[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 4442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1523]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Public Meeting on Future Policy and Rulemaking for Normal, 
Utility, Acrobatic, and Commuter Category Small Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a 
meeting to discuss a review of the requirements for small airplanes. 
This discussion focuses on the future of small airplane regulation; 
however, we are asking for feedback concerning maintenance and 
operations, and not just certification.

DATES: The meeting will be held February 23 and 24 from 8 a.m. to 5 
p.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Marriott, 9100 Corporate 
Hills Drive, Wichita, Kansas 67207.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Lowell Foster, Regulations and 
Policy, ACE-111, Federal Aviation Administration, 901 Locust St., 
Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4125; facsimile (816) 329-
4090; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given of a public meeting 
to initiate the review of 14 CFR part 23 regulations. The last thorough 
review of part 23 requirements occurred more than 25 years ago. Due to 
this long interval, this regulatory review goes beyond the traditional 
regulatory reviews.
    We are attempting to determine the adequacy of the current 
airworthiness standards throughout a small airplane's service life 
while anticipating future requirements. We encourage the public's 
participation and feedback in developing or amending new and existing 
policy, guidance, and rulemaking. These efforts will affect the next 20 
years of small airplane design, certification, and operations. 
Specifically, we would like feedback from manufacturers, pilots, 
owners, mechanics, instructors and anyone else with an interest in the 
small airplane industry.
    The FAA's Small Airplane Directorate plans to host at least three, 
two-day meetings, depending on public interest. There may be a meeting 
in the southeast and southwest regions of the United States. The 
meetings will not follow a fixed agenda, but the discussions will 
generally follow the findings from a recent two-year study. That study, 
the ``Part 23 Small Airplane Certification Process Study,'' addressed 
the following areas:
     Structure and Process of Part 23
     Design Certification
     Continued Airworthiness
     Data Management
     Pilot Interface
    The report is available on-line at: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/air/directorates_field/small_airplanes/.
    Included in the study are recommendations associated with 
certification, maintenance, modifications, and pilot training. Also 
included in the report is the recommendation to revise part 23 such 
that requirements are based on airplane performance and complexity. 
Since the beginning, small airplane certification requirements have 
been based on propulsion and weight. Many previous assumptions for 
small airplanes are no longer accurate. This is discussed in detail in 
the Certification Process Report.
    The FAA plans to open each meeting with a detailed presentation 
from the Certification Process Study findings followed by opening the 
floor for discussions. There will be an official recorder participating 
at each meeting. The meeting minutes, as well as any comments, 
feedback, recommendations or action items will become public record.
    Attendance is open to the interested public but limited to space 
availability. Since seating is limited, we ask anyone interested in 
attending to notify Lowell Foster at the phone or e-mail address listed 
in the For Further Information Contact section.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on January 20, 2010.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-1523 Filed 1-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P