[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]
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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.
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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