[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38187-38188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18668]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues--New Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: Notice is given of a new task assigned to the Aviation 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), Transport Airplane and Engine 
Issues, to recommend disposition of public comments made to Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking No. 96-6. This notice informs the public of the 
activities of ARAC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stewart R. Miller, Manager, Transport Standards Staff, ANM-110, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 
Lind Ave. SW., Renton, WA 98055-4056, telephone (206) 227-2190, fax 
(206) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established an 
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee to provide advice and 
recommendations to the FAA Administrator, through the Associate 
Administrator for Regulations and Certification, on the full range of 
the FAA's rulemaking activities with respect to aviation-related 
issues. This includes obtaining advice and recommendations of the FAA's 
commitment to harmonize its Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and 
practices with its trading partners in Europe and Canada.

[[Page 38188]]

    One area the ARAC deals with is Transport Airplane and Engine 
Issues. These issues involve the airworthiness standards for transport 
category airplanes in 14 CFR Parts 25, 33, and 35 and parallel 
provisions in 14 CFR Parts 121 and 135.

The Task

    This notice is to inform the public that the FAA has asked ARAC to 
provide advice and recommendation on the following harmonization task:
    Within six (6) months of publication of this notice, recommend 
disposition of public comments made to Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
No. 96-6, which proposes to amend the airworthiness standards for 
transport category airplanes to harmonize hydraulic systems design and 
test requirements with standards proposed for the European Joint 
Aviation Requirements, and to proposed Advisory Circular 25.1435-1.
    Contrary to the usual practice, the FAA has not asked ARAC as part 
of this task to develop a final draft of the next action (i.e., 
supplemental notice, final rule, or withdrawal); rather, ARAC should 
provide a document setting forth the rationale for the recommended 
disposition of each of the comments.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC has accepted the task and has chosen to assign it to the 
Hydraulic Systems Harmonization Working Group. The working group will 
serve as staff to ARAC to assist ARAC in the analysis of the assigned 
task. Working group recommendations must be reviewed and approved by 
ARAC. If ARAC accepts the working group's recommendation, it forwards 
them to the FAA as ARAC recommendations.

Working Group Reports to ARAC

    The Hydraulic Systems Harmonization Working Group is expected to 
comply with the procedures adopted by ARAC. As part of the procedures, 
the working group is expected to:
    1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including 
rationale, for consideration at the meeting of the ARAC to consider 
Transport Airplane and Engine Issues held following publication of this 
notice.
    2. Provide a status report at each meeting of ARAC held to consider 
transport airplane and engine issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Hydraulic Systems Harmonization Working Group is composed of 
experts from those organizations having an interest in the assigned 
task. A working group member need not be a representative of a member 
of the full committee.
    The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the formation 
and use of the ARAC are necessary in the public interest in connection 
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law. Meetings of 
the ARAC 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 July 9, 1997.
Joseph A. Hawkins,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 97-18668 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]
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