[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30996-30997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10719]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Federal Aviation Administration Notice 8150.NTF, Non-
Technical Standard Order (TSO) Functions(s) Integrated in a TSO Article

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and requests for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on proposed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Notice 
8150.NTF, Non-TSO Functions(s) Integrated in a TSO Article. The 
proposed notice will replace FAA Order 8150.1B, Technical Standard 
Order Program, Paragraph 17d(3), dated May 12, 2002. The proposed 
notice provides guidance to Aircraft Certification Field Offices 
personnel on the appropriate means to evaluate a non-TSO function a 
manufacturer might integrate into a TSO article.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 30, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on proposed FAA Notice 8150.NTF to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, 
Aircraft Engineering Division, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591. Attn. Mr. Richard Jennings, AIR-130. Or deliver 
comments to: Federal Aviation Administration, Room 815, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Jennings, Senior Aerospace 
Engineer, Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft Certification 
Service, Aircraft Engineering Division, Avionic Systems Branch, AIR-
130, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30349. Telephone (770) 
703-6090, fax (770) 703-6055. E-mail [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    Submit written data, views, or arguments on the proposed notice to 
the above-specified address. Your comments should stipulate ``Comments 
to proposed FAA Notice 8150.NTF.'' You may examine comments before and 
after the comment closing date by visiting Room 815, FAA Headquarters 
Building, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, weekdays except 
Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Director, 
Aircraft Certification Service, will consider all comments received on 
or before the closing date before issuing the final Notice.

Background

    FAA Order 8150.1B, Paragraph 17d(3), as currently written, allows 
for the incorporation of a non-TSO function in a TSO article, but 
stipulates the non-TSO safety and performance functions be evaluated 
under the appropriate airworthiness certification procedures during the 
installation process.

[[Page 30997]]

However, that process permits the design data package granting the 
``host'' TSO authorization to contain the non-TSO function design data 
package, without assuring the required performance of the hosting TSO 
article is unaffected by the added non-TSO function.
    Deferring the evaluation of the non-TSO function until installation 
is not ideal, since the installer generally does not have the TSO 
manufacturer's equipment or expertise available to perform a thorough 
equipment performance evaluation, especially when the performance must 
be determined by laboratory simulation or under specific test 
conditions. In the proposed notice, we bring greater scrutiny to 
integrated non-TSO functions into the host TSO by providing guidance to 
the Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) for the consistent performance 
evaluation of the non-TSO function at the time of TSO authorization 
issuance. Note also, as with the TSO article itself, the integrated 
non-TSO function must have separate FAA approval for installation in an 
aircraft. Thus, this proposed notice allows the ACO to acknowledge the 
software and hardware design assurance levels and environmental testing 
accomplished on the non-TSO function, precluding the need for repeated 
evaluations at each installation approval.

How To Obtain Copies

    You can get a copy of proposed FAA Notice 8150.NTF and Order 
8150.1B from the FAA's Regulatory and Guidance Library (RGL) at http://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl. On the RGL Web site, click on ``Orders/
Notices''. Or, contact the person listed in the section titled FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 24, 2005.
Susan J.M. Cabler,
Assistant Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-10719 Filed 5-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M