[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 27, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 81733-81737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32730]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 121 and 125

[Docket Nos. 121-271, 121-278, 125-32 & 125-34]
RIN 2120-AG-88


Corrections to Flight Data Recorder Specifications

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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

SUMMARY: This action corrects errors introduced into the flight data 
recorder specifications in two final rules. The FAA intended to add 
certain information by footnote in the appendices that contain the 
flight recorder specification charts, but inadvertently caused material 
to be deleted. This correction reinstates that material.

DATES: Effective December 27, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Petronis, Senior Attorney for 
Regulations, AGC-200, Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone 202-267-3073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA published final rule amending the 
flight data recorder specifications for certain Airbus airplanes in the 
Federal Register on August 24, 1999 [64 FR 46117]. The intent of that 
final rule was to establish different criteria for certain flight data 
recorder parameters that are recorded by Airbus airplanes. The changes 
were introduced as footnotes. The footnote numbers were to appear with 
the name of the parameter in the ``Parameters'' columns of 14 CFR part 
121 appendix M and part 125 appendix E.
    Instead of inserting the footnotes numbers in the column and adding 
the noted information at the bottom of the chart, the amendatory 
language that was used resulted in information being deleted from the 
five remaining columns of the chart for each of the parameters affected 
by the rule. A similar attempted amendment in August 2000 [65 FR 51745, 
August 24, 2000] caused the same result.
    Accordingly, the FAA is republishing the affected parameter 
specifications to reinstate them in the appendix M chart. The identical 
corrections are being made to Part 125 Appendix E, which contains the 
identical information. The FAA never intended to change any of the 
information that was effective at the time of the August 1999 final 
rule, and no intent may be implied by the absence of this information 
from the printed 2000 CFR. The FAA has no information to suggest that 
any operator subject to the affected regulations has taken any action 
based on the unintended deletion of the information. The required 
specifications are well established and not easily changed in 
operational flight data recorder system equipment.
    Since no rule change was ever intended, there is no economic impact 
that is attributable to this correction.
    Any operator that finds itself adversely affected by reliance on 
any omission from the 2000 CFR is advised to contract the FAA 
immediately for resolution of any problems.

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

Part 121 [Corrected]

Appendix M [Corrected]

    1. Correct Appendix M to part 121, by revising item numbers, 1, 7, 
9, 12b, 13b, 14a, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 37, 42 and 57 to read 
as follows (Note: The footnote text remains unchanged):

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Accuracy  (sensor     second per sampling
             Parameters                       Range                  input)                 interval              Resolution              Remarks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Time or Relative Times            24 Hrs, 0 to 4095.....  +/-0.125% Per Hour....  4....................  1 sec................  UTC time preferred
 Counts.\1\.                                                                                                                        when available.
                                                                                                                                    Count increments
                                                                                                                                    each 4 second of
                                                                                                                                    system operation.
7. Roll attitude \2\...............  +/-180 deg............  +/-2 deg..............  1 or 0.5 for           0.5..................  A sampling rate of
                                                                                      airplanes operated                            0.5 is recommended.
                                                                                      under Sec.
                                                                                      121.344(f).

[[Page 81734]]

 
9. Thrust/Power on Each Engine--     Full Range Forward....  +/-2%.................  1 (per engine).......  0.2% of full range...  Sufficient parameters
 primary flight crew reference.\14\.                                                                                                (e.g. EPR, NI or
                                                                                                                                    Torque, NP) as
                                                                                                                                    appropriate to the
                                                                                                                                    particular engine be
                                                                                                                                    recorded to
                                                                                                                                    determine power in
                                                                                                                                    forward and reverse
                                                                                                                                    thrust, including
                                                                                                                                    potential over-speed
                                                                                                                                    condition.
12b. Pitch Control(s) position (fly- Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5 or 0.25 for        0.2% of full range...
 by-wire systems).\3\.                                        Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated
                                                              Uniquely Required..     under Sec.
                                                                                      121.344(f)..
13b. Lateral Control position(s)     Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5 or 0.25 for        0.2% of full range...
 (fly-by-wire).\4\.                                           Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated
                                                              Uniquely Required.      under Sec.
                                                                                      121.344(f).
14a. Yaw Control position(s) (non-   Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5..................  0.2% of full range...  For airplanes that
 fly-by-wire).\5\.                                            Higher Accuracy                                                       have a flight
                                                              Uniquely Required.                                                    control break away
                                                                                                                                    capability that
                                                                                                                                    allows either pilot
                                                                                                                                    to operate the
                                                                                                                                    controls
                                                                                                                                    independently,
                                                                                                                                    record both control
                                                                                                                                    inputs. The control
                                                                                                                                    inputs may be
                                                                                                                                    sampled alternately
                                                                                                                                    once per second to
                                                                                                                                    produce the sampling
                                                                                                                                    interval of 0.5.
15. Pitch Control Surface(s)         Full Range............  +/- deg. Unless Higher  0.5 or 0.25 for        0.2% of full range...  For airplanes fitted
 Position.\6\.                                                Accuracy Uniquely       airplanes operated                            with multiple or
                                                              Required.               under Sec.                                    split surfaces, a
                                                                                      121.344(f).                                   suitable combination
                                                                                                                                    of inputs is
                                                                                                                                    acceptable in lieu
                                                                                                                                    or recording each
                                                                                                                                    surface separately.
                                                                                                                                    The control surfaces
                                                                                                                                    may be sampled
                                                                                                                                    alternately to
                                                                                                                                    produce the sampling
                                                                                                                                    interval of 0.5 or
                                                                                                                                    0.25.
16. Lateral Control Surface(s)       Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5 or 0.25 for        0.2% of full range...  A suitable
 Position.\7\.                                                Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated                            combination of
                                                              Uniquely Required.      under Sec.                                    surface position
                                                                                      121.344(f).                                   sensors is
                                                                                                                                    acceptable in lieu
                                                                                                                                    of recording each
                                                                                                                                    surface separately.
                                                                                                                                    The control surfaces
                                                                                                                                    may be sampled
                                                                                                                                    alternately to
                                                                                                                                    produce the sampling
                                                                                                                                    interval of 0.5 or
                                                                                                                                    0.25.
17. Yaw Control Surface(s)           Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5..................  0.2% of full range...  For airplanes with
 Position.\8\.                                                Higher Accuracy                                                       multiple or split
                                                              Uniquely Required.                                                    surfaces, a suitable
                                                                                                                                    combination of
                                                                                                                                    surface position
                                                                                                                                    sensors is
                                                                                                                                    acceptable in lieu
                                                                                                                                    of recording each
                                                                                                                                    surface separately.
                                                                                                                                    The control surfaces
                                                                                                                                    may be sampled
                                                                                                                                    alternately to
                                                                                                                                    produce the sapling
                                                                                                                                    interval of 0.5.
19. Pitch Trim Surface Position.\9\  Full Range............  +/-3 deg. Unless        1....................  0.3% of full range...
                                                              Higher Accuracy
                                                              Uniquely Required.

[[Page 81735]]

 
20. Trailing Edge Flap or Cockpit    Full Range or Each      +/-3 deg. or as         2....................  0.5% of full range...  Flap position and
 Control Selection.\10\.              Position (discrete).    Pilot's indicator.                                                    cockpit control may
                                                                                                                                    each be sampled at 4
                                                                                                                                    second intervals, to
                                                                                                                                    give a data point
                                                                                                                                    every 2 seconds.
21. Leading Edge Flap or Cockpit     Full Range or Each      +/-3 deg. or as         2....................  0.5% of full range...  Left and right sides,
 Control Selection.\11\.              Discrete Position.      Pilot's indicator and                                                 or flap position and
                                                              sufficient to                                                         cockpit control may
                                                              determine each                                                        each be sampled at 4
                                                              discrete position.                                                    second intervals, so
                                                                                                                                    as to give a data
                                                                                                                                    point every 2
                                                                                                                                    seconds.
23. Ground Spoiler Position or       Full Range or Each      +/-2 deg. Unless        1 or 0.5 for           0.2% of full range...
 Speed Brake Selection.\12\.          Position (discrete).    Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated
                                                              Uniquely Required.      under Sec.
                                                                                      121.344(f).
24. Outside Air Temperature or       -50 deg.C to +90 deg.C  +/-2 deg.C............  2....................  0.3 deg.C............
 Total Air Temperature.\13\.
37. Drift Angle.\15\...............  As installed..........  As installed..........  4....................  0.1 deg..............
42. Throttle/power Leverl            Full Range............  +/-2%.................  1 for each lever.....  2% of full range.....  For airplanes with
 position.\16\.                                                                                                                     non-mechanically
                                                                                                                                    linked cockpit
                                                                                                                                    engine controls.
57. Thrust command.\17\............  Full Range............  +/-2%.................  2....................  2% of full range.....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 121 [Corrected]

Appendix E [Corrected]

    2. Correct appendix E to part 125, by revising item numbers 1, 7, 
9, 12b, 13b, 14a, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 37, 42 and 57 to read 
as follows (Note: The footnote text remains unchanged):

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Accuracy (sensor      Seconds per sampling
             Parameters                       Range                  input)                 interval              Resolution              Remarks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Time or Relative Times            24 Hrs, 0 to 4095.....  +/-0.125% Per Hour....  4....................  1 sec................  UTC time preferred
 Counts.\1\.                                                                                                                        when available.
                                                                                                                                    Count increments
                                                                                                                                    each 4 seconds of
                                                                                                                                    system operation.
7. Roll Attitude \2\...............  +/-180 deg............  +/-2 deg..............  1 or 0.5 for           0.5 deg..............  A sampling rate of
                                                                                      airplanes operated                            0.5 is recommended.
                                                                                      under Sec.
                                                                                      121.344(f).
9. Thrust/Power on Each Engine-      Full Range Forward....  +/-2%.................  1 (per engine).......  0.2% of full range...  Sufficient parameters
 primary flight crew reference.\14\.                                                                                                (e.g. EPR, N1 or
                                                                                                                                    Torque, NP) as
                                                                                                                                    appropriate to the
                                                                                                                                    particular engine be
                                                                                                                                    recorded to
                                                                                                                                    determine power in
                                                                                                                                    forward and reverse
                                                                                                                                    thrust, including
                                                                                                                                    potential over-speed
                                                                                                                                    condition.
12b. Pitch Control(s) position (fly- Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5 or 0.25 for        0.2% of full range...
 by-wire systems).\3\.                                        Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated
                                                              Uniquely Required.      under Sec.
                                                                                      121.344(f).
13b. Lateral Control position(s)     Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5 or 0.25 for        0.2% of full range...
 (fly-by-wire).\4\.                                           Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated
                                                              Uniquely Required.      under Sec.
                                                                                      121.344(f).

[[Page 81736]]

 
14a. Yaw Control position(s) (non-   Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5..................  0.2% of full range...  For airplanes that
 fly-by-wire).\5\.                                            Higher Accuracy                                                       have a flight
                                                              Uniquely Required.                                                    control break away
                                                                                                                                    capability that
                                                                                                                                    allows either pilot
                                                                                                                                    to operate the
                                                                                                                                    controls
                                                                                                                                    independently,
                                                                                                                                    record both control
                                                                                                                                    inputs. The control
                                                                                                                                    inputs may be
                                                                                                                                    sampled alternately
                                                                                                                                    once per second to
                                                                                                                                    produce the sampling
                                                                                                                                    interval of 0.5.
15. Pitch Control Surface(s)         Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5 or 0.25 for        0.2% of full range...  For airplanes fitted
 Position.\6\.                                                Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated                            with multiple or
                                                              Uniquely Required.      under Sec.                                    split surfaces, a
                                                                                      121.344(f).                                   suitable combination
                                                                                                                                    of inputs is
                                                                                                                                    acceptable in lieu
                                                                                                                                    or recording each
                                                                                                                                    surface separately.
                                                                                                                                    The control surfaces
                                                                                                                                    may be sampled
                                                                                                                                    alternately to
                                                                                                                                    produce the sampling
                                                                                                                                    interval of 0.5 or
                                                                                                                                    0.25.
16. Lateral Control Surface(s)       Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5 or 0.25 for        0.2% of full range...  A suitable
 Position.\7\.                                                Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated                            combination of
                                                              Uniquely Required.      under Sec.                                    surface position
                                                                                      121.344(f).                                   sensors is
                                                                                                                                    acceptable in lieu
                                                                                                                                    of recording each
                                                                                                                                    surface separately.
                                                                                                                                    The control surfaces
                                                                                                                                    may be sampled
                                                                                                                                    alternately to
                                                                                                                                    produce the sampling
                                                                                                                                    interval of 0.5 or
                                                                                                                                    0.25.
17. Yaw Control Surface(s)           Full Range............  +/-2 deg. Unless        0.5..................  0.2% of full range...  For airplanes with
 Position.\8\.                                                Higher Accuracy                                                       multiple or split
                                                              Uniquely Required.                                                    surfaces, a suitable
                                                                                                                                    combination of
                                                                                                                                    surface position
                                                                                                                                    sensors is
                                                                                                                                    acceptable in lieu
                                                                                                                                    of recording each
                                                                                                                                    surface separately.
                                                                                                                                    The control surfaces
                                                                                                                                    may be sampled
                                                                                                                                    alternately to
                                                                                                                                    produce the sapling
                                                                                                                                    interval of 0.5.
19. Pitch Trim Surface Position.\9\  Full Range............  +/-3 deg. Unless        1....................  0.3% of full range...
                                                              Higher Accuracy
                                                              Uniquely Required.
20. Trailing Edge Flap or Cockpit    Full Range or Each      +/-3 deg. or as         2....................  0.5% of full range...  Flap position and
 Control Selection.\10\.              Position (discrete).    Pilot's indicator.                                                    cockpit control may
                                                                                                                                    each be sampled at 4
                                                                                                                                    second intervals, to
                                                                                                                                    give a data point
                                                                                                                                    every 2 seconds.
21. Leading Edge Flap or Cockpit     Full Range or Each      +/-3 deg. or as         2....................  0.5% of full range...  Left and right sides,
 Control Selection.\11\.              Discrete Position.      Pilot's indicator and                                                 or flap position and
                                                              sufficient to                                                         cockpit control may
                                                              determine each                                                        each be sampled at 4
                                                              discrete position.                                                    second intervals, so
                                                                                                                                    as to give a data
                                                                                                                                    point every 2
                                                                                                                                    seconds.
23. Ground Spoiler Position or       Full Range or Each      +/-2 deg. Unless        1 or 0.5 for           0.2% of full range...
 Speed Brake Selection.\12\.          Position (discrete).    Higher Accuracy         airplanes operated
                                                              Uniquely Required.      under Sec.
                                                                                      121.344(f).

[[Page 81737]]

 
24. Outside Air Temperature or       -50 deg.C to +90 deg.C  +/-2 deg.C............  2....................  0.3 deg.C............
 Total Air Temperature.\13\.
37. Drift Angle.\15\...............  As installed..........  As installed..........  4....................  0.1%.................
42. Throttle/power lever             Full Range............  +/-2%.................  1 for each lever.....  2% of full range.....  For airplanes with
 position.\16\.                                                                                                                     non-mechanically
                                                                                                                                    linked cockpit
                                                                                                                                    engine controls.
57. Thrust command.\17\............  Full Range............  +/-2%.................  2....................  2% of full range.....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 18, 2000.
Donald P. Byrne,
Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations.
[FR Doc. 00-32730 Filed 12-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M