[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26321-26322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11080]


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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 Small Airplane Directorate is issuing this notice to 
advise the public of a meeting to discuss ideas for future policy and 
rulemaking for small airplanes. We are attempting to determine the 
adequacy of the current airworthiness standards thoughout a small 
airplane's service life while anticipating future requirements. The 
outcome could affect the next 20 years of small airplane design, 
certification, and operations.

DATES: The meeting will be held June 8-9, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
each day.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale 
North/Perimeter Center; 8550 East Princess Drive; Scottsdale, AZ 85255; 
phone number 480-515-4944.

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 review 14 CFR part 23 regulations. We

[[Page 26322]]

encourage the public's participation and feedback in developing or 
amending new and existing policy, guidance, and rulemaking. 
Specifically, we would like feedback from manufacturers, pilots, 
owners, mechanics, instructors and anyone else with an interest in the 
small airplane industry.
    The Small Airplane Directorate is responsible for 14 CFR part 23, 
the design standard for small airplanes. 14 CFR part 23 contains the 
design standards for small airplanes in the normal, utility, acrobatic, 
and commuter categories, with a maximum gross weight of 19,000 pounds.
    The FAA's Small Airplane Directorate plans to host this second 
meeting to review the part 23 requirements June 8-9, 2010. The meeting 
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 this 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 the 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 RSVP (notify) Lowell Foster at the phone or e-mail address 
listed in the For Further Information Contact section.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 3, 2010.
Wes Ryan,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-11080 Filed 5-10-10; 8:45 am]
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