[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38091-38092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15056]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0550]


Airworthiness Criteria: Proposed Airship Design Criteria for 
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Model LMZ1M Airship

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed design criteria and request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on the proposed design criteria for the Lockheed Martin 
Aeronautics model LMZ1M airship. On March 12, 2012 Lockheed Martin 
Aeronautics submitted an application for type certification for the 
model LMZ1M. The LMZ1M is a manned cargo lifting hybrid airship 
incorporating a number of advanced features. The Hybrid Certification 
Criteria (HCC) for Transport Category Hybrid Airships, Lockheed Martin 
Aeronautics Company Document Number 1008D0122 Rev. C dated January 31, 
2013 was specifically developed for the LMZ1M.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2013-0550 
using any of the following methods:
    [ssquf] Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    [ssquf] Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    [ssquf] Hand Delivery of Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m., and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

[[Page 38092]]

    [ssquf] Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information 
the commenter provides. Using the search function of the docket Web 
site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all comments 
received into any FAA docket, including the name of the individual 
sending the comment (or signing the comment for an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement can 
be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m., and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Albert Mercado, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106, telephone (816) 
329-4119, facsimile (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed design 
criteria by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Commenters should identify the proposed design criteria on 
the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics model LMZ1M airship and submit 
comments, in duplicate, to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered by the Small Airplane Directorate before issuing the 
final design criteria.

Background

    On March 12, 2012 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics submitted an 
application for type certification for the model LMZ1M airship. The 
LMZ1M is a hybrid airship incorporating a number of advance features. 
The tri-lobed airship envelope has 1,285,000 cubic foot displacement 
incorporating four thrusters to allow thrust vectoring. Thrust 
vectoring and control surface motions are controlled through a vehicle 
management system using electronic fly by-wire controls. Rather than 
conventional landing gear, the LMZ1M uses air cushion landing system 
(ACLS) for landing and ground operations. The LMZ1M is a manned cargo 
lifting hybrid airship with a gondola accommodating eight passengers 
and two crewmembers and a large cargo bay, and external load 
capabilities.

Proposed Design Criteria

Applicable Airworthiness Criteria Under 14 CFR part 21

    The only applicable requirement for airship certification in the 
United States is FAA document ``FAA-P-8110-2, Airship Design Criteria 
(ADC),'' dated November 2, 1987 with Change 1, dated July 24, 1992 and 
Change 2, dated July 24, 1992. This document has been the basis of 
certification of airships in the United States for many years. The ADC 
is inadequate for an aircraft with the size and advanced features of 
the LMZ1M. Given the size and weight of the LMZ1M and in accordance 
with 14 CFR Part 21.17(b), the level of safety should be commensurate 
with other transport category aircraft. The ``Hybrid Certification 
Criteria (HCC) for Transport Category Hybrid Airships,'' Lockheed 
Martin Aeronautics Company Document Number 1008D0122 Rev. C dated 
January 31, 2013 was specifically developed for the LMZ1M. This 
criteria is based on ``FAA P-8110-2, Airship Design Criteria (ADC),'' 
the ``Transport Airship Requirements (TAR)'', dated March 2000, 14 CFR 
Part 29--Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Rotorcraft and to 
a lesser extent 14 CFR Parts 23, 25, 33 and 35.

Certification Basis

    The Hybrid Certification Criteria (HCC) for Transport Category 
Hybrid Airships, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Document Number 
1008D0122 Rev. C dated January 31, 2013.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 17, 2013.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-15056 Filed 6-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P