[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 95 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27865-27866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11042]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-124-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 and Model A300 B4-
600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (Collectively Called A300-
600) Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all 
Airbus Model A310 and A300-600 series airplanes. That action would have 
required revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to provide the 
flightcrew with procedures to maintain airplane controllability in the 
event of an in-flight thrust reverser deployment. Since the issuance of 
the NPRM, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued another 
AD to require revising the AFM to contain the text of the AFM revisions 
that the NPRM would have required to be inserted into the AFM. 
Accordingly, the proposed rule is withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to add a new airworthiness 
directive (AD); applicable to all Airbus Model A310 and A300 B4-600, 
B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively

[[Page 27866]]

called A300-600) series airplanes; was published in the Federal 
Register as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on November 28, 2000 
(65 FR 70821). The proposed rule would have required revising the 
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with procedures 
to maintain airplane controllability in the event of an in-flight 
thrust reverser deployment. That action was prompted by a determination 
that existing procedures specified in the AFM for addressing the in-
flight deployment of a thrust reverser could result in reduced 
controllability of the airplane. The proposed actions were intended to 
provide the flightcrew with procedures to maintain airplane 
controllability in the event of an in-flight deployment of the thrust 
reverser.

Actions That Occurred Since the NPRM Was Issued

    Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA has issued AD 2004-03-10, 
amendment 39-13454 (69 FR 5926, February 9, 2004). That AD applies to 
all Airbus Model A310 and A300-600 series airplanes, and requires 
revising the AFM to provide the flightcrew with procedures to maintain 
controllability of the airplane in the event of an in-flight deployment 
of the thrust reverser. That AD contains the text of the AFM revisions 
that the NPRM would have required to be inserted into the AFM.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that it is 
inappropriate to have two ADs requiring the same action. Accordingly, 
the proposed rule is hereby withdrawn.
    Withdrawal of this NPRM constitutes only such action, and does not 
preclude the agency from issuing another action in the future, nor does 
it commit the agency to any course of action in the future.

Regulatory Impact

    Since this action only withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking, 
it is neither a proposed nor a final rule and therefore is not covered 
under Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket 2000-NM-124-
AD, published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2000 (65 FR 
70821), is withdrawn.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 5, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-11042 Filed 5-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P