Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 70541

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747–

100, 747–100B, 747–100B SUD, 747–200B, 

747–200C, 747–200F, and 747–300 series 

airplanes; and Model 747SP and 747SR series 

airplanes; certificated in any category; having 

variable numbers listed in Table 1 of this AD 

or modified in accordance with 

Supplemental Type Certificate SA960GL or 

SA1080EA–D; excluding airplanes on which 

Boeing Service Bulletin 747–34–2294, dated 

May 25, 1989, or Boeing Service Bulletin 

747–34–2296, dated July 1, 1989, has been 

accomplished.

TABLE 1.—CERTAIN APPLICABLE

AIRPLANES BY VARIABLE NUMBERS

RA521–RA528 inclusive. 

RA532–RA535 inclusive. 

RA537–RA548 inclusive. 

RA671–RA675 inclusive. 

RA677. 

RB071–RB075 inclusive. 

RB601–RB607 inclusive. 

RB681–RB685 inclusive. 

RB687. 

RB690–RB693 inclusive. 

RB695–RB697 inclusive. 

RB721–RB723 inclusive. 

RD055. 

RD082. 

RD083. 

RD221–RD227 inclusive. 

RD231–RD235 inclusive. 

RD301. 

RD302. 

RD381–RD383 inclusive. 

RD461. 

RD601–RD607 inclusive. 

RD741. 

RD781–RD783 inclusive. 

RG173. 

RG174. 

RH101. 

RH102. 

RJ321. 

RJ322. 

RR024. 

RR025. 

RR261–RR263 inclusive. 

RR264–RR267 inclusive. 

RR361. 

RR362. 

RR451. 

RR522. 

RR526. 

RR551–RR556 inclusive. 

RR566. 

RS001. 

RS002. 

RS211. 

RS212. 

RS221. 

RS222. 

RS232. 

RS233. 

RS235. 

RS236. 

RS237–RS241 inclusive. 

RS251–RS259 inclusive. 

RS263. 

TABLE 1.—CERTAIN APPLICABLE AIRPLANES BY VARIABLE NUMBERS—

Continued

RS265–RS268 inclusive. 

RS292. 

RS311–RS320 inclusive. 

RS699. 

RS701–RS703 inclusive. 

RS711–RS713 inclusive. 

RS731. 

RS732. 

RS741–RS743 inclusive. 

RS771. 

RS786. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD was prompted by reports of 

unexpected autopilot disconnects induced by 

the passing of another airplane within 1,000 

feet below the airplane while they were 

operating in reduced vertical separation 

minimum (RVSM) airspace. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to prevent unexpected 

disconnect of the autopilot during operation 

in RVSM airspace due to close passage of 

another airplane, which may result in 

altitude deviation, and consequently, could 

lead to a possible mid-air collision or a near 

miss with aggressive evasive action (by either 

or both airplanes). Aggressive maneuvering at 

cruise altitudes and airspeeds could result in 

loss of control of the airplane and/or injury 

to passengers and crew.

Compliance 

(e) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Airplane Flight Manual Revision 

(f) Within 10 days after the effective date 

of this AD, revise the Limitations section of 

the Boeing 747 Airplane Flight Manual 

(AFM) to include the following statement. 

This may be done by inserting a copy of this 

AD in the AFM. 

‘‘Operation of the autopilot/flight director 

in command mode with Performance 

Management System (PMS) selected on the 

speed mode switch during cruise in Reduced 

Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) 

airspace is prohibited. 

Use of PMS generated airspeeds and 

autopilot modes (e.g., IAS/Mach) with 

manually crew-entered airspeeds (via Mode 

Selector Panel) are allowed.’’

Note 1: When a statement identical to that 

in paragraph (f) of this AD has been included 

in the general revisions of the AFM, the 

general revisions may be inserted into the 

AFM, and the copy of this AD may be 

removed from the AFM.

Special Flight Permit 

(g) Special flight permits (14 CFR 21.197 

and 21.199) are not allowed. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(h) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested in accordance with the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(i) None.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 30, 2004. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26792 Filed 12–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19328; Airspace 

Docket No. 04–ACE–57] 

Modification of Class E Airspace; 

Nebraska City, NE

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of 

effective date. 

SUMMARY: This document confirms the 

effective date of the direct final rule 

which revises Class E airspace at 

Nebraska City, NE.

DATES: Effective Date: 0901 UTC, 

January 20, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brenda Mumper, Air Traffic Division, 

Airspace Branch, ACE–520A, DOT 

Regional Headquarters Building, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone: 

(816) 329–2524.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA 

published this direct final rule with a 

request for comments in the Federal 

Register on October 26, 2004 (69 FR 

62403). The FAA uses the direct final 

rulemaking procedure for a noncontroversial rule where the FAA 

believes that there will be no adverse 

public comment. This direct final rule 

advised the public that no adverse 

comments were anticipated, and that 

unless a written adverse comment, or a 

written notice of intent to submit such 

an adverse comment, were received 

within the comment period, the 

regulation would become effective on 

January 20, 2005. No adverse comments 

were received, and thus this notice 

confirms that this direct final rule will 

become effective on that date.

Issued in Kansas City, MO on November 

26, 2004. 

Elizabeth S. Wallis, 

Acting Area Director, Western Flight Services 

Operations.

[FR Doc. 04–26848 Filed 12–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

70542 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19326; Airspace 

Docket No. 04–ACE–55] 

Modification of Class E Airspace; 

Oberlin, KS

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of 

effective date. 

SUMMARY: This document confirms the 

effective date of the direct final rule 

which revises Class E airspace at 

Oberlin, KS.

DATES: Effective Date: 0901 UTC, 

January 20, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division, 

Airspace Branch, ACE–520C, DOT 

Regional Headquarters Building, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone: 

(816) 329–2525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA 

published this direct final rule with a 

request for comments in the Federal 

Register on October 26, 2004 (69 FR 

62404). The FAA uses the direct final 

rulemaking procedure for a noncontroversial rule where the FAA 

believes that there will be no adverse 

public comment. This direct final rule 

advised the public that no adverse 

comments were anticipated, and that 

unless a written adverse comment, or a 

written notice of intent to submit such 

an adverse comment, were received 

within the comment period, the 

regulation would become effective on 

January 20, 2005. No adverse comments 

were received, and thus this notice 

confirms that this direct final rule will 

become effective on that date.

Issued in Kansas City, MO on November 

26, 2004. 

Elizabeth S. Wallis, 

Acting Area Director, Western Flight Services 

Operations.

[FR Doc. 04–26849 Filed 12–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19671; Airspace 

Docket No. 04–AWA–07] 

RIN 2120–AA66

Modification of Control Areas 1143L 

and 1146L

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This action revises the legal 

descriptions of Control Areas 1143L and 

1146L to remove references to the 

Nantucket, MA, Nondirectional Beacon 

(NDB), which has been taken out of 

service and decommissioned by the 

FAA. The legal descriptions are being 

revised to use a geographical point 

based on latitude/longitude coordinates 

in place of the former NDB references. 

This action will enhance safety by 

removing references to a 

decommissioned navigational aid from 

controlled airspace descriptions.

EFFECTIVE DATES: 0901 UTC, March 17, 

2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul 

Gallant, Airspace and Rules, System 

Operations and Safety, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Control areas are Class E airspace 

areas that provide controlled airspace 

(beyond 12 nautical miles from the coast 

of the United States) where there is a 

requirement to provide IFR en route air 

traffic control (ATC) services and within 

which the United States is applying 

domestic ATC procedures. ControlAreas 

1143L and 1146L are located offshore to 

the east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

On June 17, 2004, the FAA’s New 

England Regional Office requested that 

action be taken to modify the legal 

descriptions of Control Areas 1143L and 

1146L to remove references to the 

Nantucket, MA, NDB. The NDB has 

been removed from service and 

decommissioned by the FAA, therefore, 

it can no longer be used in legal 

descriptions. 

The Rule 

This action amends Title 14 Code of 

Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 

(part 71) by revising the legal 

descriptions of Control Areas 1143L and 

1146L to remove references to the 

Nantucket, MA, NDB which has been 

removed from service. This 

modification substitutes the latitude/

longitude coordinates of the former 

geographic position of the Nantucket 

NDB (lat. 40°16′07′′ N., long. 70°10′48′′

W.) in place of all references to the NDB 

in the two Control Area descriptions. 

This modification, therefore, simply 

changes the means of identifying points 

in the legal descriptions without 

altering the actual boundaries or 

altitudes of control areas. Further, this 

change will enhance safety by removing 

from the descriptions a navigation aid 

that is no longer available for pilots’ use 

in navigation. 

Because this action is an 

administrative change that does not 

alter the existing boundaries or altitudes 

of the Control Areas, and is needed for 

safety reasons, I find that notice and 

public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) 

are impracticable and contrary to the 

public interest. 

Control Areas are published in 

paragraph 6007, of FAA Order 7400.9M, 

dated August 30, 2004, and effective 

September 16, 2004, which is 

incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 

71.1. The Control Areas listed in this 

document will be published 

subsequently in the Order. 

The FAA has determined that this 

regulation only involves an established 

body of technical regulations for which 

frequent and routine amendments are 

necessary to keep them operationally 

current. Therefore, this regulation: (1) is 

not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’

under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not 

a ‘‘significant rule’’ under Department of 

Transportation (DOT) Regulatory 

Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, 

February 26, 1979); and (3) does not 

warrant preparation of a Regulatory 

Evaluation as the anticipated impact is 

so minimal. Since this is a routine 

matter that will only affect air traffic 

procedures and air navigation, it is 

certified that this rule, when 

promulgated, will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities under the 

criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 

Environmental Review 

The FAA has determined that this 

action qualifies for categorical exclusion 

under the National Environmental 

Policy Act in accordance with FAA 

Order 1050.1E, Policies and Procedures 

for Considering Environmental Impacts. 

This airspace action is not expected to 

cause any potentially significant 

environmental impacts, and no 

extraordinary circumstances exist that 

warrant preparation of an 

environmental assessment.