[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 111 (Friday, June 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14147]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 10, 1994]


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


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of new task assignments for the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is given of new task assignments for the Loads and 
Dynamics Harmonization Working Group of the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice informs the public of the 
activities of the ARAC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael H. Borfitz, Assistant 
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, Transport 
Airplane and Engine Issues, FAA Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone 
(617) 238-7110, fax (617) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 22, 1991 (56 FR 2190), the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) established the Aviation 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). The committee provides advice and 
recommendations to the FAA Administrator, through the Associate 
Administrator for Regulation and Certification, on the full range of 
the FAA's rulemaking activities with respect to aviation-related 
issues..
    In order to develop such advice and recommendations, the ARAC may 
choose to establish working groups to which specific tasks are 
assigned. Such working groups are comprised of experts from those 
organizations having an interest in the assigned tasks. A working group 
member need not be a representative of the full committee. One of the 
working groups established by the ARAC is the Loads and Dynamics 
Harmonization Working Group.
    The FAA announced at the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA)-Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) Harmonization Conference in Toronto, 
Canada June 2-5, 1992, that it would consolidate within the ARAC 
structure an ongoing objective to ``harmonize'' the Joint Aviation 
Requirements (JAR) and the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR).

Tasks

    The Loads and Dynamics Harmonization Working Group's tasks are as 
follows:
    Task 1--Interaction of Systems and Structure: Review existing 
special conditions for fly-by-wire airplanes and existing requirements 
for control systems, including automatic and/or power-operated systems, 
and recommend to the ARAC any new revised general requirements needed 
for flight control systems and structures affected by those systems 
(Secs. 25.302, 25.671, 25.1329, part 25 appendix K).
    Task 2--Continuous Turbulence Loads: Review the requirement for the 
continuous turbulence standard in light of the ARAC proposal for a 
tuned discrete gust requirement in order to determine whether the 
continuous turbulence requirement should be revised or removed from the 
FAR/JAR for better consistency with the new proposed tuned discrete 
gust criteria (Sec. 25.305(d)).
    Task 3--Strength and Deformation: Review the recent requirements 
adopted in the FAR by Amendment 25-77 (for the design of transport 
airplanes against buffet and forced structural vibrations) and consider 
appropriate changes for the JAR and FAR to harmonize these rules 
(Secs. 25.305 (e) and (f)).
    Task 4--Design Flap Speeds: Review the current flap design loads 
requirements to resolve differences in interpretation between the FAA 
and JAA concerning the structural design stall speeds on which the flap 
design speeds are based. Recent measurements of gust speeds at low 
altitudes, where flaps are normally extended, indicate a more severe 
gust environment may be present. Review all aspects of the flap design 
load requirements, including the design airspeeds, vertical and head-on 
design gust criteria, and the effects of automatic retraction and load 
relief systems (Sec. 25.335(e)).
    Task 5--Residual Strength Loads for Damage Tolerance: Review the 
differences in residual strength design load requirements between the 
FAR and JAR and resolve differences to harmonize this rule. Prepare a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or make recommendations to other ARAC 
efforts concerning FAR Sec. 25.571, so that they can be included in 
rulemaking that may be forthcoming from those efforts (Sec. 25.571(b)).
    Task 6--Shock Absorption Tests: Review the changes recently 
introduced into the JAR that have resulted in differences between the 
FAR and JAR in regard to the requirement for shock absorption tests. 
Review those changes in view of harmonizing the FAR and JAR 
(Sec. 25.723(a)).
    Task 7--Rough Air Speed: The ARAC has proposed a new Sec. 25.1517 
concerning rough air speed design standards in its proposal for a tuned 
discrete gust requirement. This action is harmonized with the current 
JAR 25.1517; however, further changes in the rough air speed 
requirement may be needed in both the FAR and JAR. Review JAR 25.1517 
and the new proposed FAR 25.1517 to determine if further changes are 
needed. If so, prepare a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, or, if 
possible, combine these changes with other rulemaking efforts 
(Sec. 25.1517).
    Task 8--Taxi, Takeoff, and Landing Roll: Prepare an advisory 
circular that establishes criteria that may be used to calculate rough 
runway and taxiway loads, as required by Secs. 25.491, 25.235, and 
25.305.
    Task 9--Braked Roll Conditions: Review the provisions of 
Sec. 25.493 of the FAR and JAR concerning the braked roll condition and 
finalize a harmonized Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Reports

    For each task listed, the Loads and Dynamics Harmonization Working 
Group should develop and present to the ARAC:
    1. A recommended work plan for completion of the task, including 
the rationale supporting such plan, for consideration at the meeting of 
the ARAC to consider transport airplane and engine issues held 
following publication of this notice;
    2. A detailed conceptual presentation on the proposed 
recommendation(s), prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3. 
below;
    3. A draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, with supporting economic 
and other required analyses, and/or any other related guidance material 
or collateral documents the working group determines to be appropriate; 
or, if new or revised requirements or compliance methods are not 
recommended, a draft report stating the rationale for not making such 
recommendations; and
    4. A status report at each meeting of the ARAC held to consider 
transport airplane and engine issues.

Participation in Working Group Task

    An individual who has expertise in the subject matter and wishes to 
become a member of the working group should write to the person listed 
under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that 
desire, describing his or her interest in the task(s), and stating the 
expertise he or she would bring to the working group. The request will 
be reviewed with the assistant chairman and working group leader, and 
the individual will be advised whether or not the request can be 
accommodated.
    The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the information 
and use of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee are necessary in 
the public interest in connection with the performance of duties 
imposed on the FAA by law. Meetings of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory 
Committee will be open to the public, except as authorized by section 
10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Meetings of the working 
group will not be open to the public, except to the extent that 
individuals with an interest and expertise are selected to participate. 
No public announcement of working group meetings will be made.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 3, 1994.
Chris A. Christie,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 94-14147 Filed 6-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M