[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78970-78971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32715]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 121, 125, 135, and 145

[Docket No. FAA-2000-7952]
RIN 2120-AH91


Service Difficulty Reports

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is further delaying 
the effective date of a final rule that amends the reporting 
requirements for air carriers and certificated domestic and foreign 
repair station operators concerning failures, malfunctions, and defects 
of aircraft, aircraft engines, systems, and components. This action is 
prompted by the FAA's decision to issue a proposal to address industry 
concerns about the final rule. Delaying the effective date of the final 
rule will allow the agency time for further consideration of industry 
concerns and completion of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
process.

DATES: The effective date of the rule amending 14 CFR parts 121, 125, 
135, and 145 published at 66 FR 558912, November 23, 2001, is delayed 
from January 16, 2003 until January 16, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose E. Figueroa, Flight Standards 
Service, Tampa Flight Standards District Office, 5601 Mariner Street, 
Suite 310, Tampa, Florida, 33609-3413, telephone 813-639-1540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On September 15, 2000, the FAA requested comments on the 
information collection requirements on the final rule entitled 
``Service Difficulty Reports'' (65 FR 56191). That final rule, which 
had an effective date of January 16, 2001, amended the reporting 
requirements for air carriers and certificated domestic and foreign 
repair station operators concerning failures, malfunctions, and defects 
of aircraft, aircraft engines, systems, and components. The FAA 
received extensive written comments on the Service Difficulty Reporting 
(SDR) requirements and on the potential duplicate reporting of certain 
failures, malfunctions, and defects. On November 30, 2000, the FAA 
announced (65 FR 71247) that a public meeting on this rulemaking would 
be held on December 11, 2000. Participants at that meeting raised novel 
issues that the FAA was not aware of when preparing the final rule.
    As a result of the concerns expressed at the meeting and those 
raised during the comment period for the final rule (published 
September 15, 2000), the FAA delayed the effective date of the final 
rule in three subsequent notices. The first notice (65 FR 80743) was 
published on December 22, 2000, the second notice (66 FR 21626) was 
published on April 30, 2001, and the third notice (66 FR 58912) was 
published on November 23, 2001. The purpose of these delays was to 
allow the agency time to consider industry's concerns and also to issue 
a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The FAA will issue an NPRM to 
address the issues raised and to give the aviation industry and the 
general public the opportunity to comment on the agency's proposed 
revisions to the final rule. The FAA is looking at the collection and 
analysis of SDR data through other information management systems that 
may provide valuable safety information. For example, the Commercial 
Airplane Certification Process Study is a significant collaborative 
effort between the FAA and industry to improve the certification and 
operation of air carrier aircraft. Aviation safety data identification 
and collection are a major component of this effort. To allow time to 
proceed with this process, the FAA further extends the effective date 
of the final rule until January 16, 2004. The FAA cautions the industry 
that the existing rules will remain in effect until the new effective 
date.
    Since the delay in the effective date of the final rule does not 
impose any new requirements or any additional burden on the regulated 
public, the FAA finds that good cause exists for immediate adoption of 
the new effective date without a 30-day notice.


[[Page 78971]]


    Issued in Washington DC on December 20, 2002.
Marion Blakey,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-32715 Filed 12-23-02; 4:19 pm]
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