[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45895-45896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22999]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is given of new tasks 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: Stewart R. Miller, Transport Standards 
Staff (ANM-110), Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, WA 98055-4056; phone (425) 227-1255; fax (425) 227-1320.

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 response 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 Transport Airplane and Engine Issues. 
These issues involve the airworthiness standards for transport category 
airplanes and engines in 14 CFR parts 25, 33, and 35 and parallel 
provisions in 14 CFR parts 121 and 135.

The Tasks

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

Task 15: Structural Integrity of Fuel Tanks for Emergency Landing 
Conditions and Landing Gear

    Review the current standards of Secs. 25.721, 25.963 and 25.994 as 
they pertain to the strength of fuel tanks and protection from rupture 
during emergency landing conditions including landing gear break-away. 
Review also any related FAA and JAA advisory material. In the light of 
this review, recommend changes to harmonize these sections and the 
corresponding JAR paragraphs, recommend new harmonized standards, and 
develop related advisory material as necessary.
    The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation(s) resulting from 
this task by July 31, 1999.

Task 16: Fire Protection of Structure

    Review the current standards of Sec. 25.865 and those for 
corresponding JAR 25.865 as they pertain to the protection of Loads and 
Dynamics and structures from fires in designated fire zones. Review 
also FAA issue papers issued for engine support structures made of 
materials other than steel, and any related JAA advisory material. In 
the light of this review, recommend changes to harmonize this section 
and the corresponding JAR paragraph, recommend new harmonized 
standards, and develop related advisory material as necessary.
    The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation(s) resulting from 
this task by March 31, 2001.
    The FAA requests that ARAC draft appropriate regulatory documents 
with supporting economic and other required analyses, and any other 
related guidance material or collateral documents to support its 
recommendations. If the resulting recommendation(s) are one or more 
notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published by the FAA, the FAA may 
ask ARAC to recommend disposition of any substantive comments the FAA 
receives.

Working Group Activity

    The Loads and Dynamics 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 tasks, including the 
rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration at the meeting of 
ARAC to consider transport airplane and engine issues held following 
publication of this notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed

[[Page 45896]]

recommendations, prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. Draft appropriate regulatory documents with supporting economic 
and other required analyses, and/or any other related guidance material 
or collateral documents the working group determines to be appropriate; 
or, if new or revised requirements or compliance methods are not 
recommended, a draft report stating the rationale for not making such 
recommendations. If the resulting recommendation is one or more notices 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published by the FAA, the FAA may ask 
ARAC to recommend disposition of any substantive comments the FAA 
receives.
    4. Provide a status report at each meeting of ARAC held to consider 
transport airplane and engine issues.
    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 Loads 
and Dynamics 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 August 20, 1998.
Joseph A. Hawkins,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-22999 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M