[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 118 (Thursday, June 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36870-36871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15139]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Advisory Circular 23-15A, Small Airplane Certification Compliance 
Program

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed advisory circular (AC) and 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on a proposed AC. Proposed AC 23-15A provides information and 
guidance concerning an acceptable means, but not the only means, of 
compliance with various sections of Title 14 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 23 that have become burdensome for small, 
simple, low performance airplanes. However, applicability of these 
means of compliance remains the responsibility of the certification 
manager for each specific project. Utilization of these means of

[[Page 36871]]

compliance does not affect the applicability of any other certification 
requirements that fall outside the scope of this AC. Material in the AC 
is neither mandatory nor regulatory in nature and does not constitute a 
regulation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 18, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed AC to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, Regulations and Policy (ACE-111), 901 Locust Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark James, Standards Office, 
Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106, telephone (816) 329-4137, fax (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Any person may obtain a copy of this 
proposed AC by contacting the person named above under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. A copy of the AC will also be available on the 
Internet at http://www.airweb.faa.gov/AC within a few days.

Comments Invited

    We invite interested parties to submit comments on the proposed AC. 
Commenters must identify AC 23-15A and submit comments to the address 
specified above. The FAA will consider all communications received on 
or before the closing date for comments before issuing the final AC. 
The proposed AC and comments received may be inspected at the Standards 
Office (ACE-110), 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri, between 
the hours of 8:30 and 4 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays by 
making an appointment in advance with the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Background

    AC 23-15A, Small Airplane Certification Compliance Program 
replacedAC 23-15, Small Airplane Certification Compliance Program, 
dated January 2, 1997.
    Some industry and aviation organizations expressed concern that the 
typical means of compliance for some regulations might be more 
demanding than justified. As a consequence, industry, aviation groups, 
and the FAA formed a team to study this issue. Historical files, 
Designated Engineering Representatives (DER's), ACO's, and industry 
were used to determine target regulations and provide known means of 
compliance. This AC is a compilation of the study results, listing the 
regulations and attendant means of compliance that offer an improvement 
in certification efficiency. The listed means of compliance have been 
found acceptable and historically successful, but they are not the only 
methods that can be used to show compliance. In some cases, highly 
sophisticated airplanes may require more accurate or substantial 
solutions. Accordingly, the FAA is proposing and requesting comments on 
AC 23-15A.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on May 28, 2003.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Office.
[FR Doc. 03-15139 Filed 6-18-03; 8:45 am]
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