[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20572-20573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10180]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


[Docket No. FAA-2002-12141]

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA invites public comment on its intent to clarify how 
Designated Engineering Representatives (DER) are authorized to approve 
major repair and major alteration data intended for use on foreign-
registered aircraft.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 18, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Kendall, FAA, Aircraft 
Certification Service, Aircraft Engineering Division, Delegation and 
Airworthiness Programs Branch, AIR-140, ARB Room 304, 6500 S. MacArthur 
Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73169; telephone: (405) 954-7074; 
fax (405) 954-2209; e-mail [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    You are invited to comment on the proposed order by submitting such 
written data, views, or arguments, as you desire, to the aforementioned 
specified address. You may examine all comments received on the 
proposed order before the closing date, in Room 815, FAA Headquarters 
Building (FOB-10A), 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
weekdays except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered by the Director of the Aircraft Certification Service 
before issuing the final order.

Background

    We at the FAA acknowledge that current policy does not fully 
address DER data approval for major repair and major alternations for 
foreign-registered aircraft. Lack of specific policy has caused some 
Aircraft Certification Offices to allow such approvals, while others do 
not. In certain cases, we concur with DER data approval for major 
repairs and major alternations on foreign-registered aircraft. We see 
the need to define what those cases are, and the process for 
documenting these approvals.
    We also understand that DERs and their customers are concerned that 
our policy may restrict their ability to support the needs of the 
aviation

[[Page 20573]]

industry. We believe that these concerns may be relieved by allowing 
DERs to approve data for major repairs and major alterations applicable 
to certain foreign-registered aircraft. In many cases this activity 
requires a disclaimer be used on the FAA Form 8110-3. We also see a 
benefit in allowing DERs to approve data for foreign-registered 
aircraft in instances where the foreign authority has no capability or 
system for generating the approval. However, this does not mean that 
any authority must accept DER approved data. Additional background and 
discussion are provided in the draft order.

Interim Implementation

    Since the current policy is silent regarding when a DER may approve 
major repair or major alteration data specifically intended for use on 
foreign-registered aircraft, implementation of this proposed policy may 
change a past practice allowed by the FAA. We advise Aircraft 
Certification Offices to continue their currently established practice 
until this policy becomes official.

How To Obtain Copies

    The proposed order will be available on the World Wide Web at 
http://av-info.faa.gov/dst/dernotice.htm. You can also request it from 
the office listed under For Further Information Contact.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 18, 2002.
David W. Hempe,
Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division.
[FR Doc. 02-10180 Filed 4-24-02; 8:45 am]
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