[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 14428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6096]



[[Page 14428]]

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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 assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee a 
new task to develop recommendations to update certification 
requirements for airplanes in the normal, utility, acrobatic, and 
commuter categories to reflect the use of new technologies and improve 
the safety of these airplanes. This notice is to inform the public of 
this ARAC activity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Griffith, 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. 
This includes obtaining advice and recommendations on the FAA's 
commitments to harmonize Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(14 CFR) with its partners in Europe and Canada.

The Task

    Review part 23 standards and recommend rulemaking in the form of a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to address criteria for propulsion 
technologies being used more commonly 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.
    Items to be addressed in the ARAC evaluation include:
     Turbofan/jet installations,
     Single level power controls,
     Electronic engine controls,
     Fuel quantity calibration and low-fuel warning for 
reciprocating engines,
     New technology reciprocating engines (for example, diesel 
engines),
     New technology powerplant displays, and
     Various miscellaneous updates to part 23 powerplant 
requirements.
    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 newly formed 
Propulsion Systems Harmonization 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 working group 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 this important safety issue. 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 Propulsion Systems 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 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 General Aviation Certification and Operations Issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Propulsion Systems Harmonization Working Group will be 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 working group. All requests to 
participate must be received no later than March 30, 2001. The requests 
will be reviewed by the co-assistant chairs, the co-assistant executive 
directors, and the working group chair. The individuals will be advised 
whether or not their request can be accommodated.
    Individuals chosen for membership on the working group will be 
expected to represent their aviation community segment and actively 
participate in the working group (e.g., attend all meetings, provide 
written comments when requested to do so, etc.). they also will be 
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 
Propulsion Systems Harmonization Working Group will not be open to the 
public, except to the extent that individuals with an 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. 01-6096 Filed 3-9-01; 8:45 am]
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