[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