[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15660-15661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7962]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. 2002ACE-01-CS]


Security Enhancement Issues for Smaller, Non-Transport Category 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this Request for comments is to obtain public 
input to the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), Public 
Law 107-71. Paragraph 104(c), which addresses securing the flight deck 
of Commuter Aircraft. We recognize Commuter Aircraft as small non-
transport category airplanes. This portion of the ATSA applies to all 
scheduled passenger aircraft operating in air transportation or 
intrastate air transportation. The Law does not single out types of 
airplanes, but rather how the airplanes are operated. Therefore, the 
FAA, considers all non-transport category airplanes in scheduled 
operations in accordance with 14 CFR Parts 119, 121, 135, and 129 
affected by the ATSA. A preliminary study indicated that small 
airplanes approved to operate with ten to nineteen passengers that 
operate in scheduled operations should be further examined for 
potential ways to improve flight deck security. The same preliminary 
study of airplanes with nine or less passenger seats that operate in 
scheduled operations should also be examined for potential ways to 
improve general security.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002ACE-01-CS, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also send comments 
electronically to the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments sent electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2002ACE-01-CS'' 
in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached 
electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for 
Windows or ASCII text.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gunnar Berg, Project Support ACE-112, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106, telephone (816) 329-4112.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

For Those Airplanes Carrying 10 to 19 Passengers

    One solution that the FAA is considering is requiring airplanes 
type certificated in accordance with 14 CFR part 23, Civil Air 
Regulations Part 3, Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFAR) 23, or 
SFAR 41, and operated in accordance with parts 135, 119, 121, and 129 
that carry ten to nineteen passengers in scheduled service to be 
modified by installation of a rigid fixed door with a lock between the 
flight deck area and the passenger area. We are requesting public input 
from manufacturers, owners, operators and other interested public 
entities before any official FAA action in this regard is taken. 
Specifically the FAA is interested in public comment on the following 
issues:
    a. The feasibility and practicality of installing a rigid door and 
lock in these airplanes.
    2. What advantages and disadvantages to having a door with a lock 
on airplanes that carry ten to nineteen passengers and what operating 
burdens would be felt.
    3. Any other methods or means of securing the flight deck of these 
airplanes.
    4. Any ideas regarding other means of improving the security of 
these airplanes in a general sense, not just isolation of the flight 
deck from the passengers.

For those small airplanes approved for nine or less passengers, that 
operate in scheduled operations

    The initial review recently completed by the FAA indicates that 
those airplanes that operate in scheduled operations that were type 
certificated for nine or fewer passengers, should not be subjected to 
any measures to isolate the flight deck from the passenger areas. The 
FAA is, however, still interested in improving the security of these 
airplanes. We are requesting public input from manufactures, owners, 
operators, and other interested public entities before any official FAA 
action in this regard is taken. Specifically the FAA is interested in 
public comments on the following issues:
    1. Justification for not installing a rigid door and lock in these 
airplanes based on feasibility and practicality.
    2. Any other methods or means, of securing the flight deck of these 
airplanes.
    3. Any means that could be employed that would improve the general 
security of these airplanes.


[[Page 15661]]


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 25, 2002.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-7962 Filed 4-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M