[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45647-45648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19163]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Consensus Standards, Light-Sport Aircraft

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of one new and two 
revised consensus standards to previously accepted consensus standards 
relating to the provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft 
rule issued July 16, 2004, and effective September 1, 2004. ASTM 
International Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft developed the 
revised standards with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
participation. By this notice, the FAA finds the new and revised 
standards acceptable for certification of the specified aircraft under 
the provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft rule.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 27, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Federal Aviation Administration, 
Small Airplane Directorate, Programs and Procedures Branch, ACE-114, 
Attention: Terry Chasteen, Room 301, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. Comments may also be e-mailed to: [email protected]. All comments must be marked: Consensus Standards 
Comments, and must specify the standard being addressed by ASTM 
designation and title.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Chasteen, Light-Sport Aircraft 
Program Manager, Programs and Procedures Branch (ACE-114), Small 
Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 
telephone (816) 329-4147; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the availability of 
one new and two revised consensus standards to previously accepted 
consensus standards relating to the provisions of the Sport Pilot and 
Light-Sport Aircraft rule. ASTM International Committee F37 on Light 
Sport Aircraft developed the new and revised standards. The FAA expects 
a suitable consensus standard to be reviewed at least every two years. 
The two-year review cycle will result in a standard revision or 
reapproval. A standard is issued under a fixed designation (i.e., 
F2244); the number immediately following the designation indicates the 
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last 
revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last 
reapproval. A reapproval indicates a two-year review cycle completed 
with no technical changes. A superscript epsilon ([egr]) indicates an 
editorial change since the last revision or reapproval. A notice of 
availability (NOA) will only be issued for new or revised standards. 
Reapproved standards issued with no technical changes or standards 
issued with editorial changes only (i.e., superscript epsilon ([egr])) 
are considered accepted by the FAA without need for a NOA.

[[Page 45648]]

    Comments Invited: Interested persons are invited to submit such 
written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. Communications 
should identify the consensus standard number and be submitted to the 
address specified above. All communications received on or before the 
closing date for comments will be forwarded to ASTM International 
Committee F37 for consideration. The standard may be changed in light 
of the comments received. The FAA will address all comments received 
during the recurring review of the consensus standard and will 
participate in the consensus standard revision process.
    Background: Under the provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport 
Aircraft rule, 69 FR 44772 (July 27, 2004), and revised Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119, ``Federal Participation in 
the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in 
Conformity Assessment Activities,'' dated February 10, 1998, industry 
and the FAA have been working with ASTM International to develop 
consensus standards for light-sport aircraft. These consensus standards 
satisfy the FAA's goal for airworthiness certification and a verifiable 
minimum safety level for light-sport aircraft. Instead of developing 
airworthiness standards through the rulemaking process, the FAA 
participates as a member of Committee F37 in developing these 
standards. The use of the consensus standard process assures government 
and industry discussion and agreement on appropriate standards for the 
required level of safety.

Comments on Previous Notices of Availability

    In the Notice of Availability (NOA) issued on November 11, 2010, 
and published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2011 the FAA 
asked for public comments on the new and revised consensus standards 
accepted by that NOA. The comment period closed on January 18, 2011. No 
public comments were received regarding the standards accepted by this 
NOA.

Consensus Standards in This Notice of Availability

    The FAA has reviewed the standards presented in this NOA for 
compliance with the regulatory requirements of the rule. Any light-
sport aircraft issued a special light-sport airworthiness certificate, 
which has been designed, manufactured, operated and maintained, in 
accordance with this and previously accepted ASTM consensus standards 
provides the public with the appropriate level of safety established 
under the regulations. Manufacturers who choose to produce these 
aircraft and certificate these aircraft under 14 CFR part 21, 
Sec. Sec.  21.190 or 21.191 are subject to the applicable consensus 
standard requirements. The FAA maintains a listing of all accepted 
standards on the FAA Web site.

The Revised Consensus Standard and Effective Period of Use

    The following previously accepted consensus standards have been 
revised, and this NOA is accepting the later revision. Either the 
previous revision or the later revision may be used for the initial 
certification of special light-sport aircraft until November 12, 2011. 
This overlapping period of time will allow aircraft that have started 
the initial certification process using the previous revision level to 
complete that process. After November 12, 2011, manufacturers must use 
the later revision and must identify the later revision in the 
Statement of Compliance for initial certification of special light-
sport aircraft unless the FAA publishes a specific notification 
otherwise. The following Consensus Standards may not be used after 
November 12, 2011:
    ASTM Designation F2245-09, titled: Standard Specification for 
Design and Performance of a Light Sport Airplane
    ASTM Designation F2506-07, titled: Standard Specification for 
Design and Testing of Fixed-Pitch or Ground Adjustable Light Sport 
Aircraft Propellers.

The Consensus Standards

    The FAA finds the following new and revised consensus standards 
acceptable for certification of the specified aircraft under the 
provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft rule. The 
following consensus standards become effective May 12, 2011 and may be 
used unless the FAA publishes a specific notification otherwise:
    ASTM Designation F2245-10c, titled: Standard Specification for 
Design and Performance of a Light Sport Airplane
    ASTM Designation F2506-10, titled: Standard Specification for 
Design and Testing of Fixed-Pitch or Ground Adjustable Light Sport 
Aircraft Propellers
    ASTM Designation F2746-09, titled: Standard Specification for 
Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) for Light Sport Airplane.

Availability

    These consensus standards are copyrighted by ASTM International, 
100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. 
Individual reprints of a standard (single or multiple copies, or 
special compilations and other related technical information) may be 
obtained by contacting ASTM at this address, or at (610) 832-9585 
(phone), (610) 832-9555 (fax), through [email protected] (e-mail), or 
through the ASTM Web site at http://www.astm.org. To inquire about 
standard content and/or membership or about ASTM International Offices 
abroad, contact Christine DeJong, Staff Manager for Committee F37 on 
Light Sport Aircraft: (610) 832-9736, [email protected].

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on July 20, 2011.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-19163 Filed 7-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P