[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 38014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18519]


      

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 135 / Tuesday, July 15, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 38014]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Advisory Circular 187-XX, Aircraft Certification Service 
Fees for Providing Production Certification-Related Services Outside 
the United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of proposed Advisory 
Circular (AC) 187-XX, Aircraft Certification Service Fees for Providing 
Production Certification-related Services Outside the United States, 
for review and comments. Elsewhere in this edition of the Federal 
Register, the FAA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), 
Fees for Providing Production Certification-related Services Outside 
the United States, which proposes to add an Appendix C to part 187 of 
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulation. The NPRM proposes to 
establish fees by voluntary agreement for production certification-
related services pertaining to aeronautical products manufactured or 
assembled outside the United States. This proposed AC 187-XX provides 
information for determining compliance with part 187, proposed Appendix 
C.

DATES: Comments submitted must be identified by the name of the AC 187-
XX, project number 96-009, and be received by August 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed AC 187-XX can be obtained from and 
comments may be returned to: Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft 
Certification Service, Production and Airworthiness Certification 
Division, AIR-200, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Broughton, AIR-230, Policy, 
Evaluation, and Analysis Branch, Room 815, Aircraft Certification 
Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 10591, (202) 267-9575.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The global manufacture of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, 
appliances, and parts thereof has presented the FAA with challenges to 
ensure that safety and airworthiness standards for U.S. products are 
met worldwide. As defined in part 187, proposed Appendix C, a 
production approval holder (PAH) means a person who holds: An approval 
to produce under an approved production inspection system (APIS), a 
production certificate (PC) (to include PC extensions), a Technical 
Standard Order (TSO) authorization, a Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) 
or who holds a Type Certificate (TC) only and produces under that TC. 
The FAA has allowed U.S. production approval holders (PAH's), to use 
manufacturing facilities outside the United States under certain 
conditions. These approvals are currently limited to certain parts/sub-
assemblies that are inspected when received in the United States by the 
PAH or when the PAH has established and implemented a supplier control 
system. In addition, more complex production work outside the United 
States has been allowed on a case-by-case basis.
    To be more competitive, U.S. PAH's are requesting approval from the 
FAA to expand their manufacturing activities to use more suppliers; and 
to manufacture more complex sub-assemblies, including complete aircraft 
outside the United States.
    Part 187 establishes fees for providing certification services to 
all PAH's who elect to use manufacturing or supplier facilities outside 
the United States.
    As outlined in a January 1994 report, ``The Clinton 
Administration's Initiative to Promote a Strong Competitive Aviation 
Industry,'' the United States seeks to expand commercial opportunities 
for U.S. aircraft manufacturers in the global marketplace. Accordingly, 
there is a need to ensure that U.S. aerospace firms are not 
disadvantaged in global competition and to foster a climate where U.S. 
companies can continue to participate as technology and marketing 
leaders. Limited financial/human resources make it difficult for the 
FAA to support these goals as international ventures by U.S. aircraft 
manufacturers become more diverse and complex.
    The U.S. Congress recognized the impact of these limited resources 
in its consideration of the Federal Aviation Administration 
Authorization Act of 1994, PL 103-305 (108 Jurisdiction 1569). As 
stated in Conference Report No. 103-677 on H.R. 2739, ``Safety 
regulatory efforts to keep pace with the trend of globalization can be 
hampered by resource constraints * * * the Aircraft Certification 
Service should be able to offset expenditures made in support of 
aircraft or airline safety regulatory programs of both U.S. and foreign 
owned companies outside the United States.''

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed AC 187-XX 
listed in this notice by submitting such written data, views, or 
arguments as they desire. Comments received on the proposed AC may be 
examined before and after the comment closing date in Room 815, FAA 
Headquarters Building (FOB-10A), 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591, weekdays, except Federal holiday, between 8:30 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. By separate notice, in this edition of the Federal 
Register, the FAA is also inviting interested persons to comment on the 
NPRM. The FAA will consider comments from this notice and comments 
received on the NPRM in deciding the nature of final action of each.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 9, 1997.
Michael J. Dreikorn,
Acting Manager, Production and Airworthiness Certification Division.
[FR Doc. 97-18519 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M