[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60745-60746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29729]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Air Carrier Operations 
Issues--New Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: Notice is given of a new task assigned to and accepted by the 
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice informs the 
public of the activities of ARAC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Quentin J. Smith, Federal Aviation Administration (AFS-200), 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; phone (202) 267-5819; 
fax (202) 267-5229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The FAA has established an Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee 
to provide 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. This includes obtaining advice and recommendations on 
the FAA's commitment to harmonize its regulations and practices with 
its trading partners in Europe and Canada.
    One area ARAC deals with is air carrier operations issues. These 
issues involve the operational requirements for air carriers, including 
crewmember requirements, airplane operating performance and 
limitations, and equipment requirements.

The Task

    This notice is to inform the public that the FAA has asked ARAC to 
provide advice and recommendation on the following harmonization tasks:

Airplane Performance Operating Limitations

    1. Review FAA and JAA airplane operational performance requirements 
(14 CFR parts 121 and 135/JAR-OPS) and develop a list of differences 
between the two sets of requirements. (use should be made of 
preliminary work on the task carried out by industry). During this 
review, if differences are identified in the associated certification 
requirements, such difference should be reported to the Aviation 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) and the Harmonization Management 
Team by the FAA and JAA contacts.
    2. When the first step is completed, explore the feasibility of 
harmonization of each identified difference in the following order of 
priority: Performance Class A, Class B, and Class C.
    3. Within one year of publication of the ARAC task in the Federal 
Register, develop recommendations for common (harmonized) operational 
performance requirements for those items identified under item above as 
being feasible for harmonization. If the working group determines FAA 
rulemaking is required, that determination must be forwarded to the FAA 
for consideration of rulemaking priority, resource allocation, and 
additional tasking to ARAC, as appropriate.

Working Group Activity

    The Airplane Performance 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 that tasks, including 
the rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration at the meeting 
of ARAC to consider air carrier operations issues held following 
publication of this notice.

[[Page 60746]]

    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendations, prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. Draft an appropriate report.
    4. Provide a status report at each meeting of ARAC held to consider 
air carrier operations issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Airplane Performance Harmonization Working Group is composed of 
experts having an interest in the assigned task. A working group member 
need not be a representative of a member of the full committee..
    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 tasks, and stating the 
expertise he or she would bring to the working group. The request will 
be reviewed by the assistant chair, and the individual will be advised 
whether or not the request can be accommodated. Requests to participate 
on the Airplane Performance Harmonization Working Group should be 
submitted no later than January 2, 1998. To the extent possible, the 
composition of the working group will be balanced among the aviation 
interests selected to participate.
    The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the formation 
and use of ARAC are necessary and in the public interest in connection 
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
    Meeting of ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the 
Airplane Performance Harmonization 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 November 5, 1997.
Quentin J. Smith,
Assistant Executive Director, for Air Carrier Operations Issues, 
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 97-29729 Filed 11-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M