[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16088-16089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7067]


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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 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 review the operations rule changes proposed in Notice 84-
17A, including the public comments received and prepare a report for 
the agency. This notice is to inform the public of this ARAC activity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John McGraw, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056, 425-227-1171, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA has established an 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

[[Page 16089]]

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

The Task

Phase I

    Review the operational rule changes (parts 121, 125, and 135) 
proposed in Notice 84-17A, and the public comments received in response 
to these proposals. Prepare a report for the FAA which will provide, 
among other things, data from industry supporting a decision on whether 
a retrofit of the fleet should be mandated, and if so, what airplanes 
should be affected. This data should include the estimated costs and 
benefits of retrofitting the fleet.
    Schedule: This report will be due within 90 days of publication of 
the task in the Federal Register.

Phase II

    The FAA will develop a disposition document, e.g., a final rule or 
supplemental NPRM, based on the ARAC report. The FAA will ask ARAC to 
review the document. ARAC will prepare a report for the FAA documenting 
and recommending changes and identifying any remaining unresolved 
issues.
    Schedule: This report will be due to the FAA within 60 days of 
receipt of the draft document from the FAA.
    The FAA may seek ARAC review and comment subsequent to publication 
of any proposal action on this issue.

ARAC Acceptance of Tasks

    ARAC accepted the task and assigned the task to the Powerplant 
Installation Harmonization Working Group, Transport Airplane and Engine 
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 will forward them to the FAA.

Working Group Activity

    The Powerplant Installation 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 next meeting 
of the ARAC on transport airplane and engine issues held following 
publication of this notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendations prior to proceeding with the work 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 transport airplane and engine issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Powerplant Installation 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 April 30, 2001. The requests 
will be reviewed by the assistant chair, the assistant executive 
director, 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 will be 
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 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 agreed 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 assistant chair, the 
assistant executive director, and the working group chair.
    The Secretary of Transportation 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 
Powerplant Installation 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 14, 2001.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 01-7067 Filed 3-21-01; 8:45 am]
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