[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6216-6218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2872]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 60 and 121

[Docket No. FAA-2002-12461; Notice No. 02-11]
RIN 2120-AH07


Flight Simulation Device Initial and Continuing Qualification and 
Use

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On September 25, 2002, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a new

[[Page 6217]]

part regarding flight simulation device qualification requirements. The 
comment period closed on February 24, 2003; however, the FAA is 
reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days in order to give 
the public an opportunity to comment on recommendations received from 
an Aviation Rulemaking Committee established by the Administrator on 
July 2, 2003.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 11, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments [identified by Docket Number FAA-2002-
12461] using any of the following methods:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov 
and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to 
http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of 
the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For more information on the rulemaking process, see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Privacy: We will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. For 
more information, see the Privacy Act discussion in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: To read background documents or comments received, go to 
http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-401 on the plaza level of 
the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Cook, National Simulator 
Program Staff (AFS-205), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 
30354; telephone: (404) 832-4700

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also 
invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or 
federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in 
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion 
of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. We ask that you send us two copies of written 
comments.
    We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. The docket is available for public 
inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to 
review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section 
of this preamble between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using the 
Internet at the Web address in the ADDRESSES section.
    Privacy Act: Using the search function of our docket Web site, 
anyone can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual sending the comment (or signing 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.
    Before acting on this proposal, we will consider all comments we 
receive on or before the closing date for comments. We will consider 
comments filed late if it is possible to do so without incurring 
expense or delay. We may change this proposal in light of the comments 
we receive.
    If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this 
proposal, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard 
on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the 
postcard and mail it to you.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem 
and suitable communications software from the FAA regulations section 
of the FedWorld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: (703) 
321-3339) or the Government Printing Office (GPO)'s electronic bulletin 
board service (telephone: (202) 512-1661).
    Internet users may reach the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm or the GPO's Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara to access recently published rulemaking 
documents.
    Any person may obtain a copy of this document by submitting a 
request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, 
ARM-1, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling 
(202) 267-9680. Communications must identify the notice number or 
docket number of this NPRM.
    Persons interested in being placed on the mailing list for future 
rulemaking documents should request from the above office a copy of 
Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution 
System, which describes the application procedure.

Background

    On September 25, 2002, the FAA published in the Federal Register 
Notice 02-11, entitled ``Flight Simulation Device Initial and 
Continuing Qualification and Use'' (67 FR 60284). The comment period 
closed on February 24, 2003. In order to resolve comments and provide a 
forum for the FAA and the aviation community to discuss and resolve 
issues regarding FSDs, the FAA established the Flight Simulation Device 
Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) on July 2, 2003. The general goal 
of the ARC is to provide advice, guidance, and recommendations on FSD 
issues including but not limited to safety of flight issues; the 
suitability and/or the application of the simulation to flight 
crewmember training, testing, or checking activities; and 
implementation of technical changes or scientific advancements in 
simulation. This ARC provided a forum for the FAA and affected members 
of the aviation community to discuss issues. The ARC also allowed 
members of the aviation community to reach consensus on certain 
recommendations that would be submitted to the FAA, to develop 
resolutions to facilitate the evolution of FSDs. The ARC's initial task 
was to review the FAA's proposed new rules in Notice 02-11 (Docket No. 
FAA-2002-12461), published on September 25, 2002. On November 24, 2003, 
the ARC submitted to the FAA its recommendations on how the proposed 
rule language should be clarified and reorganized. The ARC believes its 
recommendations are within the scope of the original NPRM.
    In order to give the public an opportunity to comment on the 
recommendations received from the ARC, the FAA is reopening the comment 
period for an additional 30 days. The FAA finds that it is in the 
public interest to reopen the comment period for 30 days.


[[Page 6218]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 2, 2004.
John M. Allen,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 04-2872 Filed 2-9-04; 8:45 am]
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