[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 50255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18352]



  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 156 / Friday, August 13, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 50255]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Revisions to Advisory Circular 25.1329-1A, Automatic 
Pilot Systems Approval

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed advisory circular and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration invites public comment on 
proposed revisions to Advisory Circular, AC 25.1329-1A, ``Automatic 
Pilot Systems Approval.''
    The revised advisory circular provides guidance for demonstrating 
compliance with a proposed amendment to 14 CFR 25.1329, published 
concurrently with this proposed AC. This notice provides interested 
persons an opportunity to comment on the revised advisory material 
concurrently with the proposed amendment.

DATE: Comments must be received on or before October 12, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You should send your comments to the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Attention: Gregg 
Bartley, Airplane & Flightcrew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue 
SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056. You may also fax your comments to 
425-227-1149, or you may send your comments electronically to: 
[email protected]. You may review all comments received at the 
above address between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregg Bartley at the above address, 
telephone 425-227-2889.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Do I Obtain a Copy of the Proposed Advisory Circular?

    You may obtain an electronic copy of the proposed advisory circular 
at the following Internet address: http://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl. If 
you do not have access to the Internet, you may request a copy by 
contacting Gregg Bartley at the address or phone number listed earlier 
in this announcement.

How Do I Submit Comments on the Proposed Advisory Circular?

    You are invited to comment on the proposed AC by submitting written 
comments, data, or views. You must identify the AC by title and submit 
your comments in duplicate to the address specified above. We will 
consider all comments received on or before the closing date for 
comments before issuing the final AC.

Discussion

    By separate notice published in this same issue of the Federal 
Register, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR 25.1329, ``Automatic Pilot 
System,'' to update the regulation. Currently, Sec.  25.1329 addresses 
only the autopilot system on transport category airplanes. The proposed 
amendment would consolidate and standardize regulations for all flight 
guidance functions, including the autopilot, autothrust, and flight 
director as well as any interactions with stability augmentation and 
trim functions.
    The proposed revised Advisory Circular--AC 25.1329-IX--would 
provide guidance for demonstrating compliance with the proposed 
amendment. The means of compliance described in the proposed AC 
provides guidance to supplement the engineering and operational 
judgment that must form the basis of any compliance findings on the 
structural and functional safety standards for doors and their 
operating systems.

Harmonization of Standards and Guidance

    The proposed AC is based on recommendations submitted to the FAA by 
the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). The FAA tasked ARAC 
to provide advice and recommendations on ``harmonizing'' certain 
sections of part 25 with the counterpart standards contained in Joint 
Aviation Requirements (JAR) 25. The goal of ``harmonization tasks,'' 
such as this, is to ensure that:
     Where possible, standards and guidance do not require 
domestic and foreign parties to manufacture or operate to different 
standards for each country involved; and
     The standards and guidance adopted are mutually acceptable 
to the FAA and the foreign aviation authorities.
    The guidance contained in the proposed AC has been harmonized with 
that of the JAA, and provides a method of compliance that has been 
found acceptable to both the FAA and JAA.
    Issuance of the proposed AC is contingent on final adoption of the 
proposed changes to14 CFR 25.1329.

    Issued in Renton, Washington.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-18352 Filed 8-12-04; 8:45 am]
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