[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48781-48783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24419]


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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).

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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 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 Tasks

    This notice is to inform the public that the FAA has asked ARAC to

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provide advice and recommendation on the following harmonization tasks:

Task 1: Electrical Generating and Distribution System Requirements

    Phase I--The following differences 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.
    1. FAR/JAR 25.1351(b)--FAR 25.1351(b) defines minimum requirements 
for generating system power sources, distribution busses and cables, 
and associated control, regulation and protection devices. JAR 
25.1351(b), with its related ACJ 25.1351(b)(5), adds accessibility 
requirements for means to disconnect power sources from the electrical 
system.
    2. FAR/JAR 25.1351(c)--FAR 25.1351(c) defines minimum requirements 
for connecting external power to the airplane electrical power system. 
JAR 25.1351(c) introduces additional parameters for external power 
protection.
    3. FAR/JAR 25.1351(d)--FAR 25.1351(d) defines minimum requirements 
for a standby power system that can enable safe operation in VFR 
conditions for a period of not less than five minutes to enable engine 
relight. JAR 25.1351(d), with its related ACJs, requires provision for 
a high integrity standby power system with a duration for time limited 
systems compatible with JAR-OPS and ICAO Annex 8. These ACJs also 
provide Interpretive Material for non-time limited standby power 
sources and specifies services that must remain powered following loss 
of normal electrical power.
    For each of the above tasks 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 submit its recommendation(s) from Phase I 
by July 31, 2001.
    Phase II--The following additional differences between Part 25 and 
JAR 25 and their associated guidance material have been identified as 
having a lesser impact on airplane design and cost:
    4. FAR/JAR 25.1353(a) & 25.1431(d)--JAR 25.1353(a) provides an 
additional sentence for consideration of the effects of interference on 
systems with associated interpretative material. JAR 25.1431(d) has 
additional requirements on the survivability of essential electronic 
equipment during electrical power transients. Such paragraph does not 
exist in the FAR's. Neither FAA advisory nor JAA guidance material 
currently is available. This guidance material needs to be generated.
    5. FAR/JAR 25.1353(c)(5)--JAR 25.1353(c)(5) is different to FAR 
25.1353(c)(5) in that it requires any Nickel-Cadmium battery (receiving 
a direct charge from the aircraft electrical system) to be subjected to 
this requirement. Past experience has shown that damage has been caused 
to structure (from defective batteries and their installations) from 
batteries irrespective of whether utilized for engine or APU starting 
or not.
    6. FAR/JAR 25.1353(c)(6)--See also item 5 above. In addition, 
interpretative material is provided in JAR's concerning maintenance 
check intervals for over temperature sensing devices.
    7. FAR/JAR 25.1353(d)--JAR 25.1353(d) contains additional 
paragraphs for electrical cables. Note: Paragraph 1 of ACJ to JAR 
25.1301(b) in effect duplicates JAR 25.1353(d)(2) and could be deleted 
after harmonization of FAR/JAR 25.1353(d).
    8. FAR/JAR 25.1355(c)--JAR 25.1355(c) introduces interpretative 
material concerning segregation of electrical feeders to minimize the 
possibility of cascade or multiple failures. The ACJ to JAR 25.1355(c) 
should be reviewed in conjunction with current ACJ No. 6 to JAR 25.1309 
with a view to combining the two ACJs and forming new interpretative 
material to FAR/JAR 25.1355(c).
    9. FAR/JAR 25X1360--Precautions against injury. This JAR 
requirement and corresponding ACJ was created following reported 
injuries to service and maintenance personnel.
    10. JAR 25X1362--Electrical supplies for emergency conditions. This 
JAR requirement and corresponding ACJ was created to ensure that 
electrical supplies are maintained to emergency services (such as fuel 
and hydraulic shut-off valves) so that these may be closed after the 
main power sources have been switched off by the Flight Crew.
    11. FAR/JAR 25.1363--JAR 25.1363 requires tests to be performed 
under specific criteria with (ACJ) additional means of compliance.
    12.Tasks coming from the System Design and Analysis Harmonization 
Working Group (SD&A HWG): Harmonize and update 25.1310 (previous 
25.1309(e) and (f)) as proposed by the SD&A HWG. Consider also JAA 
specific AMJ 25.1309(b) on heated domestic appliances and electric 
overheat protection equipment design/ failures considerations.
    For each of the above tasks the working group is to review the 
current standards of the FAR and JAR requirements concerning electrical 
generating and distribution system requirements and any associated 
advisory material, to review also any relevant service experience and 
consider the increased reliance of aircraft and systems dependent on 
electrical power and distribution systems. In the light of this review, 
recommend changes to harmonize the above FAR and JAR requirements and 
develop related advisory material as necessary.
    The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation(s) from Phase II 
by July 31, 2003.

Task 2: Electrical Bonding and Protection Against Lightning and Static 
Electricity

    JAA regulations include JAR 25X899 and ACJ 25x899 or consideration 
of electrical bonding and protection against lightning and static 
electricity. FAA regulations do not include this requirement. This 
initiative will consider the material contained in the JAR and ACJ, 
revise this information (as appropriate), develop new FAA requirements, 
revise JAA requirements as applicable, including regulations and 
advisory material, to achieve a harmonized result. Part 23, 27, 29 and 
33 requirements will be reviewed to assure consistency in requirements 
and modified a applicable. The use of the phrase ``as applicable'' 
provides the responsible working group with the prerogative to 
recommend changes to any or all identified FAR's, JAR's, or none. 
Suitable representative from industry and regulatory authorities is 
necessary to accomplish this assignment.
    The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation 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 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.

ARAC Acceptance of Tasks

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

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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 Electrical 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 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 
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 Electrical Systems Harmonization Working Group will be composed 
of technical experts having an interest in the assigned tasks. 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 12, 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 
Electrical 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 September 4, 1998.
Joseph A. Hawkins,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-24419 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
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