[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70104-70105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32462]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues--New Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of a new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC).

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SUMMARY: Notice is given of a new task 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: Kristin Larson, Transport Standards 
Staff, ANM-110, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., Renton, WA 98055-4056, 
telephone (425) 227-1760, fax (425) 227-1100.

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 the aviation authorities 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 in 14 CFR parts 25, 33, and 35 and parallel provisions in 14 
CFR parts 121 and 135. The corresponding European airworthiness 
standards for transport category airplanes are contained in Joint 
Aviation Requirements (JAR)-25, JAR-E and JAR-P, respectively. The 
corresponding Canadian Standards are contained in Chapters 525, 533, 
and 535, respectively.

The Task

    This notice is to inform the public that the FAA has asked ARAC to 
provide advice and recommendation on the following harmonization task:

Task 6: Aging Aircraft Program (Widespread Fatigue Damage) (WFD)

    The FAA requests that ARAC propose new operating rules (14 CFR 
parts 91, 121, 125, 129, and 135) that would ensure that no large 
transport category airplane (>75,000 lbs. Gross Take Off Weight) is 
operated beyond the flight cycle limits to be specified in the 
regulation, unless an ``Aging Aircraft Program'' has been incorporated 
into the operator's maintenance program.

[[Page 70105]]

    The proposed rule and advisory material will establish:
    1. The content of the Aging Aircraft Program (e.g., the necessary 
special inspections and modification actions for prevention of WFD), 
and
    2. A limit of the ``validity'' (in terms of flight cycles or hours) 
of the Aging Aircraft Program where additional reviews are necessary 
for continued operation.
    Additionally, ARAC is asked to review 14 CFR 25.1529 and 14 CFR 
part 25, Appendix H, and recommend changes to establish:
    1. The required content of an Aging Aircraft Program.
    2. The criteria by which to determine the validity of the Aging 
Aircraft Program (in terms of flight cycles or flight hours). This 
would effectively prohibit the operation of airplanes beyond the 
limited validity of the maintenance program. In order to operate beyond 
the declared limit, further evaluation of the design must be 
accomplished and the additional inspections and/or modifications added 
to the Aging Aircraft Program as necessary.
    The FAA may ask ARAC to recommend disposition of any substantive 
comments the FAA receives in response to any of the notices of proposed 
rulemaking that result from ARAC's recommendations.
    The FAA expects ARAC to forward its recommendations to the FAA 
within 9 months after tasking.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC has accepted this task and has chosen to assign it to the 
existing Airworthiness Assurance Working Group. The working group 
serves as staff to ARAC to assist ARAC in the analysis of the assigned 
task. Working group recommendations must be reviewed and approved by 
ARAC. If ARAC accepts the working groups recommendations, it forwards 
them to the FAA as ARAC recommendations.

Working Group Activity

    The 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 task, including the 
rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration at the meeting of 
ARAC to consider transport airplane and engine issue held following 
publication of this notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendations, prior to proceeding with its work.
    3. Draft appropriate regulatory documents with supporting economic 
and other required analyses, and any other related guidance material or 
collateral documents to support its recommendations.
    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, except as authorized 
by section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Meetings of the 
Airworthiness Assurance 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 December 9, 1999.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 99-32462 Filed 12-14-99; 8:45 am]
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