[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70103-70104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29445]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Advisory Circular (AC) 91-60A, the Continued Airworthiness of 
Older Airplanes; AC 120-AAR, Aging Airplane Inspections and Records 
Review; and AC 91-56B, Continuing Structural Integrity Program for 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and request for 
comments on proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 91-60A, which provides 
guidance about development and use of service-history based Structural 
Supplemental Inspection Programs to design-approval holders, owners, 
and operators of U.S.-registered multi-engine airplanes certificated 
with nine or less passenger seats; AC 120-AAR, which provides guidance 
about aging airplane inspections and records reviews that are 
accomplished to satisfy the requirements of the final rule ``Aging 
Airplane Safety;'' and AC 91-56B, which provides guidance on developing 
a continuing structural integrity program to ensure safe operation of 
older airplanes throughout their operational life. These proposed ACs 
address airplanes affected by the ``Aging Airplane Safety Rule'' and 
provide guidance on the development and use of a damage-tolerance-based 
Supplemental Structural Inspection Program (SSIP) for all airplanes 
operated under title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 121; all U.S.-registered multi-engine airplanes operated under 14 
CFR part 129 certificated with 10 or more passenger seats; and all 
multiengine airplanes used in scheduled operations under 14 CFR part 
135 certificated with 10 or more passenger seats. These ACs outline an 
acceptable method, but not the only method, of compliance with the 
Aging Airplane Safety Rule.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed ACs to: Brent Bandley, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, ANM-120L, Federal Aviation Administration; 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712--4137; telephone number: (562) 627-5237, 
facsimile: (562) 627-5210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brent Bandley, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, ANM-120L, 
Federal Aviation Administration; 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 
90712-4137; telephone number: (562) 627-5237, facsimile: (562) 627-
5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    Copies of the draft ACs may be obtained by accessing the FAA's Web 
page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm or at http://faa.gov/avr/afs/acs/ac-idx.htm. Interested parties are invited to submit 
comments on the proposed ACs. Commenters must identify AC 91-60A, AC 
120-AAR, or AC 91-56B 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 ACs.

Discussion

    These proposed ACs provide guidance to type certificate holders and 
airplane operators on how to incorporate an FAA-approved Aging Aircraft 
Program into FAA-approved maintenance or inspection programs. Previous 
versions of AC 91-56 (AC 91-56 and AC 91-56A) provided guidance to 
operators of large transport category airplanes on how to develop a 
damage-tolerance-based SSIP. In this proposed AC, the FAA expands this 
guidance to small transport category airplanes. In addition, AC 91-56 
and AC 91-56A considered only the effects of repair and modifications 
approved by the type certificate holder and the effects of repairs and 
operator-approved modifications on individual airplanes. This proposed 
AC considers the effect of all major repairs, major alterations, and 
modifications approved by the type certificate holder. In addition, the 
AC includes an expanded discussion of repairs, alterations, and 
modifications to take into consideration all major repairs and 
operator-approved alterations and modifications on individual 
airplanes. The proposed AC also describes the current Mandatory 
Modifications Program, Corrosion Prevention and Control Program, the 
Repair Assessment Program, and Evaluation for Widespread Fatigue 
Damage.


[[Page 70104]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2002.
James J. Ballough,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 02-29445 Filed 11-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M