[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71908-71909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30695]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 121

[Docket No. FAA-2002-13464; Notice No. 02-17]
RIN 2120-AC84


Improved Seats in Air Carrier Transport Category Airplanes; 
Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM); extension 
of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an SNPRM the FAA 
issued on September 26, 2002. In that document, the FAA proposed to 
require that all passenger and flight attendant seats in transport 
category airplanes used in passenger-carrying operations meet improved 
crashworthiness standards. This extension is a result of requests from 
the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), The Boeing Company 
(Boeing), and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

DATES: Send your comments on or before March 3, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Address your comments 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-
2002-13464 at the beginning of your comments, and you should send two 
copies of your comments. If you wish to receive confirmation that FAA 
received your comments, include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.
    You may also send comments through the Internet to http://dms.dot.gov. You may review the public docket containing comments to 
these proposed regulations in person in the Dockets Office between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The 
Dockets Office 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: Hal Jensen, Aircraft Certification 
Service, Aircraft Engineering Division, AIR-120, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-8807, facsimile (202) 267-5340, or E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also 
invite comments about the economic, environmental, energy, or 
federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in 
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion 
of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. We ask that you send us two copies of written 
comments.
    We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
about this proposed rulemaking. The docket is available for public 
inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to 
review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section 
of this preamble between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using the 
Internet at the web address in the ADDRESSES section.
    Before acting on this proposal, we will consider all comments we 
receive on or before the closing date for comments. We will consider 
comments filed late if it is possible to do so without incurring 
expense or delay. We may change this proposal because of the comments 
we receive.
    If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this 
proposal, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard 
on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the 
postcard and mail it to you.

Background

    On September 26, 2002, the FAA issued Notice No. 02-17, Improved 
Seats in Air Carrier Transport Category Airplanes (67 FR 62294, October 
4, 2002). Comments to that document were to be received on or before 
December 3, 2002.
    On October 29, 2002, Boeing asked the FAA to extend the comment 
period on Notice No. 02-17 an additional 4 months. In its petition, 
Boeing indicates that additional time is necessary to collect and 
confirm economic data. Boeing adds the SNPRM is significantly different 
from the FAA's original proposal. On November 5, 2002, AIA asked for a 
4-6 month extension of the comment period for the same reasons 
identified by Boeing. Further, on November 6, 2002, GAMA asked for a 
90-day extension. GAMA states the proposal is complex and an extension 
is

[[Page 71909]]

necessary to allow interested parties time to develop meaningful and 
substantive comments.
    While the FAA agrees with the petitioners' requests for an 
extension of the comment period on Notice No. 02-17, the FAA believes 
that a 4-6 month extension would be excessive. The FAA believes an 
added 90 days would be adequate for these petitioners to collect 
economic data necessary to provide meaningful comment to Notice No. 02-
17. This will also allow commenters who may have anticipated an 
extension in the comment period to send their comments by a date 
certain. Absent unusual circumstances, the FAA does not anticipate any 
further extension of the comment period for this rulemaking.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec.  11.47(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions made by AIA, Boeing, 
and GAMA for extension of the comment period to Notice No. 02-17. The 
FAA finds that extension of the comment period is consistent with the 
public interest, and that good cause exists for taking this action. 
These petitioners have a substantive interest in the proposed rule and 
good cause for the extension.
    Accordingly, the comment period to Notice No. 02-17 is extended 
until March 3, 2003.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 27, 2002.
John J. Hickey,
Director, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-30695 Filed 11-29-02; 12:22 pm]
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