[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39387-39388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18923]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Rotorcraft 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 definition of ``Critical Part'' and determine 
whether the current regulation provides a clear definition of critical 
parts and whether the regulations establish an adequate critical parts 
list. This notice is to inform the public of this ARAC activity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry M. Kelly, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Southwest Region Headquarters, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 
Worth, Texas, 76137, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA 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 the definition of ``Critical Part'' and the 
critical parts requirements of Secs. 27.602 and 29.602 together with 
JAR 27.602, 29.602, and associated amendments 27-38 and 29-45.
     Determine whether the current regulations and proposed 
regulations provide a clear definition of critical parts and whether 
the regulations establish an adequate critical parts list. 
Specifically, include clarification in the advisory material of the 
word ``and'' in the rules.
     Consider the safety benefits of establishing a different 
definition of Critical Parts for Category A rotorcraft. If a different 
definition for critical parts for Category A rotorcraft is to be 
considered for recommended rulemaking, an assessment of some existing 
Critical Parts Lists must consider the scope of change to those lists 
to determine the safety/economic impact of any expansion of the 
Critical Parts requirements.
     Provide a preliminary technical recommendation within 6 
months after the first working group meeting.
     If a review of the safety/economic issues justifies the 
need for a rule change, prepare a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) and provide associated advisory material.

[[Page 39388]]

The NPRM should include the preamble and the rule language along with 
any supporting legal analysis.
    Schedule: ARAC must complete this task no later than 18 months 
after the FAA publishes the task in the Federal Register.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC accepted the task and assigned the task to the Critical Parts 
Harmonization Working Group, Rotorcraft Issues. The working group 
serves as staff to ARAC and assists in the analysis of assigned tasks. 
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. 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 Critical Parts 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 rotorcraft 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 rotorcraft issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Crital Parts Harmonization Working Group is composed of 
technical experts having an interest in the assigned task. A working 
group member need to 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 August 13, 2001. The 
requests will be reviewed by the assistant chair, the assistant 
executive director, and the working group co-chairs. 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 assistant chair, the 
assistant executive director, and the working group co-chairs.
    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 
Critical Parts 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 July 24, 2001.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 01-18923 Filed 7-27-01; 8:45 am]
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