[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20750-20751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3757]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Advisory Circular 120-XX, Damage Tolerance Inspections 
for Repairs

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 120-
XX, and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on a proposed advisory circular (AC) which sets forth an 
acceptable means, but not the only means, of demonstrating compliance 
with the provisions of the airworthiness standards for transport 
category airplanes related to damage tolerance inspections for repairs. 
This proposed AC complements revisions to the airworthiness standards 
that are being proposed by a separate notice. This notice is necessary 
to give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on 
the proposed AC.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 20, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on this proposed AC to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Attention: Greg Schneider, Airframe/Cabin Safety 
Branch, ANM-115, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98055-4056. 
Comments may be inspected at the above address between 7:30 a.m. and 4 
p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenna Sinclair, Transport Standards 
Staff, at the address above, telephone (425) 227-1556.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed AC by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. 
Commenters should identify AC 120-XX and submit comments, in duplicate, 
to the address specified above. All communications received on or 
before the closing date for comments will be considered by the 
Transport Standards Staff before issuing the final AC. The proposed AC 
can be found and downloaded from the Internet at http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs. A paper copy of the proposed AC may be obtained 
by contacting the person named above under the caption FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

Discussion

    This proposed AC would provide guidance material for design 
approval holders and operators for developing and incorporating damage 
tolerance inspections and procedures (DTIP). The proposed AC would 
support compliance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
121.370a and 14 CFR 129.16, the Aging Airplane Safety Final Rule 
(AASFR), with respect to repairs. For compliance, operators would need 
to demonstrate that new and existing repairs would have an evaluation 
and DTIP or other procedures implemented, if needed. The proposed AC 
would be applicable to repairs that affect fatigue critical structure. 
The AASFR also requires operators to incorporate DTIP for alterations 
that affect fatigue critical structure. The Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC) Airworthiness Assurance Working Group (AAWG) 
is currently developing guidance for developing DTIP for such 
alterations. It is anticipated that this guidance will be incorporated 
into this AC. Upon completion of this work, the

[[Page 20751]]

FAA plans to issue a revision to this AC that will include guidance 
applicable to both repairs and alterations.
    The proposed AC supports compliance with the part 25 revisions 
proposed in Notice No. 05-11 entitled ``Damage Tolerance Data for 
Repairs and Alterations'' published in this same edition of the Federal 
Register.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 13, 2006.
James J. Ballough,
Director, Flight Standards Service, Aviation Safety.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Acting Director, Aircraft Certification Service, Aviation Safety.
[FR Doc. 06-3757 Filed 4-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P