[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]
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