[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61948-61949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25056]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Summary Notice No. PE-2002-57]


Petitions for Exemption; Summary of Petitions Received

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of petitions for exemption received, extension of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for a petition for 
exemption that was published in the Federal Register on September 10, 
2002. The FAA has determined that the summary was general in nature. To 
offer the public more information on the petition, the FAA has revised 
the summary. In addition, the FAA is extending the comment period to 
allow interested parties sufficient time to submit comments.

DATES: Comments about petitions received must identify the petition 
docket number involved and must be received on or before October 14, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on any petition to the Docket Management 
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket 
number FAA-2002-12501 at the beginning of your comment. If you wish to 
receive confirmation that FAA received your comments, include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard.
    You may also submit comments through the Internet to http://dms.dot.gov. You may review the public docket containing the petition, 
any comments received, and any final disposition in person in the 
Dockets Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The Dockets Office (telephone 1-800-647-5527) is on 
the plaza level of the NASSIF Building at the Department of 
Transportation at the above address. Also, you may review public 
dockets on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Emrick (202) 267-5174, Office 
of Rulemaking (ARM-1), Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

Extension of Comment Period

    Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, 
processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption part 11 of Title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a 
summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements 
of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's 
awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory 
activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or 
omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal 
status of any petition or its final disposition.
    The original summary of the petition was published in the Federal 
Register on September 10, 2002 (67 FR 57478). The FAA has determined 
that the summary was general in nature; therefore, the FAA is offering 
the public more information on this petition to allow the public a 
chance to offer comments more specific to the situation. The FAA has 
determined that an extension of the comment period is consistent with 
the public interest, and that good cause exists for taking this action. 
Accordingly, the comment period for Docket No. FAA-2002-12501 is 
extended until October 14, 2002.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 25, 2002.
Donald P. Byrne,
Chief Counsel for Regulations.

Petitions for Exemption

    Docket No.: FAA-2002-12501.
    Petitioner: Mr. Anthony P.X. Bothwell, Attorney for ten 
petitioners.
    Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.383(c).
    Description of Relief Sought: To permit the petitioners to act as 
pilots in operations conducted under part 121 after reaching their 60th 
birthdays. The petitioners submit no medical information to support 
this petition, instead, the petitioners allege that the Age 60 rule has 
no safety basis and was originally adopted as an act of favoritism and 
continues to be supported by the FAA as an economic favor to the 
airline industry. The

[[Page 61949]]

petitioners allege that the FAA intentionally misrepresented the 
justification for the Age 60 rule to the public, Congress, Federal 
courts, and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The 
petitioners allege that the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations 
ordered the FAA to conduct a study in a 2000 appropriations bill. The 
petitioner allege that the study was flawed. Further, the petitioners 
allege that there is ``evidence of the FAA's intent--perhaps even its 
complicity with the [Senate Appropriations] Committee--to mislead.'' 
The petitioners assert that the FAA has refused to collect data, make 
data available that has been collected, or analyze data that has been 
collected that would undermine the Age 60 rule. The petitioners claim 
pilot incapacitation poses no threat to safety in air operations; 
therefore, there is no justification for the FAA ``no exemptions'' 
policy towards Age 60. The petitioners allege that when FAA considers 
granting exemptions to Age 60 rule, it does not take into consideration 
that performance and medical checks would eliminate at-risk pilots. The 
petitioners claim that they are entitled to be exempt from the Age 60 
rule because the rule has no medical or safety basis; therefore, 
granting them an exemption to the rule will not adversely affect 
safety.

[FR Doc. 02-25056 Filed 10-1-02; 8:45 am]
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