The Federal Register

Area Navigation (RNAV) and Miscellaneous Amendments; Aviation Rulemaking Committee Meeting

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

This document announces a public meeting of the Terminal Area Operations Aviation Rulemaking Committee (TAOARC) to discuss its recommended dispositions to public comments received in response to the proposed rule ``Area Navigation (RNAV) and Miscellaneous Amendments.''

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 155B Helicopters

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters. This proposal would require installing a tail rotor blade (blade)totorsion bar attachment bushing (bushing) with a tuning weight assembly on each blade of the Quiet Fenestron tail rotor, and replacing each blade attachment bushing. This proposal is prompted by a discovery of tail rotor induced vibration during flight tests. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent vibrations in the tail rotor and the pilot's antitorque pedals, blade pitch control failure, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS 365 N3 Helicopters

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters. This proposal would require installing a tail rotor blade (blade)totorsion bar attachment tuning weight assembly on each blade of the Quiet Fenestron tail rotor and replacing each blade attachment bushing. This proposal is prompted by the discovery of tail rotor induced vibrations during flight tests. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent vibration in the tail rotor and the pilot's antitorque pedals, blade pitch control failure, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S- 61L, S-61N, S-61-NM, and S-61R Helicopters

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) model helicopters. The AD would require installing a Number 5 bearing chip detector in each engine, installing an onboard chip detector annunciation system, and revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to add procedures for crew response to an onboard chip detector annunciation. This proposal is prompted by reports of the failure of the engine's Number 5 bearing that resulted in erratic movement of the highspeed enginetotransmission shaft (shaft), oil leakage, an in flight fire and an emergency landing. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect an impending engine bearing (bearing) failure and prevent a bearing failure, oil leakage, severing of the shaft housing, an uncontained inflight fire, and a subsequent immediate emergency landing.

Proposed Modification of the Minneapolis Class B Airspace Area; MN

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

This action proposes to modify the current Minneapolis, MN, Class B airspace area. Specifically, this action proposes airspace changes to contain large turbinepowered aircraft during operations to the new Runway 17/35 and to address an increase in aircraft operations to and from the MinneapolisSt. Paul International (WoldChamberlain) Airport (MSP). The FAA is proposing this action to enhance safety and improve the management of aircraft operations in the Minneapolis terminal area. Further, this effort supports the FAA's national airspace redesign goal of optimizing terminal and en route airspace areas to reduce aircraft delays and improve system capacity.

Environmental Impact Statement: Fond du Lac & Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed improvements of STH 23 between CTH K east of Fond du Lac in Fond du Lac County and CTH P west of Plymouth in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

Safety Advisory 2003-03

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2003-03, which provides additional information on the potential catastrophic failure of 100ton truck bolsters manufactured by National Castings of Mexico's (NCM) Sahagun, Mexico facility with Association of America Railroads (AAR) Identification Numbers B2410 and B2409 and National Patterns 52122 and 52202, respectively, used in 263,000 pound and 286,000 pound gross rail load freight cars. These two bolster patterns were manufactured by NCM from 1995 through 1998 and were installed on 29,186 U.S. freight cars of various type construction. Additionally, an overview of the railroad industry's AAR Safety Action Plan for appropriate handling and disposition of these cars is contained in this advisory.

Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of funds in fiscal year (FY) 2004 for the OvertheRoad Bus (OTRB) Accessibility Program, authorized by Section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21). The OTRB Accessibility Program makes funds available to private operators of overtheroad buses to finance the incremental capital and training costs of complying with DOT's over theroad bus accessibility final rule, published in a Federal Register notice on September 24, 1998. The OTRB Accessibility Program calls for national solicitation of applications, with grantees to be selected on a competitive basis. Federal transit funds are available to intercity fixedroute providers and other OTRB providers at up to 90 percent of the project cost.

FTA expects that in FY 2004, $5.25 million will be appropriated for intercity fixedroute service providers and $1.7 million will be appropriated for other overtheroad bus se

Freightliner LLC; Grant of Application for Decision for Determination of Inconsequential Non-Compliance

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

This notice grants the application by Freightliner LLC (Freightliner) on behalf of Thomas Built Buses, Inc. (Thomas) of High Point, North Carolina, to be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 for a noncompliance with 49 CFR 571.205, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205, ``Glazing Materials.'' Freightliner has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.'' Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 556, ``Exemption for Inconsequential Defect or Noncompliance,'' Freightliner has also applied to be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301, ``Motor Vehicle Safety.'' The basis of the grant is that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.

Notice of receipt of the application was published August 19, 2003, (68 FR 49841) affording an opportunity for comment. The comment closing date was September 18, 2003. No comments were rece

General Motors North America, Grant of Application for a Decision of inconsequential Noncompliance

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

General Motors North America (GM), has determined that approximately 251,000 model year 2003 Silverado/Sierra pickup trucks, Tahoe/Suburban/Escalade sport utility vehicles, and Savanna/Express vans do not comply with either paragraph S5.3.3(a) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 105, or paragraph S5.5.3 of FMVSS No. 135. The Silverado/Sierra pickup trucks and the Savanna/ Express vans are required to comply with FMVSS No. 105, while the Tahoe/ Escalade/Suburban sport utility vehicles are required to comply with FMVSS No. 135, based on gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR).

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), GM has applied for a determination that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Reports.'' Notice of receipt of GM's application was published in the Federal Register on June 5, 2003 with a 30day comment period (68 FR 33758). NHTSA received no commen

San Bernardino Associated Governments--Abandonment Exemption--in San Bernardino County, CA

Mon, Nov 24 2003 11:00:00 GMT

Consistent with the Surface Transportation Board's decision in Orange County Transportation Authority, Riverside County Transportation Commission, San Bernardino Associated Governments, San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board, North San Diego County Transit Development BoardAcquisition ExemptionThe Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, Finance Docket No. 32173 et al. (STB served Mar. 12, 1997) (Transit Agencies), San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) has filed a verified notice of exempt abandonment, and information otherwise required under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart FExempt Abandonments, to abandon any residual common carrier obligation on a 19.80mile line of railroad on the Baldwin Park line, formerly operated by Southern Pacific Transportation Company (SP), between milepost 515.70 at the San Bernardino/Los Angeles Counties, CA border and milepost 535.50 in San Bernardino County, CA.\1\ The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Codes 91701, 91730, 91739, 9176