[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 14427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6095]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; General Aviation 
Certification and Operations Issues--New Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: The FAA has assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory 
Committee a new task to develop recommendations for improving occupant 
protection standards. This notice is to inform the public of this ARAC 
activity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Taylor, 901 Locust, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106, (816) 329-4134, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

Background

    The FAA has established the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee 
to provide advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator on the 
FAA's rulemaking activities with respect to aviation-related issues.

The Task

    Review occupant protection standards and recommend rulemaking in 
the form of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to address criteria 
for improved occupant protection more commonly used on part 23 
airplanes and requirements that would improve the safety of part 23 
airplanes. The NPRM should include the preamble and rule language, 
along with any supporting legal analysis.
    The following are to be included in the ARAC evaluation:
     Flammability Standards for Seat Fireblocking Provisions,
     Standardization of Emergency Landing Dynamic Conditions,
     Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Flammability,
     Airworthiness Certification of Airplanes Used in Cargo/
Passenger Combination Operations,
     Emergency Exit Markings,
     Emergency Exit Access, and
     Electric Cables and Equipment.
    Schedule: ARAC should forward its recommendations to the FAA within 
1 year of task assignment.

ARAC Acceptance of Tasks

    ARAC accepted the task and assigned the task to the Flammability 
Standards for Commuter Airplane Seats Working Group, General Aviation 
Certification and Operations Issues. The working group will serve as 
staff to ARAC and assist in the analysis of the assigned task. ARAC 
must review and approve the working group's recommendations. If ARAC 
accepts the working group's recommendations, it forwards them to the 
FAA as ARAC recommendations. The agency seeks ARAC's advice and 
recommendations on these important issues. Recommendations that are 
received from ARAC will be submitted to the agency's Rulemaking 
Management Council to address the availability of resources and 
prioritization.

Working Group Activity

    The Flammability Standards for Commuter Airplane Seats 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 
the ARAC General Aviation Certification and Operations Issues held 
following publication of this notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendations, prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. Draft the appropriate documents and required analyses and/or any 
other related materials or documents.
    4. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ARAC held to 
consider ARAC General Aviation Certification and Operations Issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Flammability Standards for Commuter Airplane Seats Working 
Group is composed of technical experts having an interest in the 
assigned task. A working group member need not be a representative or a 
member of the full committee.
    An individual who has expertise in the subject matter and wishes to 
become a member of the working group should write to the person listed 
under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that 
desire, describing his or her interest in the task and stating the 
expertise he or she would bring to the work group. All requests to 
participate must be received by March 30, 2001. The requests will be 
reviewed by the co-assistant chairs, the co-assistant executive 
directors, and the working group chair. Individuals will be advised 
whether or not their request can be accommodated.
    Individuals chosen for membership on the working group are expected 
to represent their aviation community segment and participate actively 
in the working group (e.g., attend all meetings, provide written 
comments when requested to do so, etc.). They also are expected to 
devote the resources necessary to support the working group in meeting 
any assigned deadlines. Members are expected to keep their management 
chain and those they may represent advised of working group activities 
and decisions to ensure that the proposed technical solutions do not 
conflict with their sponsoring organization's position when the subject 
being negotiated is presented to ARAC for approval.
    Once the working group has begun deliberations, members will not be 
added or substituted without the approval of the co-assistant chairs, 
the co-assistant executive directors, and the working group chair.
    The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the formation 
and use of the ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in 
connection with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
    Meetings of the ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the 
Flammability Standards for Commuter Airplane Seats Working Group will 
not be open to the public, except to the extent that individuals with 
the interest and expertise are selected to participate. The FAA will 
make no public announcement of working group meetings.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 1, 2001.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 01-6095 Filed 3-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M