[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76422-76423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21651]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issue Area--New Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of a new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC).

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

SUMMARY: Notice is given of a new task assignment for the Aviation 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice is to inform the 
public of this ARAC activity and solicit membership to a new Propeller 
Harmonization Working Group to support ARAC in developing advice and 
recommendations on this new task.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Turnberg, Rulemaking and Policy 
Branch, Engine and Propeller Directorate, ANE-110, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-7116; facsimile (781) 238-
7199; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On January 22, 1991 (56 FR 2190), the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) established the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory 
Committee (ARAC) to provide advice and recommendations to the FAA 
Administrator on the FAA's rulemaking activities for aviation-related 
issues. This includes obtaining advice and recommendations on the FAA's 
commitments to harmonize Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(14 CFR) with its partners in Europe, Canada, and Brazil.
    In order to develop such advice and recommendations, the ARAC may 
choose to establish a working group to which a specific task is 
assigned. The working group would be comprised of experts from those 
organizations having an interest in the assigned task. A working group 
member need not be a representative of the full committee. For this 
task, ARAC has chosen to establish a new Propeller Harmonization 
Working Group.
    In 1999, the Propeller Harmonization Working Group (PHWG) reached 
consensus on a harmonized version of part 35 and JAR-P, with a few 
exceptions, and submitted those proposed requirements to the ARAC. The 
PHWG has been inactive for a number of years. Because ARAC was unable 
to reach consensus on a propeller critical parts requirement, the FAA 
decided to table the issue for re-evaluation at a future date. 
Subsequently, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published CS-P 
160 Propeller Critical Parts Integrity rule. The FAA does not have a 
similar requirement; however, we believe a requirement for propeller 
critical parts warrants consideration for inclusion in 14 CFR part 35. 
We have asked ARAC to address this new task as part of the Transport 
Airplane and Engine (TAE) Issues. ARAC has decided to establish a new 
Propeller Harmonization Working Group to support this activity.

The Task

    The ARAC has accepted the task to provide information about 
specific propeller critical parts integrity requirements for part 35, 
and make recommendations for revising part 35 and guidance material, as 
appropriate. The Propeller Harmonization Working Group (PHWG) will--
    1. Review the background and intent of relevant existing 
requirements, existing guidance material, related ARAC recommendations 
on part 35, and the current EASA requirements for propeller critical 
parts integrity.
    2. Develop a report containing recommendations for rulemaking or 
guidance material, or both, and explain the rationale and safety 
benefits for each proposed change. The report will define a 
standardized approach for applying specific propeller critical parts 
integrity in the appropriate circumstances. The FAA will define the 
report format to ensure the report contains the necessary information 
for developing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), Advisory 
Circular (AC), or both.
    3. Make recommendations to ARAC for acceptance and submission to 
the FAA.
    If a NPRM or proposed AC is published for public comment as a 
result of the recommendations from this tasking, the FAA may ask ARAC 
to review the comments received and provide a recommendation for 
disposition of comments for each issue.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC accepted the task and will establish a new Propeller 
Harmonization Working Group to serve as staff to the ARAC and assist in 
the analysis of the task. ARAC must review and approve the working 
group's recommendations. If ARAC accepts the working group's 
recommendations, it will forward them to the FAA. The FAA will submit 
the recommendations it receives to the agency's Rulemaking Management 
Council to address the availability of resources and prioritization.

Working Group Activity

    The PHWG must comply with the procedures adopted by ARAC. As part 
of the procedures, the working group must:
    1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including the 
rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration at the next meeting 
of ARAC on Transport Airplane and Engine Issues held following 
publication of this notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation on the proposed 
recommendation(s), before continuing with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. If proposed rule changes are recommended, provide supporting 
economic and other required analyses. If new or revised requirements or 
compliance methods are not recommended, provide a draft report stating 
the rationale for not making such recommendations; and
    4. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ARAC held to 
consider propeller critical parts integrity issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The PHWG will be comprised of technical experts having an interest 
in the assigned task. A working group member does not need to be a 
representative or member of ARAC. The PHWG membership will have broad 
propeller critical parts integrity experience. As needed, the PHWG may 
organize, oversee, guide, and monitor the activities and progress of 
task groups comprised of subject matter experts (SMEs).
    If you have expertise in the subject matter and wish to become a 
member of the working group, contact the person listed under the 
caption FOR FURTHER

[[Page 76423]]

INFORMATION CONTACT. Describe your interest in the task and state the 
expertise you would bring to the working group. We must receive all 
requests by January 24, 2007. The assistant chair, the assistant 
executive director, and the FAA representative will review the requests 
and notify you if your request is approved.
    If you are chosen for membership on the working group, you must 
represent your aviation community segment and actively participate in 
the working group by attending all meetings and provide written 
comments when requested to do so. You must devote the resources 
necessary to support the working group in meeting any assigned 
deadlines. You must keep your management chain and those you may 
represent advised of working group activities and decisions to ensure 
the proposed technical solutions don't conflict with your sponsoring 
organization's position when the subject being negotiated is presented 
to ARAC for approval. Once the working group has begun deliberations, 
members will not be added or substituted without the approval of the 
assistant chair, the assistant executive director, and the working 
group chair.
    The Secretary of Transportation determined that the formation and 
use of the ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection 
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
    Meetings of the ARAC are open to the public. Meetings of the PHWG 
will not be open to the public, except to the extent individuals with 
an interest and expertise are selected to participate. The FAA will 
make no public announcement of working group meetings.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 13, 2006.
Pamela Hamilton-Powell,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. E6-21651 Filed 12-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P