[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46823-46824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23632]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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

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

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:
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 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 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 Task

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

Pressurization and Pneumatic Systems

    The following differeces between Part 25 and JAR 25 and their 
associated guidance material have been identified as having a 
potentially significant impact on airplane design and cost.
    Task: Pressurization and Pneumatic Systems. Section 25.1438 of the 
FAR and JARs 25X1436 and 25.1438 currently require different proof and 
burst pressure multipliers under specific established normal and 
abnormal conditions. The JAR also distinguishes between high and low 
pressure pneumatic systems. In harmonizing 25.1438, consideration must 
be given to JAR 25X1436 due to the relationship between part 25.1438 of 
the FAR and JAR 25X1436.
    For the above task the working group is to review airworthiness, 
safety, cost, and other relevant factors related to the specified 
differences, and reach consensus on harmonized part 25/JAR 25 
regulations and guidance material.
    The FAA expects ARAC to forward its recommendation(s) to the FAA by 
July 31, 2000.

ARAC Acceptance of Tasks

    ARAC has accepted the tasks and has chosen to establish a new 
Mechanical 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

[[Page 46824]]

working group's resommendations, it forwards them to the FAA as ARAC 
recommendations.

Working Group Activity

    The Mechanical Systems Harmonization Working Group is expeced 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 suppporting 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 
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.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Mechanical Systems Harmonization Working Group will be composed 
of technical 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. All requests to 
participate must be received no later than October 5, 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 
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 
Mechanical Systems 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 27, 1998.
Joseph A. Hawkins,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-23632 Filed 9-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M