[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56366-56367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27998]


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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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[[Page 56367]]

SUMMARY: The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee a 
new task to review and evaluate the current standards for Sec. 33.14 
and corresponding JAR-E 515 as they pertain to the current ``safe 
life'' process. This notice is to inform the public of this ARAC 
activity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timoleon Mouzakis, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Region Headquarters, Engine and Propeller 
Standards Staff, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803, 
phone (781) 238-7114, facsimile: (781) 238-7199, 
[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

    1. Review and evaluate the current standards for Sec. 33.14 and 
corresponding JAR-E-515 as they pertain to the current ``safe life'' 
process. As the existing standards do not explicitly account for the 
potential degrading effects of anomalous materials and manufacturing or 
usage induced anomalies, determine if the FAA can expand the current 
requirement to include damage tolerance philosophies. Also, establish 
the process to achieve a closed loop system which links the assumptions 
made in design (by engineering) to how the part is manufactured and 
maintained in service.
    2. Develop a report based on the review, which may include 
revisions to the rules. If revisions to the rules are recommended, the 
report should include recommended regulatory language to the 
appropriate FAR section, the corresponding JAR paragraphs, any related 
advisory material, and ARAC's response to the economic questions 
attached to this tasking record.
    3. If, as a result of the recommendations, the FAA publishes an 
NPRM and/or notice of proposed availability of draft advisory circular 
for public comment, the FAA may ask ARAC to review all comments and 
provide the agency a recommendation for the disposition of those 
comments.
    Schedule: Required completion is no later than September 2003.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC accepted the task and assigned the task to the Engine 
Harmonization Working Group, Transport Airplane and Engine 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.

Working Group Activity

    The Engine 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 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 transport airplane and engine issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Engine Harmonization 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 working group. All requests to 
participate must be received no later than December 7, 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 must 
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 must devote the resources 
necessary to support the working group in meeting any assigned 
deadlines. Members must 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 
Engine 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 October 30, 2001.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 01-27998 Filed 11-6-01; 8:45 am]
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