Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 7523 

following service information on the date 

specified: 

(1) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747– 

27A2497, dated September 30, 2010, 

approved for IBR March 19, 2012. 

(2) For Boeing service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & 

Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 

2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; 

telephone 206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 

206–766–5680; email 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review 

copies of the referenced service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. 

For information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

(3) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, call 202–741– 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/ 

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

27, 2012. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3115 Filed 2–10–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0112; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–055–AD; Amendment 

39–16952; AD 2012–03–10] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Model A340–600 series 

airplanes. This AD requires modifying 

the fire extinguishing system from a 

three-bottles solution with 4 flow 

metering compact unit into a two-bottles 

solution with 2 flow metering systems 

equipped with upgraded water 

absorbing filter elements. This AD was 

prompted by reports of partial blockage 

of a certain water absorbing filter 

element. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent partial blockage of a certain 

water absorbing filter element, which 

could lead to reduction of the halon 

outflow, which leads to incapacity to 

maintain fire extinguishing agent 

concentration. Combined with fire, this 

condition could result in an 

uncontrolled fire in the affected 

compartment. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

February 28, 2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of February 28, 2012. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by March 29, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Operations office (telephone 

(800) 647–5527) is in the ADDRESSES

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1138; fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2010–0255, 

dated December 6, 2010 (referred to 

after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an 

unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states: 

During the qualification test campaign of 

the prototype Flow Metering Compact Unit 

(FMCU) Part Number (P/N) QA07907–03, 

partial blockage of the water absorbing filter 

element P/N QA06123 was observed several 

times. The blockage was created by carbon 

debris from the cartridge and from the burst 

disc of the Halon bottle. 

This water absorbing filter element is part 

of the FMCU, which are part of the Lower 

Deck Cargo Compartment (LDCC) fire 

extinguisher system used in some A340–600 

aeroplanes. 

Blockage of the water absorbing filter 

element could lead to reduction of the Halon 

outflow, leading to incapacity to maintain 

fire extinguishing agent concentration. 

Combined with fire, this condition could 

result in an uncontrolled fire in the affected 

compartment, which would constitute an 

unsafe condition. 

To avoid water absorbing filter element 

blockage, this [EASA] AD requires to convert 

the fire extinguishing system from the threebottles-system with 4 FMCU into a twobottles-system with 2 Flow Metering Systems 

(FMS) equipped with upgraded water 

absorbing filter elements. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Mandatory Service 

Bulletin A340–26–5020, including 

Appendix 01, dated June 3, 2010. The 

actions described in this service 

information are intended to correct the 

unsafe condition identified in the 

MCAI. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to our 

bilateral agreement with the State of 

Design Authority, we have been notified 

of the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI and service information 

referenced above. We are issuing this 

AD because we evaluated all pertinent 

information and determined the unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

There are no products of this type 

currently registered in the United States. 

However, this rule is necessary to 

ensure that the described unsafe 

condition is addressed if any of these 

products are placed on the U.S. Register 

in the future. 


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7524 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

Since there are currently no domestic 

operators of this product, notice and 

opportunity for public comment before 

issuing this AD are unnecessary. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not precede it by notice and 

opportunity for public comment. We 

invite you to send any written relevant 

data, views, or arguments about this AD. 

Send your comments to an address 

listed under the ADDRESSES section. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2012–0112; 

Directorate Identifier 2011–NM–055– 

AD’’ at the beginning of your comments. 

We specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://www.

regulations.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this AD. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. ‘‘Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs,’’ describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in ‘‘Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: 

General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this AD will not 

have federalism implications under 

Executive Order 13132. This AD will 

not have a substantial direct effect on 

the States, on the relationship between 

the national government and the States, 

or on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this AD: 

1. Is not a ’’significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

2. Is not a ’’significant rule’’ under the 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in 

Alaska; and 

4. Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this AD and placed it in the AD docket. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as 

follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

2012–03–10 Airbus: Amendment 39–16952; 

Docket No. FAA–2012–0112; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–055–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes 

effective February 28, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Model A340– 

642 airplanes, certificated in any category, all 

manufacturer serial numbers on which 

Airbus modification 47090 has been 

embodied in production; except those on 

which Airbus modification 51065 has been 

embodied in production. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 26: Fire Protection. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of partial 

blockage of a certain water absorbing filter 

element. We are issuing this AD to prevent 

partial blockage of a certain water absorbing 

filter element, which could lead to reduction 

of the halon outflow, which leads to 

incapacity to maintain fire extinguishing 

agent concentration. Combined with fire, this 

condition could result in an uncontrolled fire 

in the affected compartment. 

(f) Compliance 

You are responsible for having the actions 

required by this AD performed within the 

compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

(g) Actions 

Within 18 months after the effective date 

of this AD, modify the fire extinguishing 

system from a three-bottles solution with 4 

flow metering compact unit, into a twobottles solution with 2 flow metering systems 

equipped with upgraded water absorbing 

filter elements, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus 

Mandatory Service Bulletin A340–26–5020, 

including Appendix 01, dated June 3, 2010. 

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In 

accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, Washington 98057–3356; 

telephone (425) 227–1138; fax (425) 227– 

1149. Information may be emailed to: 

9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 

Before using any approved AMOC, notify 

your appropriate principal inspector, or 

lacking a principal inspector, the manager of 

the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. The AMOC 

approval letter must specifically reference 

this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain corrective 

actions from a manufacturer or other source, 

use these actions if they are FAA-approved. 

Corrective actions are considered FAAapproved if they are approved by the State 

of Design Authority (or their delegated 

agent). You are required to assure the product 

is airworthy before it is returned to service. 

(i) Related Information 

Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) European 

Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 

Directive 2010–0255, dated December 6, 

2010; and Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A340–26–5020, including Appendix 01, 

dated June 3, 2010; for related information. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 

Director of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference (IBR) of the 

following service information under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51: 


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 7525 

(i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A340–26–5020, including Appendix 01, 

dated June 3, 2010. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS—Airworthiness 

Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. 

(3) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go 

to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/

code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.

html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 

3, 2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3116 Filed 2–10–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0610; Airspace 

Docket No. 11–AWP–10] 

Revision of Class D and Class E 

Airspace; Hawthorne, CA 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This action revises Class D 

and Class E airspace at Jack Northrop 

Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, 

Hawthorne, CA. Additional controlled 

airspace is needed to accommodate 

aircraft departing and arriving under 

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at the 

airport. Also, the airspace designations 

are revised to show a new city location. 

This action is a result of the FAA’s 

biennial review, along with a study of 

the Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne 

Municipal Airport airspace area that 

further enhances the safety and 

management of aircraft operations at the 

airport. 

DATES: Effective date, 0901 UTC, May 

31, 2012. The Director of the Federal 

Register approves this incorporation by 

reference action under 1 CFR Part 51, 

subject to the annual revision of FAA 

Order 7400.9 and publication of 

conforming amendments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation 

Administration, Operations Support 

Group, Western Service Center, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; 

telephone (425) 203–4517. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

History 

On October 31, 2011, the FAA 

published in the Federal Register a 

notice of proposed rulemaking to amend 

controlled airspace at Hawthorne, CA 

(76 FR 67103). Interested parties were 

invited to participate in this rulemaking 

effort by submitting written comments 

on the proposal to the FAA. No 

comments were received. 

Class D airspace and Class E airspace 

designations are published in paragraph 

5000 and 6004, respectively, of FAA 

Order 7400.9V dated August 9, 2011, 

and effective September 15, 2011, which 

is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 

Part 71.1. The Class D airspace and 

Class E airspace designations listed in 

this document will be published 

subsequently in that Order. 

The Rule 

This action amends Title 14 Code of 

Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 71 by 

revising Class D airspace and Class E 

surface airspace designated as an 

extension to Class D surface area at Jack 

Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal 

Airport, Hawthorne, CA, creating 

additional airspace necessary for IFR 

departures and arrivals at the airport. 

This action, initiated by FAA’s biennial 

review of the Jack Northrop Field/ 

Hawthorne Municipal Airport airspace 

area, and based on results of a study 

conducted by the Los Angeles Visual 

Flight Rules (VFR) Task Force, and the 

Los Angeles Class B Workgroup, 

enhances the safety and management of 

aircraft operations at the airport. This 

action also revises the airspace 

designation for Class D and Class E 

airspace, changing the city location from 

Los Angeles, CA, to Hawthorne, CA. 

The FAA has determined 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 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 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. The FAA’s 

authority to issue rules regarding 

aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the 

U.S. Code. Subtitle 1, Section 106 

discusses the authority of the FAA 

Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation 

Programs, describes in more detail the 

scope of the agency’s authority. This 

rulemaking is promulgated under the 

authority described in Subtitle VII, Part 

A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that 

section, the FAA is charged with 

prescribing regulations to assign the use 

of airspace necessary to ensure the 

safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 

airspace. This regulation is within the 

scope of that authority as it revises 

controlled airspace at Jack Northrop 

Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, 

Hawthorne, CA. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71 

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, 

Navigation (air). 

Adoption of the Amendment 

In consideration of the foregoing, the 

Federal Aviation Administration 

amends 14 CFR Part 71 as follows: 

PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, 

B, C, D AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 

TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND 

REPORTING POINTS 

■ 1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 

Part 71 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 

40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959– 

1963 Comp., p. 389. 

§ 71.1 [Amended] 

■ 2. The incorporation by reference in 

14 CFR Part 71.1 of the Federal Aviation 

Administration Order 7400.9V, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, 

dated August 9, 2011, and effective 

September 15, 2011 is amended as 

follows: 

Paragraph 5000 Class D airspace. 

* * * * * 

AWP CA D Hawthorne, CA [Revised] 

Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal 

Airport, CA 

(Lat. 33°55′22′′ N., long. 118°20′07′′ W.) 

That airspace extending upward from the 

surface to and including 2,500 feet MSL 

within 2.6-mile radius of the Jack Northrop 

Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, and that 

airspace 1.5 miles north and 2 miles south of 

the 229° bearing from the airport extending 

from the 2.6-mile radius to 3.8 miles 

southwest, and that airspace 2 miles north 


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