[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 24, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46117-46122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21783]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 121, 125

[Docket No. FAA-1999-6140; Amdt. Nos. 121-271 & 125-32]
RIN 2120-AG88


Revisions to Digital Flight Data Recorder Requirements for Airbus 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This action amends the flight data recorder regulations by 
adding language to allow certain Airbus airplanes to record certain 
data parameters using resolution and sampling requirements that differ 
slightly from the current regulation. This amendment is necessary 
because the Airbus airplanes are unable to record certain flight 
parameters under the existing criteria without undergoing unintended 
and expensive retrofit.

DATES: This final rule is effective August 17, 1999. Comments must be 
submitted on or before September 17, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this final rule should be mailed or delivered, 
in duplicate to: US Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No. 
FAA-1999-6140, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room Plaza 401, Washington, DC 
20590. Comments may also be sent electronically to the following 
internet address: [email protected]. Comments may be filed and/or 
examined in Room Plaza 401 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays except 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary E. Davis, Air Carrier Operations 
Branch (AFS-201), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
telephone (202) 267-8166.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    This final rule is being adopted without prior notice and prior 
public comment. The Regulatory Policies and Procedures of the 
Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 1134; February 26, 1979), 
however, provide that, to the maximum extent possible, operating 
administrations for the DOT should provide an opportunity for public 
comment on regulations issued without prior notice. Accordingly, 
interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. 
Comments relating to environmental, energy, federalism, or 
international trade impacts that might result from this amendment also 
are invited. Comments must include the regulatory docket or amendment 
number and must be submitted in duplicate to the address above. All 
comments received, as well as a report summarizing each substantive 
public contact with FAA personnel on this rulemaking, will be filed in 
the public docket. The docket is available for public inspection before 
and after the comment closing date.
    The FAA will consider all comments received on or before the 
closing date for comments. Late filed comments will be considered to 
the extent practicable. This final rule may be amended in light of the 
comments received.
    Commenters who want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their 
comments submitted in response to this final rule must include a 
preaddressed, stamped postcard with those comments on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-1999-6140. 
The postcard will be date-stamped by the FAA and mailed to the 
commenter.

Availability of Final Rule

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem 
and suitable communications software from the FAA regulations section 
of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: (703) 
321-3339), or the Government Printing Office's (GPO) electronic 
bulletin board service (telephone: (202) 512-1661).

[[Page 46118]]

    Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov/
avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm, or the Government Printing Office's webpage at 
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara for access to recently published 
rulemaking documents.
    Any person may obtain a copy of this final rule by submitting a 
request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, 
ARM-1, 800 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by calling 
(202) 267-9680. Communications must identify the notice number or 
docket number of this rule.
    Persons interested in being placed on the mailing list for future 
Notices of Proposed Rulemaking or Final Rules should request from the 
above office a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, that describes the application 
procedure.

Small Entity Inquiries

    If you are a small entity and have a question, contact your local 
FAA official. If you do not know how to contact your local FAA 
official, you may contact Charlene Brown, Program Analyst Staff, Office 
of Rulemaking, ARM-27, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591, 1-888-551-1594. Internet 
users can find additional information on SBREFA in the ``Quick Jump'' 
section of the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov and may send 
electronic inquiries to the following internet address: 9-AWA-
[email protected].

Background

Statement of the Problem

    After the amendments to the DFDR requirements become effective on 
August 18, 1997 (62 FR 38362), the FAA began receiving telephone 
inquiries, requests for meetings, and petitions for exemption from 
Airbus Industries (Airbus) concerning the economic impact of the 
amendments on certain Airbus airplanes. Airbus claimed that in order to 
comply with the new DFDR recording requirements of 14 CFR Appendix M, 
its A300 B2/B4 series, A318/A319/A320/A321 series, and its A330/A340 
series airplanes would have to undergo major equipment retrofits. 
During the rulemaking, the FAA had stated that the rule was being 
tailored to avoid major equipment retrofits.
    The digital flight data recorders (DFDRs) in the affected Airbus 
airplanes already record the required parameters, but some of the 
resolution and sampling intervals for certain parameters differ 
slightly from those required by Appendix M. Airbus noted this 
difference in its comment to the NPRM, but the comment was not fully 
addressed in the preamble to the final rule, issued in August 1997.

History of Amendments to DFDR Requirements

    On February 22, 1995, the NTSB recommended that the FAA require 
upgrades of the flight data recorders installed on certain airplanes to 
record certain additional parameters not required by the current 
regulations. Two of the recommendations made by the NTSB affected the 
subject Airbus airplanes:
    Recommendation No. A-95-26. Amend, by December 31, 1995, 14 CFR 
121.343, 125.225, and 135.152 to require that Boeing 727 airplanes, 
Lockhead L-1011 airplanes, and all transport category airplanes 
operated under 14 CFR parts 121, 125, or 135 whose type certificates 
apply to airplanes still in production, be equipped to record on a 
flight data recorder system, as a minimum, the parameters listed in 
``Proposed Minimum FDR Parameter Requirements for Airplanes in 
Service'' plus any other parameters required by current regulations 
applicable to each individual airplane. Specify that the airplanes be 
so equipped by January 1, 1998, or by the later date when they meet 
Stage 3 noise requirements but, regardless of Stage 3 compliance 
status, no later than December 31, 1999. (Classified as Class II, 
Priority Action)
    Recommendation No. A-95-27. Amend, by December 31, 1995, 14 CFR 
121.343, 125.225, and 135.152 to require that all airplanes operated 
under 14 CFR parts 121, 125, or 135, having 10 or more seats, and for 
which an original airworthiness certificate is received after December 
31, 1996, record the parameters listed in ``Proposed FDA Enhancements 
for Newly Manufactured Airplanes'' on a flight data recorder having at 
least a 25-hour recording capacity. (Classified as Class II, Priority 
Action)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    On July 16, 1996, the FAA published a notice for proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) (Notice No. 96-7, 61 FR 37143) addressing revisions 
to DFDR rules. The proposals were based on the NTSB recommendations, 
information obtained through the public hearing, and the efforts of the 
ARAC working group.
    As part of its comment to the proposed rule, Airbus stated that 
there were current recorder systems that record the required parameters 
at sampling rates or resolutions that differ from the proposed appendix 
M. Airbus suggested that the rates and resolutions be changed since 
meeting them would impose significant retrofit costs on operators of 
Airbus airplanes. It was not until Airbus petitioned for exemption from 
the Appendix M requirements that the FAA's attention was focused on the 
insufficient response to the Airbus comment, the significant number of 
Airbus airplanes involved, and the minor variations that would be 
required from Appendix M requirements. As stated previously, it was 
never the intention of the FAA to require operators of any airplanes to 
incur significant equipment retrofit costs in order to comply with the 
requirements for DFDR upgrades.
    The FAA believes that had it fully understood the overall impact 
the final rule would place on operators of Airbus airplanes, it would 
have made specific provisions to reduce or eliminate that impact in the 
final rule.

Petitions for Exemption

    On April 9, 1998, Airbus petitioned the FAA for permanent 
exemptions from part 121, appendix M. Airbus requested that the A319/
320/321 series aircraft be exempted from the appendix M resolution 
requirements and be allowed to record these alternatives for the 
following parameters:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Current         Record
                Parameter                   resolution      resolution
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12B) pitch control input position......      0.088 deg.      0.064 deg.
(13b) lateral control input position....      0.088 deg.      0.080 deg.
(14a) rudder pedal position.............      0.088 deg.      0.050 deg.
(19) pitch trim surface position........      0.088 deg.      0.084 deg.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 46119]]

    Airbus requested that the A330/340 series aircraft be exempted from 
the Appendix M resolution requirements and be allowed to record these 
alternatives for the following parameters:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Current    Required
                    Parameter                     resolution  resolution
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7) roll attitude...............................  0.703 deg.  0.500 deg.
(12B) pitch control input position..............  0.703 deg.  0.064 deg.
(13B) lateral control input position............  0.703 deg.  0.80 deg.
(14a) ruder pedal position......................  0.703 deg.  0.120 deg.
(15) left & right elevator position.............  0.352 deg.  0.090 deg.
(16) aileron & spoiler position: right inboard    0.352 deg.  0.100 deg.
 and outboard aileron left inboard and outboard   0.352 deg.  0.100 deg.
 ailron right and left spoiler no. 2 to 6.......  0.703 deg.  0.100 deg.
(17) rudder position............................  0.176 deg.  0.120 deg.
(19) pitch trim surface position................  0.088 deg.  0.051 deg.
(20) flap position..............................  0.250 deg.  0.165 deg.
(21) slat position..............................  0.250 deg.  0.120 deg.
(24) outside air temperature....................   0.5 deg.    0.3 deg.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Airbus also requested that the A330/340 series aircraft be exempted 
from the appendix M resolution requirements and be allowed to record 
these alternatives for the following parameters:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Current    Required
          Parameter Interval in seconds--            sampling   Sampling
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) rudder pedal position........................         1        0.5
(17) rudder position..............................         1        0.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Airbus industries stated that current Airbus A319, 320, 321, 330, 
and 340 series airplanes are equipped with a digital flight data 
recording system (DFDRS) that records all mandatory parameters, numbers 
1 through 34.
    The FAA has determined that it would not be appropriate to grant an 
exemption to Airbus on behalf of the operators of its aircraft. Even if 
exemptions were granted to individual operators, they would have to be 
permanent. The FA has determined that, under such circumstances, a 
change to the rule language of appendix M is the only appropriate means 
to account for the differences in Airbus DFDR equipment. Accordingly, 
the FAA is amending part 121 appendix M, and part 125 appendix E to 
indicate that certain Airbus airplanes already in services may record 
the indicated parameters using the rates and resolutions listed. The 
FAA consulted with the NTSB concerning this variation, and the NTSB 
indicated that the proposed change would not significantly affect its 
ability to investigate accident or incidents.
    The FAA has determined that these changes will not adversely affect 
the safety of the aircraft, hinder the investigation of accidents or 
incidents by the NTSB, nor compromise the intent of the DFDR rules. 
This amendment will revise the resolution recording requirements of 
parameters 7, 12(b), 13)b), 14(a), 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21and 24, and 
the sampling interval for parameters 14(a) and 17. The FAA has 
determined that these changes can be accommodated by footnotes in 
appendix M to part 121 and appendix E to part 125.

Good Cause for Immediate Adoption

    Sections 553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3)) authorize agencies to 
dispense with certain notice procedures for rules when they find ``good 
cause'' to do so. Under section 553(b)(3)(B), the requirements of 
notice and opportunity for comment do not apply when the agency for 
good cause finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' Section 553(d)(3) 
allows an agency, upon finding good cause, to make a rule effective 
immediately, thereby avoiding the 30-day delayed effective date 
requirement in section 553.
    The FAA finds that notice and public comment to this final rule are 
impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest. This 
final rule amends the flight data recorder regulations by adding 
language to the appendices of parts 121 and 125 to allow certain Airbus 
airplanes to record certain data parameters using resolution and 
sampling requirements that differ slightly from the current regulation. 
As a result, the FAA has determined that notice and public comment are 
unnecessary because the change effectuates the original intent of the 
regulation, is not controversial, and is unlikely to result in adverse 
comments since it affects only operations of Airbus airplanes.

Regulatory Evaluation Summary

    Changes to Federal regulations must undergo several economic 
analyses. First, Executive Order 12866 directs that each Federal agency 
shall propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned determination 
that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its costs. Second, 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 requires agencies to analyze the 
economic effect of regulatory changes on small entities. Third, OMB 
directs agencies to assess the effects of regulatory changes on 
international trade.
    The FAA has determined that there are no costs associated with this 
final rule; the rule imposes no costs upon operators of Airbus 
airplanes. Instead, this rule change relieves operators of Airbus 
airplanes from a regulatory burden that was inadvertently imposed on 
them in the adoption of the 1997 regulations, and would have an impact 
beginning August 18, 1999. This change effectuates the original intent 
of the 1997 regulations.
    The FAA has determined this rule is not ``a significant regulatory 
action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, is 
not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. The rule 
is not considered significant under the regulatory policies and 
procedures of the Department of Transportation (44 FR 11034, February 
26, 1979). The rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial 
number of small entities and will not constitute a barrier to 
international trade.

[[Page 46120]]

Regulatory Flexibility Determination

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) establishes ``as a 
principle of regulatory issuance that agencies shall endeavor, 
consistent with the objective of the rule and of applicable statutes, 
to fit regulatory and informational requirements to the scale of the 
businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions subject to 
regulation.'' To achieve that principle, the RFA requires agencies to 
solicit and consider flexible regulatory proposals and to explain the 
rationale for their actions. The RFA covers a wide range of small 
entities, including small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and 
small governmental jurisdictions.
    Agencies must perform a review to determine whether a proposed or 
final rule will have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. If the determination is that it will, the 
agency must prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis (RFA) as 
described in the RFA. However, if an agency determines that a proposed 
or final rule is not expected to have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities, section 605(b) of the 1980 act 
provides that the head of the agency may so certify and an RFA is not 
required. The certification must include a statement providing the 
factual basis for this determination, and the reasoning should be 
clear.
    The FAA has determined that there are no costs associated with this 
final rule. Accordingly, pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 
U.S.C. 605(b), the Federal Aviation Administration certifies that this 
proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

International Trade Impact Analysis

    The revised rule will have little or no impact on trade for U.S. 
firms doing business in foreign countries and foreign firms doing 
business in the United States.

Federalism Implications

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507(d)), the FAA has determined that there are no requirements for 
information collection associated with this final rule.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Assessment

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (the Act), 
enacted as Pub. L. 104-4 on March 22, 1995, requires each Federal 
agency, to the extent permitted by law, to prepare a written assessment 
of the effects of any Federal mandate in a proposed or final agency 
rule that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year. 
Section 204(a) of the Act, 2 U.S.C. 1534(a), requires the Federal 
agency to develop an effective process to permit timely input by 
elected officers (or their designees) of State, local, and tribal 
governments on a proposed ``significant intergovernmental mandate.'' A 
``significant intergovernmental mandate'' under the Act is any 
provision in a Federal agency regulation that would impose an 
enforceable duty upon State, local, and tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, of $100 million (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one 
year. Section 203 of the Act, 2 U.S.C. 1533, which supplements section 
204(a), provides that before establishing any regulatory requirements 
that might significantly or uniquely affect small governments, the 
agency shall have developed a plan that, among other things, provides 
for notice to potentially affected small governments, if any, and for a 
meaningful and timely opportunity to provide input in the development 
of regulatory proposals.
    This rule does not contain a Federal intergovernmental or private 
sector mandate that exceeds $100 million a year.

Environmental Analysis

    FAA Order 1050.1D defines FAA actions that may be categorically 
excluded from preparation of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. In 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1D, appendix 4, paragraph 4(j), this 
rulemaking action qualifies for a categorical exclusion.

Energy Impact

    The energy impact of the rule has been assessed in accordance with 
the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) and Pub. L. 94-163, as 
amended (43 U.S.C. 6362) and FAA Order 1053.1. It has been determined 
that the rule is not a major regulatory action under the provisions of 
the EPCA.

List of Subjects

14 CFR Part 121

    Air carriers, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Transportation

14 CFR Part 125

    Aircraft, Airmen, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements

The Amendment

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration amends parts 121 
and 125 of Chapter I of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations as 
follows:

PART 121--OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: DOMESTIC, FLAG, AND SUPPLEMENTAL 
OPERATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 121 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 40119, 44101, 44701-44702, 
44705, 44709-44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 44722, 44901, 44903-44904, 
44912, 46105.

    2. In appendix M, the heading of the appendix, and item numbers 1, 
7, 12b, 13b, 14a, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 24 are revised and 
the introductory text is republished to read as follows:

Appendix M to Part 121--Airplane Flight Recorder Specifications

    The recorded values must meet the designated range, resolution, 
and accuracy requirements during dynamic and static conditions. All 
data renorded must be correlated in time to within one second.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Accuracy     Seconds per
                Parameters                      Range        (sensor      sampling     Resolution      Remarks
                                                             input)       interval
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Time or Relative Times Counts.\1\......  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 

[[Page 46121]]

 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
7. Roll Attitude.\2\......................  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
12b. Pitch Control(s) position (fly-by-     ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 wire systems).\3\........................
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
13b. Lateral Control position(s) (fly-by-   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 wire).\4\................................
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
14a. Yaw Control position(s) (non-fly-by-   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 wire).\5\................................
15. Pitch Control Surface(s) Position.\6\.  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
16. Lateral Control Surface(2)              ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Position.\7\.............................
17. Yaw Control Surface(s) Position.\8\...  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
19. Pitch Trim Surface Position.\9\.......  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
20. Trailing Edge Flap or Cockpit Control   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Selection.\10\...........................
21. Leading Edge Flap or Cockpit Control    ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Selection.\11\...........................
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
23. Ground Spoiler Position or Speed Brake  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Selection.\12\...........................
24. Outside Air Temperature or Total Air    ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Temperature.\13\.........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For A300 B2/B4 airplanes, resolution=6 seconds.
\2\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=0.703 deg..
\3\ For A318/A319/A320/A321 series airplanes, resolution=0.275% (0.088 deg.>0.064 deg.).
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=2.20%(0.703 deg.>0.064 deg.).
\4\ For A318/A319/A320/A321 series airplanes, resolution=0.22% (0.088 deg.>0.080 deg.).
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=1.76% (0.703 deg.>0.080 deg.).
\5\ For A318/A319/A320/A321 series airplanes, resolution=0.21% (0.088 deg.>0.084 deg.).
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=1.18% (0.703 deg.>0.120 deg.).
\6\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=0.783% (0.352 deg.>0.090 deg.).
\7\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, aileron resolution=0.704% (0.352 deg.>0.100 deg.).
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, spoiler resolution=1.406% (0.703 deg.>0.100 deg.).
\8\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=0.30% (0.176 deg.>0.12 deg.).
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, seconds per sampling interval=1.
\9\ For all Airbus airplanes, resolution=0.518% (0.088 deg.>0.051 deg.).
\10\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=1.05% (0.250 deg.>0.120 deg.).
\11\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=1.05% (0250 deg.>0.120 deg.).
  For A300 B2/B4 series airplanes, resolution=0.92% (0.230 deg.>0.125 deg.).
\12\ For A300-600/A310 series airplanes, speed brake resolution=0.224% (0.112 deg.>0.100 deg.).
  For A330/A340 series airplanes, spoiler resolution=1.406% (0.703 deg.>0.100 deg.).
\13\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution=0.5 deg.C.

PART 125--CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS: AIRPLANES HAVING A SEATING 
CAPACITY OF 20 OR MORE PASSENGERS OR A MAXIMUM PAYLOAD CAPACITY OF 
6,000 POUNDS OR MORE

    3. The authority citation for part 125 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701-44702, 44705, 44710-
44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 44722.

    4. In Appendix E, the heading of the Appendix, and item numbers 1, 
7, 12b, 13b, 14a, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 24 are revised and 
the introductory text is republished to read as follows:

Appendix E to Part 125--Airplane Flight Recorder Specifications

    The recorded values must meet the designated range, resolution, 
and accuracy requirements during dynamic and static conditions. All 
data recorded must be correlated in time to within one second.

         [RIN # 2120-AG88 Revisions to Digital Flight Data Recorder Requirements for Airbus, Airplanes]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Accuracy     Seconds per
                Parameters                      Range        (sensor      sampling     Resolution      Remarks
                                                             input)       interval
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Time or Relative Times Counts.\1\......  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
7. Roll Attitude.\2\......................  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
12b. Pitch Control(s) Position (fly-by-     ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 wire systems).\3\........................
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
13b. Lateral Control position(s) (fly-by-   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 wire).\4\................................
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
14a. Yaw Control position(s) (non-fly-by-   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 wire).\5\................................
 

[[Page 46122]]

 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
15. Pitch Control Surface(s) Position.\6\.  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
16. Lateral Control Surface(s)              ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Position.\7\.............................
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
17. Yaw Control Surface(s) Position.\8\...  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
19. Pitch Trim Surface Position.\9\.......  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
20. Trailing Edge Flap or Cockpit Control   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Selection.\10\...........................
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
23. Ground Spoiler Position or Speed Brake  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Selection.\12\...........................
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
24. Outside Air Temperature or Total Air    ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Temperature.\13\.........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For A300 B2/B4 airplanes, resolution = 6 seconds.
\2\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 0.703 deg..
\3\ For A318/A319/A320/A321 series airplanes, resolution = 0.275% (0.088 deg.>0.064 deg.)
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 2.20% (0.703 deg.>0.064 deg.)
\4\ For A318/A319/A320/A321 series airplanes, resolution = 0.22% (0.088 deg.>0.080 deg.)
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 1.76% (0.703 deg.>0.080 deg.)
\5\ For A318/A319/A320/A321 series airplanes, resolution = 0.21% (0.088 deg.>0.084 deg.)
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 1.18% (0.703 deg.>0.120 deg.)
\6\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 0.783% (0.352 deg.>0.090 deg.)
\7\ For A330/A340/A320/A321 series airplanes, aileron resolution = 0.704% (0.352 deg.>0.100 deg.)
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, spoiler resolution = 1.406% (0.703 deg.>0.100 deg.)
\8\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 0.30% (0.176 deg.>0.12 deg.)
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, seconds per sampling interval = 1
\9\ For all Airbus airplanes, resolution = 0.518% (0.088 deg.>0.051 deg.)
\10\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 1.05% (0.250 deg.>0.120 deg.)
\11\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 1.05% (0.250 deg.>0.120 deg.)
 For A300 B2/B4 series airplanes, resolution = 0.92% (0.230 deg.>0.125 deg.)
\12\ For A300-600/A310 series airplanes, speed brake resolution = 0.224% (0.112 deg.>0.100 deg.)
 For A330/A340 series airplanes, spoiler resolution = 1.406% (0.703 deg.>0.100 deg.)
\13\ For A330/A340 series airplanes, resolution = 0.5 deg.C.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 17, 1999.
Jane F. Garvey,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-21783 Filed 8-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M