Document
59294 Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 180 / Friday, September 18, 2026 / Notices exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) described in and substantiated by the cumulative number of annual FAA- may be filed at any time. The filing of Draft PEA. licensed and -permitted reentries a petition to revoke will not described in the PEA.
DATES : The public comment period for The second proposed CATEX is for automatically stay the effectiveness of the Draft PEA will close on October 19, renewing FAA vehicle operator licenses the exemption. Petitions for stay must 2026.
or experimental permits for reentry be filed by September 25, 2026 (at least ADDRESSES : The Draft PEA is available operations that are within the scope of seven days before the exemption for public review at https:// operations described in Chapter 2, becomes effective).
www.faa.gov/space/environmental/ Description of Proposed Action and All pleadings, referring to Docket No.
nepa _ docs . Public comments can be Alternatives, of the PEA. All FAA- FD 36950, must be filed with the submitted electronically to licensed or -permitted reentry Surface Transportation Board either via www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
operations would occur within the e-filing on the Board’s website or in FAA–2026–10264, or by postal mail to study area analyzed in the PEA and the writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Nicholas Baker, FAA Environmental applicant’s annual frequency of reentry Washington, DC 20423–0001. In Protection Specialist, c/o ICF, 1902 operations would not exceed the addition, a copy of each pleading must Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA 20190.
cumulative number of annual FAA- be served on GWRC’s representative, The Unique ID for this document is licensed and -permitted reentries Richard H. Streeter, Law Office of PEAX–012–12–000–1774526578.
described in the PEA.
Richard H. Streeter, 5255 Partridge Lane FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : For The third proposed CATEX is for NW, Washington, DC 20016.
more information, visit https:// modifying FAA vehicle operator According to GWRC, this action is www.faa.gov/space/environmental/ licenses or experimental permits for excluded from environmental review nepa _ docs or send an email to reentry operations that are within the under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from ReentryCapsulePEA@icf.com .
scope of operations described in historic preservation reporting SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : FAA is the Chapter 2, Description of Proposed requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).
lead federal agency, and the National Action and Alternatives, of the PEA.
Board decisions and notices are Aeronautics and Space Administration Such modifications might include new available at www.stb.gov.
and U.S. Coast Guard are cooperating splashdown locations within the study Decided: September 15, 2026.
agencies. FAA has prepared this Draft area analyzed in the PEA or new By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief PEA to evaluate the potential expended or reused components within Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel.
environmental impacts associated with the type and frequency described in Zantori Dickerson, issuing vehicle operator licenses or Chapter 2 of the PEA.
Clearance Clerk. experimental permits to commercial Basis for Establishing the Categorical reentry vehicle operators, which would [FR Doc. 2026–19105 Filed 9–17–26; 8:45 am] Exclusions authorize reentry operations of vehicles BILLING CODE 4915–01–P in the marine environment. In addition FAA Order 1050.1G states FAA may to issuing a license or permit, FAA’s establish a CATEX through a decision federal actions include issuing airspace document supported by a programmatic DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION closures to ensure reentry operations are environmental document that conducted safely. FAA intends to use Federal Aviation Administration substantiates the FAA’s conclusion that this PEA to comply with its National the category of actions analyzed in the [Docket No. FAA–2026–10264] Environmental Policy Act requirements programmatic environmental document for subsequent reviews of license or does not have significant effects, Notice of Availability, Notice of Public permit applications involving reentry individually or in the aggregate.
Comment Period, and Request for operations in the marine environment, As described in the PEA and Comment on the Draft Programmatic as well as to establish three new consistent with CEQ’s guidance Environmental Assessment for CATEXs, as described in the Draft PEA. memorandum, Establishing, Revising, Reentry Vehicle Operations in the The new CATEXs would be added to Adopting, and Applying Categorical Marine Environment FAA Order 1050.1G, Appendix B–2.2 Exclusions under the National AGENCY : Federal Aviation (Categorical Exclusions for Certification Environmental Policy Act (April 9, Administration (FAA), Department of Actions). Concurrent with this public 2026), FAA has analyzed previously Transportation (DOT).
review period, FAA is consulting with implemented reentry operations in the Council on Environmental Quality multiple environmental documents ACTION : Notice of availability and on its PEA and proposed CATEXs, in prepared in accordance with NEPA and request for comment.
accordance with Section 1.4(b)(2) of determined there would not be SUMMARY : In accordance with the FAA Order 1050.1G. significant impacts on the human National Environmental Policy Act of environment. Each EA resulted in a Proposed Categorical Exclusions 1969, as amended (NEPA), DOT Order Finding of No Significant Impact (refer 5610.1D, DOT’s Procedures for The first proposed CATEX is for to Appendix B of the PEA for a list of Considering Environmental Impacts, issuing FAA vehicle operator licenses or these EAs).
and FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National experimental permits for reentry Public Disclosure Statement Environmental Policy Act Implementing operations that are within the scope of Procedures, FAA is announcing the operations described in Chapter 2, Before including your address, phone availability of and requesting comment Description of Proposed Action and number, email address, or other on the Draft Programmatic Alternatives, of the PEA. All FAA- personal identifying information in your Environmental Assessment for Reentry licensed or -permitted reentry comment, be advised that your entire Vehicle Operations in the Marine operations would occur within the comment—including your personal Environment (Draft PEA). FAA is also study area analyzed in the PEA and the identifying information—may be made requesting comment on proposed new applicant’s annual frequency of reentry publicly available at any time. While categorical exclusions (CATEXs) as operations would not exceed the you can ask the FAA in your comment VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:06 Sep 17, 2026 Jkt 268001 PO 00000 Frm 00194 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM 18SEN1 khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICE 59295 Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 180 / Friday, September 18, 2026 / Notices to withhold from public review your Aviation Suppliers Association, Beech Vapor Global Aviation. Commenters personal identifying information, FAA Training, Chickasha Wings Inc., stated the requirement is operationally cannot guarantee that we will be able to Experimental Aircraft Association, burdensome, would further constrain do so. Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, examiner availability, and exacerbate Magnolia Aviation, Minnesota Pilots checkride delays, particularly for Issued in Washington, DC, on September Association, National Association of experimental and less common aircraft 16, 2026.
Flight Instructors, National Flight types. Some commenters pointed out Stacey Molinich Zee, Training Alliance, Palouse Pilot existing regulatory framework already Manager, Operations Support Branch.
Training LLC, Society of Aviation & ensures examiner proficiency through [FR Doc. 2026–19178 Filed 9–17–26; 8:45 am] Flight Educators Inc., SoCo Flight Ops, category and class experience BILLING CODE 4910–13–P T/Two Inc., Texas Turbine Conversions requirements, recent flight experience, Inc., The Boeing Company, Three Rivers and FAA oversight. Commenters Aero, United Airlines, Utah State reasoned that no safety data was DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION University, and Vapor Global Aviation presented to justify the necessity of a LLC. Though FAA submitted a proposed five-hour make and model requirement, Federal Aviation Administration version of FAA Order 8000.95D, Change and such a threshold is not a standard [Docket No. FAA–2025–1218] 1, for public comment, the agency measure of proficiency elsewhere in subsequently determined that the FAA policy.
Notice of Availability of Revision E to number and scope of changes required FAA Order 8000.95, Regarding FAA partially accepted these a comprehensive revision of the Order.
Individual Designee Management recommendations. The final language The proposed changes to FAA Order Policy has been revised as follows: prior to 8000.95D attracted a significant number administering a practical test in a single- of public comments. The comments AGENCY : Federal Aviation engine airplane that is turbine-powered addressed multiple key topics, Administration (FAA), DOT.
or having Simplified Flight Controls, the including requirements for designee ACTION : Notice of availability.
designee must have logged at least five qualifications, examiner fee policies, hours of PIC flight time in that single- oversight procedures, and the SUMMARY : Revision E to FAA Order engine make and model. This make-and- operational realities of flight training 8000.95, Individual Designee and certification. FAA has considered model requirement thus applies only to Management Policy, incorporates new each comment and provides the these higher-complexity aircraft.
FAA policy to address transition from following summary and responses in Broader make-and-model requirements the Designee Registration System to the accordance with the rulemaking for all single-engine airplanes were not Designee Management System (DMS) process. adopted.
and aligns the Order with the DMS tool Supportive Comments. While most workflows. The revision updates several Fee Collection and ‘‘ Reasonable Fee ’’ comments included suggestions or procedural descriptions to better match Definition. Stakeholders, including critiques, stakeholders such as Aircraft DMS workflows, including updates to Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Owners & Pilots Association and automation for registering, enrolling, and National Association of Flight National Association of Flight tracking, and recording designee Instructors, commented on proposed fee Instructors expressed support for the training completions. The revision also collection provisions, expressing FAA’s general intent to update, clarify, changes the algorithm for the frequency concern over the prohibition on and improve designee management of direct observation oversight intervals collecting any fee prior to determination policy, even as they recommended required of Flight Standards Service of applicant eligibility, which could focused revisions or voiced concerns (FS) managing specialists, and updates leave examiners uncompensated for regarding specific proposed changes.
email addresses and website links.
preparation or travel should the Five-Hour Pilot-in-Command (PIC) applicant be found ineligible. In FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : Mr.
Make and Model Requirement for addition, they commented that the lack Scott Geddie, Policy and Oversight Designated Pilot Examiners (DPE).
Integration Section, AVS–64, AVS ODA of a clear definition for ‘‘reasonable Multiple commenters, including flight Office, Federal Aviation Administration, fee,’’ could lead to inconsistent instructor and examiner associations, by telephone at 405–954–6897 or by application, complaints, and possible flight schools, and individual DPEs, email at Scott.Geddie@faa.gov. examiner termination for subjective expressed concern regarding the determinations of unreasonableness.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : proposed requirement that DPEs log at least five hours of PIC flight time in FAA partially accepted these Background each make and model prior to concerns. The restriction on collecting A proposed version of FAA Order administering practical tests in Airplane fees prior to eligibility determination is 8000.95D, Change 1 published in the Single Engine Land (ASEL) or Airplane 1 removed from FAA Order 8000.95E.
Federal Register and was available for Single Engine Sea (ASES). Examiner The policy regarding fee collection is public comment from November 24, associations that commented include addressed in FAA Order 8900.1, Flight 2025 through January 23, 2026 (90 FR Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Standards Information Management 53045, November 24, 2025). The FAA Experimental Aircraft Association, System, Volume 5, Chapter 2, Section 1, received 234 public comments. The Minnesota Pilots Association, National paragraph 5–222, which remains in comments were from various Association of Flight Instructors, effect. Regarding the definition of stakeholders, including educational National Flight Training Alliance, Utah ‘‘reasonable fee,’’ FAA has determined institutions, industry associations, air State University. Flight schools that that providing a specific definition is carriers and commercial operators, and commented include Angel City Flyers/ outside the scope of this policy revision.
individuals. Organizations submitting Aero City Flyers, Beech Training, comments included Aircraft Owners & Chickasha Wings Inc, Magnolia The original language regarding fee collection Pilots Association, Angel City Flyers/ Aviation, Palouse Pilot Training, LLC, can be found in draft FAA Order 8000.95D, Change 1, Volume 3, Chapter 5, paragraph f.(8). Aero City Flyers, Aviation Services LLC, SoCo Flight Ops, Three Rivers Aero, and VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:06 Sep 17, 2026 Jkt 268001 PO 00000 Frm 00195 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM 18SEN1 khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICE