[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40451-40452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15038]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Advisory Circular 23.1523, Minimum Flightcrew

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 advisory circular, AC 23.1523. This guidance 
sets forth one method that may be used to show compliance with the 
requirements contained in 14 CFR, part 23 and Sec.  23.1523, which 
prescribes certification requirements for minimum flight crew. Most 
part 23 airplanes are certified for single pilot operations, therefore, 
the major focus of this guidance is to address cockpit workload 
considerations that are described in this rule. We are proposing that 
this guidance be used to improve cockpit safety by addressing pilot 
workload which has been impacted through the development on newer and 
novel technologies available in general aviation cockpits along with 
increased complexity of operations. This AC is one method that can be 
utilized to determine workload factors and issues for normal, utility, 
aerobatic and commuter category airplanes. Material in this AC is 
neither mandatory nor regulatory in nature and does not constitute a 
regulation. This material is intended to be a ready reference for part 
23 airplane manufacturers, modifiers, Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA) design evaluation engineers, flight test engineers, engineering 
flight test pilots [Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), Flight 
Standards, and Manufacturers] as well as human factors engineering 
evaluators. This material may also be used by FAA authorized designees 
in the performance of workload evaluations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 31, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed Minimum Flight Crew, AC 23.1523, may 
be requested from the following: Small Airplane Directorate, Standards 
Office (ACE-110), Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 901 Locust Street, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106. 
Proposed advisory circulars are posted on the RGL at http://www.airweb.faa.gov/AC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Frank Bick, Standards Office, 
Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106, telephone (816) 329-4119, fax (816) 329-4090, 
[email protected].

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 23.1523 and submit 
comments to the address specified above. The FAA will consider all 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments 
before

[[Page 40452]]

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: In the early 1980s, a move to reduce the crew size of 
the new generation of commercial jet transport airplanes from three to 
two caused the FAA to develop additional criteria and guidance for 
minimum crew determination for part 25 airplanes. AC 25.1523 was 
developed to provide manufacturers and certification personnel a means 
of demonstrating compliance to 14 CFR, part 25, Sec.  25.1523. Most 
part 23 airplanes are single pilot, none require a crew of three, and 
only a few require a crew of two; therefore, there was no desire to 
address crew complement in these airplanes and no parallel effort was 
initiated at that time for part 23 airplanes. For many years, part 23 
airplane cockpits were relatively simple in design and utilized 
instruments and systems that were also quite similar in operation. This 
made it relatively easy for pilots to safely transition from one part 
23 airplane to another. However, in recent years due to the growth of 
modern technology and the reduced cost of electronic components, novel 
and more complex integrated avionic systems are increasingly being 
installed in part 23 airplanes. These new systems have changed the 
appearance, operation, and usability of the pilot-vehicle interface. 
There is also much variation between manufacturers in terms of the 
design and operational characteristics of these systems. Consequently, 
there is a concern that pilot(s) familiar and proficient with one 
system may not be able to sufficiently understand and operate another 
system. Although many of these systems can greatly improve pilot 
situational awareness and safety, poorly designed systems can increase 
pilot workload, and increase the potential for pilot error.
    Additionally, the lack of standardization in the design and 
operation of these systems can negatively affect pilot training and 
impact performance and safety. Accordingly, there is a need to more 
closely examine pilot workload and error potential in these highly 
complex, integrated cockpits.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on June 16, 2004.
William J. Timberlake,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Office.
[FR Doc. 04-15038 Filed 7-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M