[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19309-19310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9403]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Advisory Circular 23-XX-8B, Flight Test Guide for Certification 
of Part 23 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed advisory circular (AC) and 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on a proposed AC. Proposed AC 23-XX-8B provides information 
and guidance concerning an acceptable means, but not the only means, of 
compliance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 23, subpart B and various sections under Subparts A, D, E, F and G 
from Sec. 23.1 through 23.1589. The guidance applies to the flight 
tests and pilot judgements in normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter 
category airplanes. The AC consolidates existing policy documents, and 
certain AC's that cover specific paragraphs of the regulations, into a 
single document. Material in the AC is neither mandatory nor regulatory 
in nature and does not constitute a regulation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 17, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed AC to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, Regulations and Policy (ACE-111), 901 Locust Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Pat Nininger, Standards Office, 
Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106, telephone (816) 329-4129, fax (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Any person may obtain a copy of this 
proposed AC by contacting the person named above under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. A copy of the AC will also be available on the 
Internet at http://www.faa.gov/certification/aircraft/air_index.htm 
within a few days.

Comments Invited

    We invite interested parties to submit comments on the proposed AC. 
Commenters must identify AC 23-XX-8B and submit comments to the address 
specified above. The FAA will consider all communications received on 
or before the closing date for comments before issuing the final AC. 
The proposed AC and comments received may be inspected at the Standards 
Office (ACE-110), 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri, between 
the hours of 8:30 and 4:00 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays by 
making an appointment in advance with the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Background

    AC 23-8, Flight Test Guide for Certification of Normal, Utility, 
and Acrobatic Category Airplanes replaced FAA Order 8110.7, Engineering 
Flight Test Guide for Small Airplanes, dated June 20, 1972, and 
consolidated existing flight test policy. AC 23-8 did not cover 
commuter category airplanes. AC 23-8A updated the original 23-8 by 
adding information and guidance for commuter airplanes. AC 23-XX-8B 
again updates

[[Page 19310]]

the Flight Test Guide to incorporate information and guidance through 
14 CFR part 23, Amendment 23-51. The AC also incorporates material 
harmonized with the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). AC 23-
XX-8B and the JAA Advisory Circular Joint for Flight Test are 
essentially identical for all sections with the exception of known 
disharmonies.
    In 1968, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instituted an 
extensive review of the airworthiness standards of part 23. Since then, 
the regulations have been amended through Amendment 23-53. These 
amendments have changed most of the sections of part 23. The revised 
advisory circular provides guidance for the original issue of part 23 
and the various amendments through Amendment 23-51. The advisory 
circular covers policy available through June 30, 1994. Policy that 
became available after June 30, 1994, will be covered in future 
amendments to the advisory circular. Accordingly, the FAA is proposing 
and requesting comments on AC 23-XX-8B.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on March 6, 2002.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-9403 Filed 4-17-02; 8:45 am]
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