🌬️EPA Approves Kansas Air Plan; Emission Inventory and Fees Revised
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) and Operating Permits Program and the 112(l) plan submitted by the State of Kansas on February 20, 2023. The revised Kansas rules update the Class I emission fee and emissions inventory regulations, establish a Class II fee schedule and ensure that Kansas's Operating Permits Program is adequately funded. Approval of these revisions ensures consistency between the State and federally-approved rules and does not impact air quality.
Learn More🚁New Airworthiness Directive for Bell Textron Helicopters
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited (BTCL) Model 505 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of possible chafing in certain locations between the basic and supplemental helicopter wiring and the structure. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the wire harnesses at certain locations for damage, and if any wire damage is found, repairing the damaged wire/bundles, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Learn More🌍Allegheny County Redesignation for Sulfur Dioxide Standards Approved
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving both a redesignation request and state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted on November 14, 2023 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on behalf of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). The request asked the EPA to redesignate the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania area from nonattainment to attainment for the 2010 1-hour primary sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS), while the revision included Allegheny County's maintenance plan for the 2010 1-hour primary SO<INF>2</INF> standard for the Allegheny County Area. The EPA is approving this redesignation of the Allegheny County Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS and the revision to the Pennsylvania SIP in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Learn More🛩️FAA Issues New Airworthiness Directive for Bell Helicopters
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-24- 09, which applied to certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 430 helicopters. AD 2021-24-09 required a visual inspection of the main rotor (M/R) pitch link clevis (clevis), rod end, and a certain part- numbered universal bearing, performing a purge grease, and performing a magnetic particle inspection of each M/R clevis, and depending on the inspection results, removing or replacing certain parts and performing additional actions. AD 2021-24-09 also required recurring inspections of each M/R clevis and each universal bearing. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-24-09, the manufacturer has reduced the life limits of the affected parts and introduced new M/R pitch link assemblies by re- identifying the M/R pitch link assemblies that were required to be inspected by AD 2021-24-09. This AD requires similar actions as AD 2021-24-09 but reduces the life limits and requires replacing the M/R pitch link assemblies with re-identified part numbered assemblies. These actions are specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Learn More✈️Proposed Amendment to Class E Airspace in Iron Mountain, MI
This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Iron Mountain/Kingsford, MI. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Iron Mountain very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.
Learn More✈️Proposed Class E Airspace Modification at Yellowstone Regional Airport
This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth to provide additional instrument flight procedure containment at Yellowstone Regional Airport, Cody, WY. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's Class E airspace legal description. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.
Learn More✈️New Airworthiness Directives for General Electric Jet Engines Proposed
The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that applied to certain General Electric Company (GE) Model CF34- 10E2A1, CF34-10E6, CF34-10E6A1, CF34-10E7, and CF34-10E7-B engines having certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) front rotating air seals installed. This action revises the NPRM by adding Model CF34-10E5 and CF34-10E5A1 engines to the applicability. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the agency is requesting comments on this SNPRM.
Learn More🚁FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for Airbus Helicopters
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of false engine fire warnings. This proposed AD would require replacing affected engine fire detectors and prohibit installing an affected engine fire detector or an engine that contains an affected engine fire detector, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Learn More🚁Proposed Airworthiness Directive for Airbus Helicopters
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, EC635T2+, MBB- BK 117 C-2, MBB-BK 117 D-2, and MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a review of design data and the determination for recalculation of accumulated hoist boom cycles (cycles) and repetitive inspections. This proposed AD would require determining the total cycles of certain hoist boom assemblies, inspecting those hoist boom assemblies, and depending on the results, taking corrective action. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing those hoist boom assemblies unless certain requirements are met. These actions are specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Learn More✈️Proposed Amendment to Class E Airspace at Nappanee, IN
This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Nappanee, IN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Goshen very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the Nappanee Municipal Airport, Nappanee, IN, would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.
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