[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50954-50955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25469]


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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 
provide advice and recommendation on the following harmonization tasks:

Task 5: Power Plant Fire Mitigation Requirements

Specific Tasks--Phase I
1. Rule Harmonization
    (a) JAR 25.1183 has a (c) paragraph that adds the requirement for 
components to be fireproof where, if damaged, fire could spread or 
essential services could be adversely affected.
    (b) FAR/JAR 25.1187, 25.1189(a) and 25.1193(c) are considered 
equivalent--no harmonization is required.
2. Advisory Material (AC/AMJ) Harmonization
    (a) FAR 25.1187--Drainage and Ventilation of Fire Zones. FAA 
regulation requires the provisions for flammable fluid drainage, 
including the drainage path and drainage capacity, be demonstrated to 
be effective under anticipated conditions. Draft AC 25.1187, published 
for comments, describes the methodology to be used. FAA and JAA 
agreement on an acceptable means of demonstrating compliance is 
required. The Advisory Material to be developed should provide guidance 
on an acceptable means of demonstrating compliance for ``drainage of 
flammable fluids''.
    (b) FAR 25.1189(a)--Shutoff Means. This paragraph requires shutoff 
valves to prevent a hazardous quantity of flammable fluid entering a 
fire zone following detection of a fire. The central issue to be 
resolved is associated with FAA/JAA agreement of the definition of 
``hazardous quantity'' of flammable fluid. The working group should 
provide guidance to the FAA and JAA to define what is considered a 
``Hazardous Quantity of Flammable Fluid'' when showing compliance to 
this regulation.
    (c) FAR 25.1193(c)--Cowling and Nacelle Skin. FAA requires the 
nacelle be fireproof for 360 degrees, unless aerodynamic testing shows 
that fire exiting the nacelle poses no additional hazards to the 
airframe. JAA reportedly accepts 90 degrees (45 degrees from pylon 
centerline) without additional testing. JAA NPA proposes to provide 
guidance (JAA PNPA 25E-266). FAA and JAA should document current 
practices for use by Task Group consideration towards development of 
harmonized guidance regarding this subject. The Guidance Material to be 
developed should provide guidance on an acceptable means of 
demonstrating that the extent of fire proof cowling assures ``no 
additional hazard to the airframe'' for all types of transport category 
airplane engine installations.
    The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation(s) resulting from 
Phase I by November 30, 2000.
Specific Tasks--Phase II
1. Rule Harmonization
    (a) Harmonize the definitions of the terms ``fire resistant'' and 
``fire proof'' in FAR 1 and JAR 1.
2. Advisory Material (AC/AMJ) Harmonization
    (a) Draft additional advisory material for 25.903(d)(1) related to 
minimizing the hazard associated with engine case burnthrough.
    (b) Validate and harmonize the Fire Test Guidance Material in 
Paragraph 8 of AC 20-135 (may be transferred to be included in 
burnthrough advisory material).
    (c) Validate and Harmonize the FAR/JAR Advisory Material for Engine 
Case Burnthrough and/or Related Engine Fire Test Guidance material such 
as an ISO standard.
    The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation(s) resulting from 
Phase II by April 1, 2001.

Task 6: Prohibition of Inflight Operation for Turbopropeller Reversing 
System and Turbojet Thrust Reversing System Intended for Ground Use 
Only

    Recommend harmonized changes to FAR/JAR 25.1155 which would require 
a means to prevent the flight crew of turbine powered airplanes from 
inadvertently or intentionally placing the propellers into beta, 
deploying the thrust reverser while inflight, or otherwise commanding 
reverse thrust, unless the airplane has been certified for such 
operation. In addition to the harmonized rule recommendation, 
harmonized advisory material may also need to be developed in order to 
further standardize compliance with the recommended rule.
    The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation(s) resulting from 
this task by July 31, 2001.

[[Page 50955]]

Task 7: Powerplant Inflight Restarting

    Review FAR 25.903(e) and corresponding JAR requirement related to 
inflight restarting and generate an amended harmonized requirement that 
provides a minimum engine restart capability within the airplane 
operating envelope following loss of all engine thrust. In addition, 
provide harmonized advisory material that defines the acceptable 
methods of compliance to the amended regulations. Both of these tasks 
should take into account and address:
    1. Review of the service history.
    2. Review of inherent starting capability of the engines at the 
time the original 25.903(e) rule was promulgated.
    3. Alternative design means for restarting main engines.
    The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation(s) resulting from 
this task by July 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 Powerplant Installation 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.
    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 
Powerplant Installation 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 17, 1998.
Joseph A. Hawkins,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-25469 Filed 9-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M