2004).

As this action indicates, the fuel systems on these Airbus aircraft are similar to that of the A330-200 and may be subject to the same unsafe condition, hence this rulemaking. Airbus has issued temporary revisions to the airplane flight manual, which this rulemaking directs be incorporated.

AD effective Jan. 11. Comments due Feb. 27.

There is a lot at stake here for both Airbus and Boeing -- not least the future of ETOPS (extended range twin engine operations) and the fuel economies associated with long-haul operations with twins. There is a strong incentive to make sure what happened on the Air Transat flight remains a statistical blip.

Passenger safety: NPRM, request for comments -- Unreliable design of seat belt attachment fittings on passenger seats.

Dec. 28, 2006 FR Doc 05-24501 Policy Statement No. ANM-04-115-28

The proposal will provide FAA certification policy for compliance with 14 CFR 25.601 regarding an unreliable design of seat belt attachment fitting installed on passenger seats. The FAA has determined that this particular design does not comply with Sec. 25.601. This determination means that the FAA will not approve any additional installations of this design of seat belt attachment fittings on passenger seats.

Comments are due Jan. 27.

ADS-B and TIS-B systems: Notice of availability, request for comments -- Proposed technical standard order (TSO)

Dec. 28, 2006 FR Doc. 05-24502

This notice applies to C166, extended squitter automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information service-broadcast (TIS-B) equipment operating on the radio frequency of 1090 megahertz (MHz), issued Sept. 20, 2004. This revised TSO tells persons seeking a TSO authorization or letter of design approval (LODA) what minimum performance standards (MPS) their extended squitter ADS-B and TIS-B equipment must meet to be identified with the applicable TSO marking.

Comments are due Jan. 27.

Reporting Procedures: Final rule and withdrawal of delayed final rule -- Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs)

Dec. 29, 2006 FR Doc. 05-24536 Docket No. FAA-2000-7952

FAA is withdrawing a delayed final rule originally published on Sept. 15, 2000. That final rule would have amended the reporting requirements for air carriers and repair facility operators concerning failures, malfunctions, and defects of aircraft, aircraft engines, systems, and components. FAA wants the time to reexamine the SDR program and consider the comments received since the delayed final rule was published.

In this action FAA is also adopting several amendments that improve the functioning of the SDR program.

The amendments are effective Jan. 30.

Structural inspections: Final rule -- Airbus Model A300 B2 and A300 B4 series airplanes; A300-600 series airplanes; Model A310-200 and A310-300 series airplanes.

Dec. 29, 2006 FR Doc. 05-24527 Docket No. FAA-2005-22148

This new AD requires repetitive inspections for corrosion on the rear pressure bulkhead between stringer (STGR) 27 (right hand) and STGR27 (left hand), and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This action is being taken to detect and correct corrosion at the lower rim area of the fuselage rear pressure bulkhead, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the bulkhead, and consequent decompression of the cabin.

The AD is effective on Feb. 3.

Structural safety: Final rule, request for comments -- Thermal/acoustic insulation on transport category airplanes.

Dec. 30, 2006 FR Doc. 05-24654 Docket No. FAA-2005-23462

This action modifies the requirements for improved flammability characteristics of thermal/acoustic insulation used as replacements on airplanes made before Sept. 2, 2005. This action is taken because FAA has learned that some of its requirements would have a far wider impact than originally intended, and would have no significant impact on airplane fire safety. Also, certain compliant materials were not readily available.

The rule is effective Jan. 30. Comments are due Feb. 28.

Portable Electronic devices: Meeting notice -- RTCA Special Committee 202: Portable Electronic Devices.