[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 82 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 22766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10453]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Type Certificate (TC)/Technical Standard Order (TSO) Seat Issues 
and Their Resolution

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA invites public comments on its proposed policy 
memorandum to improve the reporting processes of discrepancies 
discovered in the data used among persons directly involved in the 
certification of aircraft seats. This Notice also invites the public to 
comment on the proposed policy to standardize the resolution of 
discrepancies discovered on aircraft seats in relation to the minimum 
performance standard of the specific TSO.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 20, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal Jensen, FAA, Aircraft 
Certification Services, 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 persons are invited to comment on the proposed policy 
memorandum by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as 
they desire, to the aforementioned specified address. Comments received 
on the proposed policy memorandum may be examined, before and after the 
closing date, in Room 815, FAA Headquarters Building, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, weekdays expect Federal holidays, 
between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Director of the Aircraft 
Certification Service will consider all communications received on or 
before the closing date, before issuing the final policy memorandum.

Background

    In 2000, the FAA and industry formed a team to investigate and 
implement procedures to streamline the certification of aircraft seats. 
One area identified for improvement is the means of communicating 
discrepancies found on seats after the issuance of the TSO approval by 
the person or organization performing the seat certification/
installation process. Currently, seat discrepancies were resolved in 
the most expeditious manner possible, but this process does not allow 
for the resolution of systemic problems. However, the proposed policy 
for reporting discrepancies discovered on aircraft seats will help to 
ensure that all stakeholders in the seat certification program are made 
aware of the problem so that root causes are readily identified and 
resolved in a standardized manner. Note that the development of the 
proposed process recognized that the discrepancies are discovered after 
the TSO approval, and that the type design status of the aircraft in 
which the seats are installed in taken into consideration. Ultimately, 
the proposed process clarifies steps that must be achieved before an 
aircraft is eligible for type design approval and identifies who is 
responsible for resolving the discrepancy.

How To Obtain Copies

    A copy of the proposed memorandum may be obtained via the Internet 
at, http://av-info.faa.gov/tso/Tsopro/Proposed.htm or obtained or 
request fro the office listed under for Further Information Contact.

    Dated: Issued in Washington, DC on April 18, 2003.
Susan J.M. Cabler,
Deputy Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Engineering 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10453 Filed 4-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M