[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 26206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10642]



[[Page 26206]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Large Agricultural Restricted Category Airplane Certification 
Topics and Twin Engine Large Agricultural Restricted Category Airplane 
Certification Basis Proposal--AT-2002 Project

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed policy and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on two documents concerning airworthiness standard for 
restricted category type certificates for large airplanes that are to 
be used for agricultural, firefighting, and special purpose operations. 
The first document ``Large Agricultural Restricted Category Airplane 
Topics'' addresses two topics concerning design criteria for a large 
airplane weighing 19,000 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff 
weight. For reference purposes, the first document also provides an 
overview of the second document. The second document ``Twin Engine 
Large Agricultural Restricted Category Airplane Certification Basis 
Proposal AT-2002 Project'' presents a proposed certification basis for 
twin-engine airplanes having a certificated maximum weight of 36,000 
pound. The proposed certification bases contains many airworthiness 
standards currently in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) part 23, rather than 14 CFR part 25.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposals to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, Aircraft Engineering 
Division, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. 
Attn: Stephen (Steve) Flanagan, AIR-110. You may deliver comments to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC, 20591, or electronically submit comments to the 
following Internet address: [email protected]. 
Include in the subject line of your message the title of the document 
on which you are commenting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen (Steve) Flanagan, Aerospace 
Engineer, Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft Certification 
Service, Aircraft Engineering Division, Certification Procedures 
Branch, AIR-110, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20591, Telephone (202) 267-3549, Fax (202) 267-5340, or e-mail at: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    You are invited to comment on the proposals listed in this notice 
by sending such written data, views, or arguments to the above listed 
address. Your comment should identify ``Large Agricultural Restricted 
Category Airplane Certification Basis Proposal'' or ``Single Engine 
Large Agricultural Restricted Category Airplane Proposal'' as 
appropriate. You may also examine comments received on the proposals 
before and after the comment closing date at the FAA Headquarters 
Building, Room 815, 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 will consider all 
communications received on or before the closing date before 
implementing these proposals.

Background

    The first document ``Large Agricultural Restricted Category 
Airplane Topics'' addresses two topics concerning design criteria for a 
large airplane that would weight 19,000 pounds or less maximum 
certificated takeoff weight. The first topic is the appropriate limit 
maneuvering load factor for the airplane. The second topic presents the 
FAA discussion explaining our agreement with the applicant's proposal 
that a single engine design for a small to medium size airplane is 
safer than a multi-engine design for the agricultural and firefighting 
special purpose operations. For reference purposes, the first document 
also provides an overview of the second document.
    The second document ``Twin Engine Large Agricultural Restricted 
Category Airplane Certification Basis Proposal AT-2002 Project'' 
explains how the FAA and the applicant have developed a proposed 
certification basis for a twin-engine 36,000-pound airplane. The 
proposed certification basis uses many airworthiness standards from 14 
CFR part 23, rather than 14 CFR part 25 requirements. Our rationale for 
this is based on the difference between transport category and 
restricted category safety expectations.
    The FAA developed these proposals based on an applicant's proposal 
that using 14 CFR part 25 airworthiness standards for a large 
agricultural restricted category airplane is excessively burdensome for 
an airplane that is only suitable for use in the unique special purpose 
operations of agricultural and forest and wildlife conservation (14 CFR 
21.25(b)(1) and 21.25(b)(2)). The FAA agrees that the growth of 
turboprop engine power capability permits development of restricted 
category airplanes that are heavier than envisioned when the weight 
limits for normal, utility, and acrobatic category were originally 
established. FAA contends that these proposals are appropriate relief 
from the weight limits of normal, utility, or acrobatic category 
airplanes. This relief is appropriate only for airplanes that by design 
are suited only for their intended special purpose, and will not be 
eligible for a standard airworthiness certificate.

How To Obtain Copies

    You can get an electronic copy via the Internet at http://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl or by contacting the person named in the 
paragraph FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2004.
Susan J. M. Cabler,
Assistant Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-10642 Filed 5-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M