Search Results for agency_names:"Transportation Department"

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is seeking public input to help identify U.S. shipyards capable of building icebreaker ships and to determine the necessary factors for enhancing domestic icebreaker production. This request is part of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact, a joint initiative with Canada and Finland to boost polar icebreaker capabilities and support each country's shipbuilding industry. Public comments are invited on various aspects, including shipyard capabilities and strategies to improve workforce development and collaboration under the ICE Pact framework. Comments must be submitted by April 9, 2025.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) targeting certain Piper Aircraft models. This directive was spurred by a report of wing separation due to fatigue cracking in an unseen area of the wing's main spar. The rule mandates that operators calculate service hours to plan inspections, check specific bolt holes for cracks, and replace any compromised wing spars. The overall objective is to address and mitigate the identified safety risks associated with these aircraft models.

The Maritime Administration, under the Department of Transportation, has received a request for a waiver of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws. This waiver would allow the vessel Never Enough II to carry up to twelve passengers for hire, and it is intended for charter fishing in North Carolina. The agency invites public comments on this waiver application and notes that if the waiver adversely affects U.S. vessel builders or businesses using U.S.-flag vessels, it will not be granted. Comments must be submitted by February 16, 2021, and will be made publicly available.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule amending, suspending, or removing certain Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), Takeoff Minimums, and Obstacle Departure Procedures for specific airports. These changes are necessary due to updates in criteria or shifts in the National Airspace System, like new navigational facilities or altering air traffic needs. This rule aims to ensure safe and efficient airspace use, supporting safe flight operations under instrument flight rules. The FAA determined that these updates are routine and don't significantly affect small businesses economically.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has announced that it will not enforce compliance with the rule titled “Electronic Issuance of Aircraft Registration and Dealer Certificates” until March 20, 2025. Originally published on January 17, 2025, this rule allows for the electronic processing of these certificates. The delay is to provide time for review to ensure the rule aligns with legal and administration policies based on a directive from the President regarding a regulatory freeze. This measure gives officials a chance to evaluate the rule before its enforcement begins.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule concerning certain General Electric (GE) aircraft engines. It requires the replacement of specific cooling plates on these engines because they may not meet safety guidelines, potentially leading to an unsafe condition. This rule affects 228 engines in the U.S. registry and aims to prevent possible engine failures that could lead to damage. The rule will be effective from April 8, 2025, ensuring that planes equipped with these engines continue to operate safely.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice announcing the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) Reentry Site Operator License. This assessment evaluates the environmental impacts of potentially allowing Space Florida to operate a space reentry site at Cape Canaveral. If this proposal goes forward, Space Florida could offer the SLF as a landing site for commercial space vehicles. The FAA considered public comments from a previous draft and posted the final documents on their website.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has decided to provisionally renew an exemption for R.J. Corman Railroad Services, Cranemasters, Inc., and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, Inc., which allows certain employees to drive commercial motor vehicles beyond the typical Hours of Service (HOS) limits during emergency responses. This six-month exemption permits employees to drive beyond the typical 14-hour on-duty limit and extends the 60- or 70-hour limits by six more hours to manage unplanned events such as derailments and storms. FMCSA encourages public comments on this decision by April 9, 2025. The renewal has specific terms to ensure safety, including mandatory training for drivers and using escort vehicles.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented a new rule to establish Class E airspace starting 700 feet above the ground at ECU Health Bertie Hospital Heliport in Windsor, NC. This airspace designation is essential to support new area navigation (RNAV) using the global positioning system (GPS) for instrument approaches, ensuring safe and efficient instrument flight operations. The rule comes into effect on June 12, 2025, following a proposal published in 2024, to which no public comments were received. This measure is categorized as routine, with minimal expected economic impact and no significant environment effects.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a new rule affecting certain Airbus SAS airplanes based on reports of incorrect information about trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs). This rule mandates contacting Collins Aerospace for updated certificates and potentially replacing the affected parts to ensure safety. The FAA has implemented this rule without the usual public comment period due to the immediate safety concern, requiring compliance to prevent potential aircraft control problems. Public comments are still welcome until March 28, 2025.