[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 63 (Monday, April 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 16610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3174]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Policy Statement No. ANM-03-112-16]


High Altitude Cabin Decompression Interim Policy (Reference 
Amendment 25-87)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of final policy.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the 
availability of final policy that provides FAA certification policy on 
the compliance issues associated with high altitude flight.

DATES: The final policy was issued by the Transport Airplane 
Directorate on March 24, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Happenny, Propulsion and 
Mechanical Systems Branch, ANM-112, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, Transport Standards Staff, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, WA 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2147; fax (425) 
227-1232; e-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion of Comments

    A notice of proposed policy was published in the Federal Register 
on May 30, 2003 (68 FR 32570). Five (5) commenters responded to the 
request for comments.

Background

    The policy provides applicants with information on how the FAA will 
evaluate petitions for exemption from Sec.  25.841(a), as amended by 
Amendment 25-87. For airplanes with wing-mounted engines, this 
regulation in effect limits the maximum operating altitude of airplanes 
approved to this standard to 40,000 feet. An Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC) recommended that the FAA to develop a new 
safety standard, which is being addressed in rulemaking activities. 
That committee also asked for interim policy to be used during the 
rulemaking process, to provide relief because high altitude operations 
offer benefits in terms of reduced fuel consumption and better airspace 
utilization. This policy applies to the regulatory provisions regarding 
cabin pressure failures caused by uncontained engine failures. This 
policy does not provide relief from the regulatory cabin pressure 
limits for the more common types of failures (i.e., environmental 
systems and structural failures).
    The final policy as well as the disposition of public comments is 
available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl. If you do not have access to the Internet, you 
can obtain a copy of the policy by contacting the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 24, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-3174 Filed 3-31-06; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M