[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 104 (Friday, May 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 30738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12066]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Advisory Circular 23-XX-21, Airworthiness Compliance Checklists 
for Small Airplanes During Major Alterations

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-XX-21 provides guidance 
material for the creation and use of airworthiness compliance 
checklists for small airplanes that can be used when making major 
alterations to small airplanes. Use of these compliance checklists 
should be limited to alterations that have been determined to be 
``major'' alterations, as defined in 14 CFR part 1, but which are not 
so complex that they require an STC, per FAA Order 8300.10, as amended. 
Material in this AC is neither mandatory nor regulatory in nature and 
does not constitute a regulation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 27, 2004.

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. Taylor Martin, Standards Office, 
Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106, telephone (816) 329-4138, 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-XX-21 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 a.m. and 4 p.m. 
weekdays, except Federal holidays by making an appointment in advance 
with the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Background: The data and documentation requirements for major 
alterations can vary considerably. This variation can be attributed to 
the following: Differing complexity of the alterations, different 
sources of data submitted, and uncertainty of what data is actually 
required to show compliance with the applicable regulation during the 
submission to the FAA. Standardization of particular airplane 
alterations data submission and process shall be assured through the 
use of compliance checklists. The FAA will establish a library of 
checklists that will be periodically updated. This will eliminate the 
need to generate individual data package requirements when a modifier 
has performed a modification on a similar aircraft. Each checklist 
identifies the pertinent regulation as the certification basis of the 
airplane for the alteration. It also lists the manner in which the data 
can be approved. Reducing the approval process time requires up front 
involvement between the FAA and the applicant in project planning, open 
and constructive communication, and safety-focused project management. 
Using a compliance checklist should result in a more effective use of 
FAA and industry resources by establishing standard data and 
documentation requirements. Accordingly, the FAA is proposing and 
requesting comments on AC 23-XX-21.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on May 19, 2004.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-12066 Filed 5-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M