[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67263-67264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23117]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 28, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 67263]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0254; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-209-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Boeing Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD would require 
installing software upgrades to the airplane information management 
system (AIMS) located in the flight compartment. This proposed AD 
results from an investigation that revealed that detrimental effects 
could occur on certain AIMS software during flight. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent an unannunciated loss of cabin pressure. If an 
undetected loss of pressure event were to cause an unsafe pressure in 
the cabin, the flight crew could become incapacitated.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 14, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Yi, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 917-6494; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0254; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-209-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    An investigation of a service problem revealed that detrimental 
effects could occur during flight on certain Boeing Model 777 airplanes 
with certain airplane information management system (AIMS) software. 
The following airplane effects could potentially occur: A false measure 
of cabin pressure by the left air supply and cabin pressure controller 
(ASCPC) could result in an unannunciated loss of cabin pressure. If an 
undetected loss of pressure event were to cause an unsafe pressure in 
the cabin, the flightcrew could become incapacitated.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119, 
Revision 1, dated March 27, 2007; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
777-31A0120, Revision 1, dated March 23, 2007. Service Bulletin 777-
31A0119 describes procedures for installing the AIMS-1 Blockpoint 2006 
(BP06) operational software in the AIMS-1 hardware. Service Bulletin 
777-31A0120 describes procedures for installing the AIMS-2 BP06 
operational software in the AIMS-2 hardware.

Concurrent Service Bulletins

    Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119 recommends prior or 
concurrent accomplishment of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
777-31-0098, Revision 1, dated May 3, 2007. That service bulletin 
describes procedures for installing the AIMS-1 Blockpoint 2005A (BP05A) 
operational software. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0120 
recommends prior or concurrent accomplishment of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-0097, Revision 3, dated February 22, 
2007. That service bulletin describes procedures for installing the 
AIMS-2 BP05A operational software.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 142 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 2 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take between 1 and 4 work 
hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. 
Based

[[Page 67264]]

on these figures, the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. 
operators is between $160 and $640, or between $80 and $320 per 
airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not 
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship 
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the 
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2007-0254; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
209-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January 
14, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, -
300ER series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified 
in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119, Revision 1, dated 
March 27, 2007; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0120, 
Revision 1, dated March 23, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an investigation that revealed that 
detrimental effects could occur on certain airplane information 
management system (AIMS) software during flight. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent an unannunciated loss of cabin pressure. If an 
undetected loss of pressure event were to cause an unsafe pressure 
in the cabin, the flight crew could become incapacitated.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Software Installation

    (f) Within 15 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable.
    (1) Install the AIMS Blockpoint 2006 (BP06) operational software 
by doing all the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119, Revision 
1, dated March 27, 2007; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
31A0120, Revision 1, dated March 23, 2007; as applicable.
    (2) Prior to or concurrently with accomplishing the software 
installation, install the AIMS Blockpoint 2005A (BP05A) software in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-0098, Revision 1, dated May 3, 
2007; or Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-0097, 
Revision 3, dated February 22, 2007; as applicable.

Credit for Actions Done Using Previous Service Information

    (g) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119, or Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0120, both dated October 16, 2006, are 
considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions 
specified in this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 20, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23117 Filed 11-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P