[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 1994)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 554-555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-224]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 5, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Parts 27 and 29

 

Future Harmonized Rotorcraft Rulemaking; Normal Category Maximum 
Weight; Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing a public meeting to discuss the use of 
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Commission procedures in future harmonized 
rulemaking. Once specific rulemaking topic that will be discussed is a 
proposed increase in the current maximum gross weight limitation of 
6,000 pounds for certification as a normal category rotorcraft.

DATES: The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. PDT on February 2, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Anaheim Marriott, Ballrooms 
E and G, 700 West Convention Way, Anaheim, California 92802, telephone 
714-750-8000 (headquarters hotel for the Helicopter Association 
International Heli Expo '94).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Eric Bries, Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, ASW-110, FAA, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 
222-5110 or fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 
Rotorcraft Directorate, has recently completed a series of 
harmonization meetings with the Helicopter Airworthiness Study Group 
(HASG) of the European Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA). The 
meetings were supplemented with joint authorities and industry 
meetings. These meetings resulted in the issuance of European Joint 
Airworthiness Requirements 27 (September 1993) and 29 (November 1993), 
which are in basic harmonization with Federal Aviation Regulations 
parts 27 and 29 (FAR 27 and 29). Current rulemaking using the Aviation 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) is intended to amend FAR 27 and 29 
to complete the harmonization process for existing rules.
    To assure future rotorcraft rulemaking is harmonized to the 
greatest extent practical and to provide information on rulemaking 
using the ARAC, the FAA believes that a public meeting is warranted.
    The public meeting will also be used to discuss draft revisions for 
Advisory Circular (AC) 27-1, Change 3, and AC 29-2A, Change 2 (58 FR 
67893, December 22, 1993).

Future Harmonized Rotorcraft Rulemaking--General

    Status reports on the current harmonization efforts will be made by 
American and European authorities and industry representatives. A 
presentation on the ARAC will be made. Discussion will follow the 
presentation and will focus on the following items:

--ARAC
--International Harmonization of rulemaking
--Future rotorcraft rulemaking--general

Normal Category Maximum Gross Weight of 6,000 Pounds

    Since 1956 the FAA has based the primary and obvious distinction 
between normal and transport category rotorcraft certification 
requirements on the maximum certificated gross weight of the aircraft. 
The upper gross weight limit for normal category rotorcraft was set at 
6,000 pounds, based on existing and anticipated designs. All rotorcraft 
above the 6,000 pounds maximum certificated gross weight are required 
to be certificated in the transport category.
    Recently the FAA received two requests for exemptions from this 
criteria and numerous recommendations for varying degrees of changes to 
the airworthiness standards. The FAA recognizes that helicopters, and 
their operational roles, have evolved since the 6,000-pound rule was 
established in 1956, and therefore some changes may be warranted. Based 
on this recognition, the FAA developed an issue paper entitled 
``Certification Categories for Civil Rotorcraft.'' This paper will be 
used to facilitate discussion at the public meeting. Copies of the 
paper have been mailed to interested parties. Additional interested 
parties who have not received a copy of the paper by January 1, 1994, 
may obtain a copy by contacting the person listed under ``FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.''

Meeting Procedures

    The meeting is being chaired by the Rotorcraft Directorate. 
Participants will include FAA representatives from Flight Standards, 
Legal Counsel, and the Office of International Aviation; JAA 
representatives from engineering and operations; and industry groups 
from the U.S. and Europe.
    The following procedures will be used to conduct the meeting:
    1. Registration will be from 8-9 a.m. PDT on February 2, 1994. 
There will be no registration fee. Preregistration is recommended and 
may be accomplished by contacting the person listed under the caption 
``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.''
    2. The meeting will be recorded by a court reporter, and 
transcripts will be available for purchase directly from the court 
reporter.
    3. Statements by the FAA will be made to facilitate discussion and 
should not be taken as expressing a final FAA position.
    4. The FAA will consider all material presented at the meeting by 
participants. Handouts will be accepted at the discretion of the 
chairperson; however, enough copies should be provided for distribution 
to all participants.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 20, 1993.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 94-224 Filed 1-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M