Search Results for keywords:"transportation safety"

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established a new rule for ATR—GIE Avions de Transport Régional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. This rule requires replacing faulty Angle of Attack (AoA) probes that may not activate the stick pusher, a safety mechanism, in a timely manner, especially at low airspeeds and when flaps are extended. This condition could potentially lead to a loss of airplane control. The rule, effective April 4, 2025, aligns with a directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and prohibits installing the affected parts in these aircraft.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Part of the Department of Transportation, plans to renew an Information Collection Request (ICR) concerning waiver and exemption requirements. This is part of their effort to estimate the time and effort applicants must invest to comply with reporting requirements. A prior notice published on December 6, 2024, did not receive any public comments. The agency is increasing the estimated annual burden hours, citing a rise in expected applications, and invites further comments to assess the necessity and burden of this information collection by May 16, 2025.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced new guidelines for State Highway Safety Offices to follow in their Highway Safety Plans. These guidelines outline updated performance measures aimed at improving traffic safety. The performance measures are categorized into universal, strategic core, and state-developed, allowing states flexibility to address their specific safety concerns while focusing on national issues like fatalities and injuries. These changes aim to enhance transparency, improve program outcomes, and reduce burdens on states.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is seeking to amend its Positive Train Control Safety Plan. Amtrak wants to increase the maximum speed of its trains from 150 miles per hour to 160 miles per hour. The FRA is inviting public comments on this request before December 23, 2024. The proposed changes involve Amtrak’s Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II and may lead to modifications of existing train control systems.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. engines, specifically the PW535E and PW535E1 models. This directive is in response to findings from a design review that showed some bolts on the engines might crack due to low-cycle fatigue, which poses a safety risk. The AD mandates routine inspections and potential replacements of these bolts to prevent any danger to the aircraft. Compliance with these rules is required by April 23, 2025, and aims to ensure the continued safe operation of aircraft using these engines.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a part of the Department of Transportation, has extended the comment period by 90 days for a proposed update to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, which deals with child restraint systems. This extension follows requests from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, who needed more time due to COVID-19 related challenges and the necessity for in-depth evaluations of the new testing methods. The proposed changes include using a new test sled assembly and other modernized test procedures. The public can submit comments until April 5, 2021, through various methods such as an online portal or mail.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued an emergency order that mandates the wearing of face masks by railroad personnel to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as directed by the CDC. This order, effective March 1, 2021, applies to all freight rail operations and certain passenger rail operations under FRA’s jurisdiction, though not in areas already covered by the TSA’s mask requirements. The FRA’s decision follows inconsistent mask-wearing practices observed by inspectors and aims to protect railroad workers, inspectors, and public health. Non-compliance may result in penalties, and specific exemptions exist for certain situations and individuals.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule regarding a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A330 airplanes. This directive was prompted by contamination issues in the engine pylon fire detectors, which could lead to an undetected fire. The rule requires replacing the contaminated parts and bans the installation of any affected parts. This action is based on a European directive and aims to prevent safety hazards and ensure the safe operation of these aircraft within the United States.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has received applications from 10 individuals seeking exemptions from the hearing requirements that are typically needed to operate commercial motor vehicles interstate. If approved, these exemptions would allow hard of hearing and deaf individuals to drive commercial vehicles across state lines. The public is invited to comment on these exemption requests by January 27, 2025, using various methods, such as online submission, mail, or fax. The FMCSA will review all submissions to determine if the exemptions maintain an equivalent or greater level of safety.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has finalized a rule changing the 5.9 GHz band to support cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology, which is intended to improve transportation safety and efficiency. By 2027, existing systems using older technology known as Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) must transition to C-V2X, as the DSRC licenses will no longer be issued. The rule outlines technical guidelines for both roadside and vehicle units, emphasizes message priority for safety communications, and does not require compensation for entities transitioning to the new technology. The FCC expects these changes to enhance traffic safety while supporting the development of new transportation technologies.