[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 11896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5938]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Classification and Standardized Policy for Design Changes to 
Technical Standard Orders (TSO) C127 and TSO-C127a Articles

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 requests comment 
on proposed policy for articles approved to Technical Standard Orders 
(TSO) C127 and TSO-C127a, Rotorcraft, Transport Airplane, and Normal 
and Utility Seating System. The proposed memorandum provides guidance 
to Federal Aviation Administration personnel and aircraft seat 
manufacturers on classifying design changes they make to their TSO 
articles as major or minor.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed policy for the 
classification of design changes to articles approved to Technical 
Standard Orders (TSO) C127 and TSO-C127a to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, Aircraft Engineering 
Division, Room 815 , AIR-100, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20591. ATTN. Hal Jensen, AIR-120. Or, deliver comments to Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal Jensen, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, Aircraft Engineering 
Division, Technical Programs Branch, AIR-120, Room 835, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; Telephone: (202) 267-
8807; fax (202) 267-5340; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested person are invited to comment on the proposed policy for 
the classification of design changes to articles approved to Technical 
Standard Orders (TSO) C127 and TSO-C127a by submitting such written 
data, views, or arguments, as they desire, to the above specified 
address. Comments received on the proposed policy may be examined, 
before and after the closing date, in Room 815, FAA Headquarters 
Building (FOB-10A), 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
weekdays except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The 
Director of the Aircraft Certification Service considers all 
communications received on or before the closing date before issuing 
the final policy.

Background

    In 2000, the FAA and industry formed a team to investigate and 
implement ways to streamline the certification of aircraft seats. The 
team elected to reestablish TSOs for seats as a valid design approval 
and to the extent possible, maximize the minimum performance standards 
(MPS) toward meeting the applicable aircraft airworthiness standards, 
and standardize the management of TSO approvals by the FAA for aircraft 
seat manufacturers.
    Currently, what constitutes a minor design change versus a major 
design change for a TSO article is open to interpretation. The lack of 
standardization is magnified for the dynamic seat TSOs where small 
design changes frequently produce significant effects on the 
performance of the seat. Therefore, in the absence of guidance many 
design changes to dynamic seats are by default considered major design 
changes.
    All major design changes to TSO articles require the TSO holder to 
apply for a new TSO approval. Since all designs changes--both minor and 
major--must be substantiated, requiring the TSO holder to apply for a 
new TSO approval can be overly burdensome when the TSO holder has an 
approval to the latest revision of the TSO.
    This proposed memorandum is intended to provide greater 
clarification on design changes for TSO-C127 and TSO-C127a articles by 
promoting standardization between seat suppliers. It also proposes 
greater latitude then currently exists in determining design changes 
classified as minor changes.

How To Obtain Copies

    You may get a copy of the proposed changed TSOs from the Internet 
at: http://av-info.faa.gov/tso/Tsopro/Proposed.htm. You may als request 
a copy from Mr. Hal Jensen. See the section entitled FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT for the complete address.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 5, 2003.
Susan J.M. Cabler,
Deputy Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-5938 Filed 3-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M