[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 131 (Thursday, July 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37167-37168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18209]



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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 Smith, Flight Standards Service, AFS-200, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

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 Federal Aviation Regulations 
(FAR) 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 task, applicable to 
both Part 121 and 135 operations:
    Provide a review and analysis of industry practice with regard to 
reserve duty for flight crewmembers. Recommend to the FAA a 
performance-based or other regulatory scheme whereby the public is 
ensured that each flight crewmember is provided with sufficient rest to 
safely perform flight deck duties at a minimal cost to certificate 
holders and operators. The task will be segmented by the working group 
according to the types of operations under Part 119, such as domestic, 
flag, etc.
    The product expected as a result of this task is a report to the 
FAA that provides specific recommendations and proposed regulatory 
text, if appropriate, that will resolve the issue of reserve duty. 
Specifically, these recommendations must ensure that pilots are 
sufficiently rested for flight deck duty. These recommendations should 
also ensure that flight crewmember resources are utilized so that the 
economic burden for the certificate holder is minimized. The report 
will include the following:
    1. A review of the current scientific data on the effects of 
fatigue in reserve duty. Consider conflicting opinions.
    2. An analysis of the current reserve schemes and operational 
situations. This analysis should include each of the types of 
operations under Part 119 and, if appropriate, different operations 
within those types.
    3. A recommendation of the standards and criteria to be used.
    4. The recommendation must outline how the FAA will measure 
compliance.
    5. The report must include industry-provided data for an FAA 
economic analysis. This data should include the effects on small 
operators and small businesses.
    6. The report should include industry-provided data regarding the 
record-keeping burden on the public.
    The Reserve Duty/Rest Requirements Working Group is expected to 
complete its work by December 1, 1998. The FAA anticipates that the 
ARAC on air carrier operations issues will meet on December 1 to 
receive the recommendation of the working group and that ARAC will 
submit its recommendation to the FAA within 30 days. Participants of 
the working group should be prepared to participate on a full-time 
basis for the 4-month duration of the task completion.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC has accepted the task and has chosen to establish a new 
Reserve Duty/Rest Requirements Working Group. The working group will 
serve as to staff 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 recommendations, it forwards 
them to the FAA as ARAC recommendations.

Working Group Activity

    The Reserve Duty/Rest Requirements 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 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.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendations, prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. Draft a report containing information and data identified 
previously.
    4. Provide a status report if needed, at each meeting of ARAC held 
to consider air carrier operations issues. Interim status reports may 
also be required.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Reserve Duty/Rest Requirements Working Group will be 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 task, and stating the 
expertise he or she would bring to the working group. The FAA is 
specifically seeking expertise from all kinds of operations under Part 
119, including Part 135 on-demand operations and helicopter operations. 
All requests to participate must be received no later than July 24, 
1998. The requests will be reviewed by the assistant chair and the 
assistant executive director, and the individuals will be advised 
whether or not the request can be accommodated.
    Individuals chosen for membership on the working group will be 
expected to represent their aviation community segment and participate 
actively in the working group (e.g., attend all meetings, provide 
written comments when requested to do so, etc.). They also will be 
expected to devote the resources necessary to ensure the ability of the 
working group to meet any assigned deadline(s). Members are expected to 
keep their management chain advised of working group activities and 
decisions to ensure that the agreed technical solutions do not conflict 
with their sponsoring organization's position when the subject being 
negotiated is presented to ARAC for a vote.
    Once the working group has begun deliberations, members will not be 
added or substituted without the approval of the assistant chair, the

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assistant executive director, and the working group chair.
    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.
    Meetings of ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the 
Reserve Duty/Rest Requirements 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 2, 1998.
Quentin Smith,
Assistant Executive Director for Air Carrier Operations Issues, 
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-18209 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am]
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