[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 189 (Thursday, September 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58304-58305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24869]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Transport Airplanes and 
Engine Issues--New Tasks

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of new task assignment(s) 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: Dorenda Baker, 601 Lind Ave., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056, 425-227-2109, [email protected].

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 Title 14 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) with its partners in Europe and Canada.

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 1

    Ground Loads: Review 14 CFR part 25, specifically Sec. 25.471, 
Ground Loads: General, (through Sec. 25.519), for adequacy for both 
conventional and unconventional gear configurations as well as for 
unusually heavy airplanes. This should include the review and 
implementation of existing special conditions for center gear 
configurations. Review the distribution of loads between the gear 
during the landing event as well as the distribution and magnitude of 
loads during ground handling events such as pivoting, turning, and 
braking.
    Schedule: As a result of this review, develop a report recommending 
revisions to rules (including cost estimates) and advisory material as 
deemed necessary. The report and advisory material shall be submitted 
to the FAA within 18 months after the date of this notice.

Task 2

    Towing Loads: Review of Sec. 25.509, Towing loads, for adequacy for 
conventional airplanes as well as unusually heavy airplanes, and 
establish adequate limit design towing loads for all transport category 
airplanes taking into account all recognized means of towing, including 
towbarless towing vehicles.
    Schedule: As a result of this review, develop a report recommending 
revisions to the rules (including cost estimates) and advisory material 
as deemed appropriate. The report and advisory material shall be 
submitted to the FAA within 24 months after the date of this notice.

Task 3

    Landing Descent Velocity Measurement: Review the results of recent 
and ongoing landing descent velocity measurements and make 
recommendations in regard to the adequacy of the existing limit decent 
velocity requirements in Sec. 25.473, Landing load conditions and 
assumptions, for conventional as well as usually heavy airplanes.
    Schedule: As a result of this review, develop a report recommending 
revisions to the rules (including cost estimates) and advisory material 
as deemed necessary. The report and advisory material shall be 
submitted to the FAA within 24 months after the notice of the task is 
published.
    If notices of proposed rulemaking and notices of proposed advisory 
circulars are published for public comment as a result of the 
recommendations in these reports, ARAC may be further asked to review 
all comments received, and provide the FAA with a recommendation for 
disposition of public comments for each project.

ARAC Acceptance of Tasks

    ARAC has accepted the tasks and has chosen to assign the tasks to 
the Loads and Dynamics Harmonization Working Group of the ARAC 
Transport Airplanes and Engine Issues Group. The working group will 
serve as staff to ARAC to assist in the analysis of the assigned tasks. 
Working group recommendations must be reviewed and approved by ARAC. If 
ARAC accepts the working group's recommendations, it forwards them to 
the FAA as ARAC recommendations.

Working Group Activity

    The Loads and Dynamics 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 Transport Airplane and Engines held following publication of 
this notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendation, prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. For each task, draft appropriate 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.
    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

[[Page 58305]]

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 Loads 
and Dynamics Harmonization Working Group will not be open to the 
public, except to the extent that individuals with an interest and 
expertise and selected to participate. No public announcement of 
working group meetings will be made.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 21, 2000.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 00-24869 Filed 9-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M