[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8925-8926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-705]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Issuance of Final Report of the Amateur-Built Aviation Rulemaking 
Committee and Changes to Certain Documents Related to Amateur-Built 
Aircraft

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the issuance of the final report from 
the Amateur-Built Rulemaking Committee. The report provides information 
and guidance concerning recommendations regarding the use of builder or 
commercial assistance when fabricating and assembling amateur-built 
aircraft under current FAA regulations. This notice also announces 
recommended changes to certain documents that are used in the 
airworthiness certification of amateur-built aircraft.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank P. Paskiewicz, Manager, 
Production and Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service, 
AIR-200, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone number: (202) 267-8361. A copy of the 
final report may be obtained by accessing the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Certification 
Service established the Amateur-Built Aviation Rulemaking Committee 
(ARC) on July 26, 2006.\1\ The Committee was made up of representatives 
from the FAA, aircraft kit manufacturers, commercial assistance center 
owners, and associations. The purpose of the Committee was to make 
recommendations regarding the use of builder or commercial assistance 
when fabricating and assembling amateur-built aircraft under Title 14 
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), part 21, Sec.  21.191(g), 
Operating Amateur-Built Aircraft. This regulation defines an amateur-
built aircraft as an aircraft that, ``* * *the major portion of which 
has been fabricated and assembled by persons who undertook the 
construction project solely for their own education or recreation.''
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    \1\ FAA Order 1110.143, dated July 26, 2006, established the 
Amateur-Built Aviation Rulemaking Committee.
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    There is concern by the FAA and other interested parties that many 
amateur-built aircraft are not being fabricated and assembled by 
persons for their own education or recreation, but are being built in 
large part by commercial assistance companies that specialize in kit 
aircraft construction. Although some assistance is allowed when 
fabricating and assembling an amateur-built kit, the major portion (at 
least fifty-one percent 51%) of the fabrication and assembly must be 
completed by the amateur-builder to be in compliance with existing 
regulations.
    The final report discusses the decisions and recommendations made 
by the Committee and also the areas where there was disagreement among 
the Committee members.
    The FAA will implement the following recommendations agreed upon by 
the Committee by October 2008:
     Update FAA Form 8000-38, ``Fabrication/Assembly 
Checklist.''
     Update FAA Form 8130-12, ``Eligibility Statement, Amateur-
Built Aircraft.''
     Update and combine into a single Advisory Circular (AC) 
both AC 20-27, ``Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built 
Aircraft'' and (AC) 20-138, ``Commercial Assistance During Construction 
of Amateur-Built Aircraft.''
     Update FAA Order 8130.2F, ``Airworthiness Certification of 
Aircraft and Related Products.''
     Establish a National Kit Evaluation Team to ensure 
consistency and accuracy in determining if an amateur-built kit meets 
the major portion requirement of 21.191(g).
    The FAA and some Committee members could not come to consensus

[[Page 8926]]

regarding how best to determine the calculation of major portion. 
Therefore, the FAA will revise the process for determining major 
portion in FAA Order 8130.2.
    Interested parties will be given an opportunity for comment on 
changes to the advisory circulars, FAA Order 8130.2, to include section 
9, Experimental Amateur-Built Airworthiness Certifications, and forms 
8000-38 and 8130-12 once these changes are implemented. This 
opportunity will be announced in a future Federal Register notice.

    Dated: February 11, 2008.
Frank Paskiewicz,
Manager, Production and Airworthiness Division.
[FR Doc. 08-705 Filed 2-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M