[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75234-75235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24156]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Revisions to Advisory Circular 25-7A, Flight Test Guide 
for Certification of Transport Category Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: This notice requests comments regarding proposed revisions to 
Advisory Circular (AC) 25-7A, ``Flight Test Guide for Certification of 
Transport Category Airplanes.'' Advisory Circular 25-7A provides 
guidance on acceptable means, but not the only means, of demonstrating 
compliance with the airworthiness standards for transport category 
airplanes. The proposed revisions would remove the guidance material 
associated with certification for flight in icing conditions. This 
material is addressed in NPRM No. 05-10, ``Airplane Performance and 
Handling Qualities In Icing Conditions'' and the guidance material 
proposed in AC 25.21-1, ``Performance And Handling Characteristics In 
The Icing Conditions Specified In Part 25, Appendix C.'' This notice 
provides interested persons an opportunity to comment on the proposed 
revisions to AC 25-7A.

DATES: Your comments must be received on or before February 2, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You should send your comments to the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Attention: Don Stimson, Airplane & Flight Crew 
Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Ave., SW., Renton, WA 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 p.m. 
weekdays, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Stimson, Airplane & Flight Crew 
Interface Branch, ANM-111, at the above address, telephone 425-227-
1129, facsimile 425-227-1149, or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    You are invited to comment on the proposed revisions to AC 25-7A by 
submitting written comments, data, or views. You must identify the AC 
title and submit your comments in duplicate

[[Page 75235]]

to the address specified above. We will consider all comments received 
on or before the closing date for comments before issuing the revision 
to AC 25-7A. You may obtain an electronic copy of the proposed AC 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 Don Stimson at the address, phone number, or e-mail address 
listed above.

Discussion

    Since AC 25-7A only provides one acceptable means of compliance 
with the regulatory standard, applicants will continue to have the 
option of proposing the use of another means of compliance.

Proposed Revisions to AC 25-7A

    The revisions proposed in this notice address guidance material 
that is now covered in NPRM No. 05-10, ``Airplane Performance and 
Handling Qualities In Icing Conditions'' and proposed AC 25.21-1, 
``Performance And Handling Characteristics In The Icing Conditions 
Specified In Part 25, Appendix C.'' The FAA proposes removing this 
material from AC 25-7A.
    1. Remove the following paragraphs:
    Paragraphs 20a(3), 20e, 29d(2)(viii), 31b(2)(ii), 231, and 232.
    2. Renumber the following paragraphs:
    Renumber existing paragraph 20a(4) as 20(a)(3).
    Renumber existing paragraph 20f as 20e.
    Renumber existing paragraph 29d(2)(ix) and (x) as 29d(2)(viii) and 
(ix), respectively.
    Renumber existing paragraph 233 through 242 as 231 through 240, 
respectively.
    3. Revise the paragraphs referenced in renumbered paragraph 
20e(2)(iii)(C) from 20f(2)(iii)(A) and (B) to 20e(2)(iii)(A) and (B), 
respectively, to read as follows:
    (C) In flight tests to satisfy paragraphs 20e(2)(iii)(A) and (B) 
the load factor should be increased until either: * * *
    4. Revise existing paragraph 31b(2)(i) and (ii) by moving the text 
of paragraph (i) into paragraph b(2), and removing paragraph (i) and 
(ii) to read as folllows:
    (2) Section 25.251(b). The airplane should be flown at 
VDF/MDF at several altitudes from the highest 
practicable cruise altitude to the lowest practicable altitude. The 
test should be flown starting from trimmed flight at VMO/
MMO at a thrust setting not exceeding maximum continuous 
power. The airplane gross weight should be as high as practicable for 
the cruise condition, with the c.g., at or near the forward limit. High 
drag devices should also be deployed at VDF/MDF 
(spoilers and speed brakes); thrust reversers, if designed for inflight 
deployment, should be deployed at their limit speed conditions.
    5. Revise paragraph 15a by removing the last two sentences of 
paragraph 15a to read as follows:
    15. CLIMB: GENERAL--Sec.  25.117
    a. Explanation. This section states the climb requirements of 
Sec. Sec.  25.119 and 25.121 must be complied with at each weight, 
altitude, and ambient temperature within the operational limits 
established for the airplane and with the most unfavorable center of 
gravity for each configuration.
    6. Revise the Table of Contents to reflect the paragraph and page 
number changes above.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 9, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-24156 Filed 12-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M