[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 10107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5434]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aircraft Fluorescent Lighting Ballast/Fixture
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration.
ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and request comments
on a proposed technical standard order (TSO) pertaining to aircraft
fluorescent ballast/fixture. The proposed TSO prescribes the minimum
performance standards that aircraft fluorescent ballast/fixture must
meet to be identified with the marking ``TSO-C141.''
DATES: Comments must identify the TSO file number and be received on or
before June 13, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed technical standard order
to: Technical Programs and Continued Airworthiness Branch, AIR-120,
Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification Service--File No.
TSO-C141, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20591. Or deliver comments to: Federal Aviation
Administration, Room 804, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20591.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Bobbie J. Smith, Technical Program and Continued Airworthiness
Branch, AIR-120, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification
Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267-9546.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed TSO
listed in this notice by submitting such written data, views, or
arguments as they desire to the above specified address. Comments
received on the proposed technical standard order may be examined,
before and after the comment closing date, in Room 804, FAA
Headquarters Building (FOB-10A), 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591, weekdays except Federal holidays, between 8:30
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. All communications received on or before the closing
date for comments specified above will be considered by the Director of
the Aircraft Certification Service before issuing the final TSO.
Background
In June 1991, the FAA requested that the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) develop an aerospace standard (AS) for fluorescent
lighting systems. This action was prompted by an unsatisfactory service
history of this equipment when installed in aircraft.
In the past ten years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
has issued at least five Airworthiness Directives (AD) against various
cabin fluorescent lighting systems. These AD's corrected unsafe
conditions that resulted in smoke, fire, or electromagnetic
interference to essential airplane systems caused by failure conditions
of the cabin fluorescent lighting system. The failure conditions
generally consisted of failures in the inverters, transformer (ballast)
units, or the lamp connector interface.
The resulting document developed by SAE is AS 4914, aircraft
Fluorescent Lighting Ballast/Fixture Safety Design Standard. This is
the referenced document in proposed TSO-C141.
How To Obtain Copies
A copy of the proposed TSO-C141 may be obtained by contacting FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Copies of Society of Automotive Engineers,
Inc. (SAE) Aerospace Standard (AS) 4914 may be purchased from SAE,
Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001. Copies of RTCA
Document No. DO-160C, ``Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures
for Airborne Equipment, ``dated December 1989, may be purchased from
the RCTA Inc., 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW., Suite 1020, Washington, DC
20036.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 24, 1997.
Brian A. Yanez,
Acting Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5434 Filed 3-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M