[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12379]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. 27753]

 

Stage 3 Noise Abatement Equipment Programs for Certain First-
Generation Narrow-body Jet Aircraft

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice, request for information.

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SUMMARY: On December 31, 1994, the first interim compliance date for 
the national transition to an all Stage 3 aircraft fleet, each affected 
U.S. and foreign operator must either phase out 25% of its Stage 2 
aircraft fleet or achieve a fleet composition of 55% Stage 3 aircraft. 
Based upon a review of annual reports and contacts with individual 
operators the Federal Aviation Administration anticipates no difficulty 
in compliance with the first interim requirement.
    Although Stage 3 noise abatement equipment is or will be available 
for virtually all affected aircraft types, there may be a small number 
of aircraft for which such equipment may not be available.
    This notice solicits information on programs to develop and provide 
Stage 3 noise abatement equipment for these aircraft.

DATES: Responses must be received on or before July 5, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Responses to this notice should be mailed, in triplicate, to 
the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Chief Counsel, Attn.: 
Rules Docket (AGC-10), Docket No. 27753, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591. Responses may be inspected in room 915G between 
8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays.
    Respondents who wish the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to 
acknowledge their responses must submit with their responses a pre-
addressed stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Response to Docket No. 27753.'' The postcard will be date-stamped by 
the FAA and returned to the sender.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. James P. Muldoon, Special Assistant for Environmental Planning 
(AEE-5), Office of Environment and Energy, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 267-7513, facsimile (202) 267-5594.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 (ANCA) represents a 
balance between the needs to expand and preserve the capacity of the 
U.S. air transportation system and to provide relief to those residents 
affected by aircraft noise around the nations airports.
    The balance is demonstrated in the programs initiated by the 
legislation. Limitations are now imposed upon airport operators in the 
establishment of local noise and access restrictions (14 CFR part 161) 
and a national program is now in place to achieve an all Stage 3 
aircraft fleet by the year 2000 (14 CFR part 91). This notice deals 
with the Stage 3 transition.
    The first interim compliance date in the national transition to 
Stage 3 aircraft is December 31, 1994. After that date, all U.S. and 
foreign operators of Stage 2 aircraft over 75,000 pounds must have 
either removed from service 25% of its Stage 2 fleet or achieved a 
fleet composition of 55% Stage 3 aircraft.
    Each year, the FAA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) must 
report to Congress on the progress of the transition to an all Stage 3 
fleet. The report for calendar year 1992 indicated that the total Stage 
2 fleet had been reduced by approximately 20% and the overall fleet of 
large airplanes had increased to 59.5% Stage 3. Preliminary analysis of 
the 1993 reports indicates that the Stage 2 fleet had been reduced by 
25% and the Stage 3 portion of the total fleet had increased to about 
62.5%. Based upon these reports as well as contacts with individual 
operators, the FAA does not anticipate any significant problems in 
operators meeting the first interim compliance date.
    The aircraft noise mitigation benefits implicit in the Stage 3 
transition program, including those due at each of the interim 
compliance dates, are a critical element of the balance that was struck 
under the ANCA, and the FAA plans to fully enforce both the interim and 
final requirements.
    Over the last several years, Stage 3 noise abatement equipment has 
been available for virtually all aircraft affected by the Stage 3 
transition regulations. The purpose of this notice is to solicit 
information on the status and economic feasibility of any noise 
abatement equipment development programs for the few aircraft types for 
which no approved noise abatement equipment is currently available.

Information Requested

    A review of the annual progress reports submitted in accordance 
with Sec. 91.875 indicates that certain versions of first generation 
narrow-body jet aircraft are the only aircraft types currently operated 
in the United States for which Stage 3 noise abatement equipment has 
not yet been approved. Both the B-707 and some of the early versions of 
the DC-8 are included in this category.
    The purpose of this notice is to request information on Stage 3 
noise abatement equipment programs for these and any other similarly 
affected aircraft types. Information is specifically solicited from 
noise abatement equipment providers and potential providers as well as 
affected aircraft operators on the status and economic feasibility of 
programs to develop noise abatement equipment for aircraft types for 
which an approved installation is not currently available.

    Issued in Washington, DC on May 12, 1994.
Louise E. Maillett,
Director of Environment and Energy.
[FR Doc. 94-12379 Filed 5-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M