Safety Rules and Regs

Air Safety Week, May 26, 2008

Congestion Management Rule for John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to establish procedures to address congestion in the New York City area by assigning slots at John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty (Newark) International Airports in a way that allows carriers to respond to market forces to drive efficient airline behavior. This proposal is a companion to a separate rulemaking initiative addressing congestion mitigation at New York's LaGuardia airport. Today's proposal is similar to what we have proposed for LaGuardia airport, but it takes into consideration the characteristics of both JFK and Newark, including the large number of international flights at these airports and our international obligations. The FAA proposes to extend the caps on the operations at the two airports, assign to existing operators the majority of slots at the airports, and create a market by annually auctioning off a limited number of slots in each of the first five years of this rule. The FAA is proposing two alternatives. Under the first alternative, the assignment of slots at JFK and Newark would be conducted through a uniform mechanism. The FAA would auction off a portion of the slots and would use the proceeds to mitigate congestion and delay in the New York City area. Under the second alternative, the same auction procedure would apply at Newark as under the first alternative but at JFK the auction proceeds would go to the carrier holding the slot rather than to the FAA. For both alternatives, this proposal also contains provisions for minimum usage, capping unscheduled operations, and withdrawal for operational need. The FAA proposes to sunset the rule in ten years.

Airworthiness Directives; EADS SOCATA Model TBM 700 Airplanes Final Rule; Request for Comments. SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authorities of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: A rupture of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling system pulley drive assembly has reportedly been found. Such a failure could lead to the loss of the alternator and vapor cycle cooling systems and could also cause mechanical damage inside the powerplant compartment. This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co. KG. (RRD) TAY 650-15 Turbofan Engines Final Rule. SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: Strip results from some of the engines listed in the applicability section of this directive revealed excessively corroded low pressure turbine disks stage 2 and stage 3. The corrosion is considered to be caused by the environment in which these engines are operated. Following a life assessment based on the strip findings it is concluded that inspections for corrosion attack are required. The action specified by this AD is intended to avoid a failure of a low pressure turbine disk stage 2 or stage 3 due to potential corrosion problems which could result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane. We are issuing this AD to detect corrosion that could cause stage 2 or stage 3 disk of the low pressure turbine to fail and result in an uncontained failure of the engine.

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-200B, 747- 200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP Series Airplanes Final Rule; Request for Comments. SUMMARY: This AD requires an inspection to determine if acceptable external skin doublers are installed at the stringer 6 (S-6) lap splices, between station (STA) 340 and STA 400. For airplanes without the acceptable external skin doublers, this AD requires repetitive related investigative actions and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides an optional terminating modification for the repetitive related investigative actions. This AD results from a report of cracked fastener holes at the right S-6 lap splice between STA 340 and STA 380. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the fuselage skin, which could result in rapid decompression and loss of structural integrity.

Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed Model L-1011 Series Airplanes Final Rule. SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Lockheed Model L-1011 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the FAA- approved maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. This AD also requires the accomplishment of certain fuel system modifications, the initial inspections of certain repetitive fuel system limitations to phase in those inspections, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.