[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11885-11886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5932]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Revisions to Advisory Circular 25.783-1, Fuselage Doors 
and Hatches

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed advisory circular and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration invites public comment on 
proposed revisions to Advisory Circular, AC 25.783-1, ``Fuselage Doors 
and Hatches.'' The revised advisory circular provides guidance for 
demonstrating compliance with proposed revisions to the design 
standards for fuselage doors and hatches, published earlier this year. 
This notice provides interested persons an opportunity to comment on 
the

[[Page 11886]]

revised advisory material concurrent with the proposed rule.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 14, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You should send your comments to the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Attention: Jeff 
Gardlin, Airframe/Cabin Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. You may also fax your comments to 425-
227-1149, or you may send your comments electronically to: 
[email protected]. You may review all comments received at the above 
address between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Gardlin at the above address, 
telephone 425-227-2136.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

How Do I Obtain a Copy of the Proposed Advisory Circular?

    You may obtain an electronic copy of the proposed advisory circular 
at the following Internet address: http://www.airweb.faa.gov/DraftAC. 
If you do not have access to the Internet, you may request a copy by 
contacting Jeff Gardlin at the address or phone number listed earlier 
in this announcement.

How Do I submit Comments on the Proposed Advisory Circular?

    You are invited to comment on the proposed AC by submitting written 
comments, data, or views. You must identify the AC by title and submit 
your comments in duplicate to the address specified above. We will 
consider all comments received on or before the closing date for 
comments before issuing the final AC.

Discussion

    By separate notice publish in the Federal Register (68 FR 1932, 
January 14, 2003), the FAA proposes to amend the design standards for 
fuselage doors on transport category airplanes. Currently, most of the 
relevant standards are found in title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), Sec.  25.783, ``Doors.'' The proposed revision would improve 
door integrity by providing design standards that would ensure that 
doors remain secure under all circumstances that service experience has 
shown can occur.
    We prepared a proposed revision to AC 25.783-1, ``Fuselage Doors 
and Hatches,'' to provide guidance on one means of showing compliance 
with the proposed revised requirements of Sec.  25.783. The means of 
compliance described in the proposed AC provides guidance to supplement 
the engineering and operational judgment that must form the basis fo 
any compliance findings on the structural and functional safety 
standards for doors and their operating systems.

Harmonization of Standards and Guidance

    The proposed AC is based on recommendations submitted to the FAA by 
the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). The FAA tasked ARAC 
(63 FR 50954, September 23, 1998) to provide advice and recommendations 
on ``harmonizing'' certain sections of part 25 with the counterpart 
standards contained in Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR) 25. The goal 
of ``harmonization tasks,'' such as this, is to ensure that:
    [sbull] Where possible, standards and guidance do not require 
domestic and foreign parties to manufacture or operate to different 
standards for each country involved; and
    [sbull] The standards and guidance adopted are mutually acceptable 
to the FAA and the foreign aviation authorities.
    The guidance contained in the proposed AC has been harmonized with 
that of the JAA, and provides a method of compliance that has been 
found acceptable to both the FAA and JAA.
    The FAA is making the AC available as it was recommended from the 
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee. However, certain events 
subsequent to the recommendation being received by the FAA have raised 
concerns regarding the guidance contained in paragraph 9b(2) with 
regard to differential pressures under which doors can be opened. 
Therefore, the FAA specifically invites comments on this aspect of the 
guidance.
    Issuance of the revised AC is contingent on final adoption of the 
proposed changes to the relevant regulations.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 3, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-5932 Filed 3-11-03; 8:45 am]
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