[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 63 (Friday, April 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 16321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7444]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Advisory Circular (AC) 120-XX, Aging Airplane Records Reviews and 
Inspections

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and request for 
comments on proposed AC 120-XX, which provides guidance pertaining to 
aging airplane records reviews and inspections that are accomplished to 
satisfy the requirements of the final rule entitled Aging Aircraft 
Safety which was enacted in response to a statutory requirement, the 
Aging Aircraft Safety Act of 1991.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 2, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed AC to: Frederick Sobeck, 
AFS-300, Aging Airplane Program Manager, Flight Standards Service, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone number: (202) 267-7355.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Sobeck, AFS-300, Aging 
Airplane Program Manager, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone number: (202) 267-7355.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    A copy of the draft AC may be obtained by accessing the FAA's 
webpage at http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm. Interested parties 
are invited to submit comments on the proposed AC. Commenters must 
identify AC 120-XX, and submit comments to the address specified above. 
All communications received on or before the closing date for comments 
will be considered by the FAA before issuing the final AC.

Discussion

    To address aging aircraft concerns, in October 1991, Congress 
enacted Title IV of Public Law 102-143, known as the Aging Aircraft 
Safety Act of 1991, which was subsequently codified as 49 U.S.C. 44717. 
The law instructed the Administrator to prescribe regulations that 
would ensure the continued airworthiness of aging aircraft. The law 
also instructed the Administrator to conduct inspections and review the 
maintenance and other records of each aircraft an air carrier uses to 
provide air transportation. These inspections and records reviews were 
intended to enable the Administrator to decide whether aging aircraft 
are in a safe condition and maintained properly for operation in air 
transportation. The law also required the Administrator to establish 
procedures to be followed for performing such inspections.
    In addition to imposing obligations on the Administrator, the law 
stated that air carriers must demonstrate that the maintenance of their 
aircraft's age-sensitive parts and components has been adequate and 
timely, and operators must make their aircraft and aircraft records 
available for inspection.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 19, 1999.
L. Nicholas Lacey,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 99-7444 Filed 4-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M