[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16089-16090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7068]


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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 study the effects of multiple complex structural 
supplemental type certification (STC) modifications installed on 
transport category airplanes. The ARAC will develop a report with 
recommendations for a long-term plan addressing the effects of multiple 
complex STC modifications on the structural integrity and continued 
safe operations of transport category airplanes. This notice is to 
inform the public of this ARAC activity.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAa 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.

The Task

    Study the effects of multiple complex structural STC modifications 
installed on transport category airplanes. Develop a report with 
recommendations for a long term plan addressing the effects of multiple 
complex STC modifications on the structural integrity and continued 
safe operation of transport category airplanes, and the ability of the 
operators to accomplish mandatory FAA aging fleet programs.

[[Page 16090]]

    The report should identify the types of structural modifications 
considered to be complex STC modifications, and should propose 
recommended actions to be taken by the FAA to address the effects 
complex structural STC modifications have on the structural integrity 
and continued safe operation of modified airplanes.
    The report and recommendations should contain the following:
    1. A description of FAA and industry actions necessary to identify 
the interaction effects of multiple complex STC modifications,
    2. A description of FAA and industry actions that will address the 
effects that complex modifications have on aging aircraft issues, and
    3. A description of FAA and industry actions necessary to address 
the effects that complex modifications have on FAA mandated 
airworthiness actions (i.e., airworthiness directives, aging aircraft 
programs).
    Schedule: The report should be completed no later than September 
28, 2002.

ARAC Acceptance of Tasks

    ARAC accepted the task and assigned the task to the Airworthiness 
Assurance 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 Airworthiness Assurance 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 stated in item 3 
below.
    3. Draft the appropriate documents and required analyses and/or any 
other related materials or documents the working group determines to be 
appropriate.
    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 Airworthiness Assurance 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. All requests 
will be reviewed by the assistant chair, the assistant executive 
director, and the working group chair. Individuals will be advised 
whether or not the 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 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 
Airworthiness Assurance 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. 01-7068 Filed 3-21-01; 8:45 am]
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