[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 21688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8457]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 23, 25, 27, 29, 91, 121, 125, 129 and 135

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20245; Notice No. 23-56, 25-118, 27-41, 29-48, 91-
286, 121-308, 125-47, 129-40 and 135-95]
RIN 2120-AH88


Revisions to Cockpit Voice Recorder and Digital Flight Data 
Recorder Regulations

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an NPRM published 
on February 28, 2005. In that document, the FAA proposed to amend the 
cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder regulations for 
certain air carriers, operators, and aircraft manufacturers. This 
extension is a result of a request from the Aerospace Industries 
Association to extend the comment period for the NPRM.

DATES: Send your comments on or before June 28, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments [identified by Docket Number FAA-2005-
20245] using any of the following methods:
     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 20590-001.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     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 more information on the rulemaking process, see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Privacy: We will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. For 
more information, see the Privacy Act discussion in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy W. Shaver, Avionics Systems 
Branch, Aircraft Certification Service, AIR-130, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 385-4686; facsimile (202) 385-4651; e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA continues to invite interested persons to take part in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views about the 
NPRM we issued on February 28, 2005 (Revisions to Cockpit Voice 
Recorder and Digital Flight Data Recorder Regulations (70 FR 9752) 
(February 28, 2005). We also invite comments about the economic, 
environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might result from 
adopting the proposals in that document. The most helpful comments 
reference a specific portion of the NPRM, explain the reason for any 
recommended change, and include supporting data. We ask that you send 
us two copies of written comments.

Background

    On February 28, 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
issued Notice No. 23-56, 25-118, 27-41, 29-48, 91-286, 121-308, 125-47, 
129-40 and 135-95, Revisions to Cockpit Voice Recorder and Digital 
Flight Data Recorder Regulations (70 FR 9752) (February 28, 2005) 
(``NPRM''). The comment period for the NPRM ends on April 29, 2005.
    By letter dated April 1, 2005, the Aerospace Industries Association 
(AIA) asks the FAA to extend the NPRM's comment period by thirty days. 
AIA believes extensive coordination is necessary with the suppliers of 
``Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE)'' and ``Supplier Furnished Equipment 
(SFE)'' because of the significant and complex contents of the NPRM. 
AIA states an extension is necessary to provide a meaningful, thorough 
set of comments.
    The FAA agrees with AIA's request for an extension of the comment 
period. We recognize the NPRM's contents are significant and complex 
and that a sixty-day comment period is insufficient. We also believe 
that additional requests for extensions will be filed shortly based on 
the lack of comments from those entities that will be affected by the 
proposals in the NPRM.
    We have determined that an additional sixty days will be enough for 
potential commenters to collect the cost and operational data necessary 
to provide meaningful comments to the NPRM. Absent unusual 
circumstances, the FAA does not anticipate any further extension of the 
comment period for this rulemaking.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with 14 CFR 11.47(c), the FAA has reviewed the 
petition submitted by Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) for an 
extension of the comment period to the NPRM. The FAA finds that an 
extension of the comment period for Notice No. 23-56, 25-118, 27-41, 
29-48, 91-286, 121-308, 125-47, 129-40 and 135-95 is consistent with 
the public interest, and that good cause exists for taking this action. 
The FAA also has determined that AIA has a substantive interest in the 
proposed rule and has shown good cause for the extension.
    Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 23-56, 25-118, 27-
41, 29-48, 91-286, 121-308, 125-47, 129-40 and 135-95 is extended until 
June 28, 2005.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 21, 2005.
John J. Hickey,
Director, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-8457 Filed 4-26-05; 8:45 am]
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