[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64520-64522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24725]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19537; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-145-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and 
F4-600R Series Airplanes; and C4-605R Variant F Airplanes (Collectively 
Called A300-600), and Model A310 Series Airplanes Equipped With Certain 
Honeywell Inertial Reference Units (IRU)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series 
airplanes; and C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-
600), and Model A310 series airplanes, equipped with certain Honeywell 
inertial reference units (IRUs). This proposed AD would require 
revising the Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual to 
prohibit the use of CAT 2 and CAT 3 automatic landing and rollout 
procedures at certain airports. This proposed AD is prompted by a 
report that some magnetic deviation tables in the IRU database are 
obsolete and contain significant differences with the real magnetic 
deviations. We are proposing this AD to prevent an airplane from 
deviating from the runway centerline, and possibly departing the 
runway.

[[Page 64521]]


DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 6, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, on 
the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: 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.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19537; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-145-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our 
docket website, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and 
F4-600R series airplanes; and C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively 
called A300-600), and Model A310 series airplanes, equipped with 
certain Honeywell inertial reference units (IRUs). The DGAC advises 
that the magnetic variation table, which is implemented in certain 
Honeywell IRUs, is obsolete in certain airports. Studies have shown 
that for a given airport, a difference greater than two degrees between 
the real magnetic deviation and the one implemented in the IRUs could 
lead to an unsafe situation during CAT 2 or CAT 3 automatic landings 
and rollouts. This condition, if not corrected, could result in the 
airplane deviating from the runway centerline and possibly departing 
the runway.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Temporary Revisions (TRs) 6.01.03/08 (for Model 
A300-600 series airplanes) and 6.01.03/36 (for Model A310 series 
airplanes), both dated January 6, 2003. The TRs give a list of airports 
concerned and a date from which automatic landings (AUTOLAND) and 
automatic taxiing after touchdown (rollout) procedures are prohibited. 
The DGAC mandated the service information and issued French 
airworthiness directive F-2004-093, issued June 23, 2004, to ensure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
Sec.  21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the 
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above. We have examined the DGAC's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to 
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require revising 
the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit 
the use of CAT 2 and CAT 3 automatic landing and rollout procedures at 
certain airports. The proposed AD would require you to use the service 
information described previously to perform these actions. After 
accomplishing the replacement of the Honeywell IRU required by AD 2003-
20-01, amendment 39-13319 (68 FR 55814, September 29, 2003), the AFM 
revision may be removed.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 136 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed AFM revision would take

[[Page 64522]]

about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per 
work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the proposed 
AD for U.S. operators is $8,840, or $65 per airplane.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not 
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship 
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2004-19537; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
145-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by December 6, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus airplanes, certificated in any 
category; as listed in Table 1:

                         Table 1.--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Equipped with any
                                       Honeywell           Excluding
                                  airplanes inertial  airplanes modified
             Model--                reference unit       in accordance
                                   (IRU) having part        with--
                                       number--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-     HG1050BD01,         Airbus
 600R series airplanes; and C4-    HG1050BD02, or      modification
 605R Variant F airplanes          HG1050BD05.         12304 in
 (collectively called A300-600).                       production.
A310 series airplanes...........  HG1050BD01,         Airbus
                                   HG1050BD02, or      modification in
                                   HG1050BD05.         production.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report that some magnetic 
deviation tables in the IRU database are obsolete and contain 
significant differences with the real magnetic deviations. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent an airplane from deviating from the 
runway centerline, and possibly departing the runway.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision

    (f) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations section of the AFM by inserting a copy of the 
applicable Airbus Airplane Flight Manual Temporary Revision listed 
in Table 2 of this AD into the AFM.

    Note 1: When Airbus includes these TRs in general revisions of 
the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted in the AFM, provided 
the relevant information in the general revision is identical to 
that in TRs 6.01.03/08 and 6.01.03/36.


                            Table 2.--AFM TRs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Model--                   Airbus--             Dated--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4- A300-600 Flight     February 9, 2003.
 600R series airplanes; and C4-    Manual TR 6.01.03/
 605R Variant F airplanes          08.
 (collectively called A300-600).
(2) A310 series airplanes.......  A310 Flight Manual  February 9, 2003.
                                   TR6.01.03/36.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terminating Action

    (g) After replacing the Honeywell inertial reference units 
(IRUs) with new or modified Honeywell IRUs in accordance with the 
requirements of AD 2003-20-01, amendment 39-13319 (68 FR 55814), the 
AFM revision required by paragraph (f) of this AD may be removed.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Related Information

    (i) French airworthiness directive F-2004-093 (B), issued June 
23, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 28, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-24725 Filed 11-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P