[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49595-49596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19739]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee--New Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee 
(ARAC) a new task to provide recommendations regarding the outdated 
Advisory Circular (AC) 120-17A, Maintenance Control by Reliability 
Methods guidance material. The FAA needs to provide its employees and 
the aviation industry with current information for developing, 
implementing, maintaining and overseeing air carrier's maintenance 
reliability programs. This notice informs the public of the new ARAC 
activity and solicits membership for the Maintenance Reliability 
Program Working Group.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul K. Pitts, Federal Aviation 
Administration, AFS-330 Air Carrier Maintenance Branch, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; email: 
[email protected], telephone: (202) 385-6818, facsimile: (202) 385-
6474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    As a result of the June 2013 ARAC meeting, the FAA has assigned and 
ARAC has accepted this task and will establish the Maintenance 
Reliability Program Working Group. The working group will serve as 
staff to ARAC and provide it advice and recommendations on the assigned 
task. ARAC will review and approve the recommendation report that will 
be sent to the FAA.

Background

    The FAA established ARAC to provide advice and recommendations to 
the FAA Administrator, through the Associate Administrator of Aviation 
Safety, on the FAA's rulemaking activities. ARAC's objective is to 
improve the development of the FAA's regulations and guidance material 
by providing information, advice, and recommendations related to 
aviation issues.
    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued safety 
recommendation, A-09-110, which identified contradictory philosophy 
regarding on-condition maintenance in reliability program control 
mechanisms recognized by the FAA. Specifically, it requested the FAA 
to:

    Resolve the differences between Advisory Circular (AC) 120-17A 
and AC 120-16E (now revised to AC 120-16F) in regard to Federal 
Aviation Administration philosophy and use of on-condition 
maintenance programs.

    Currently, AC 120-17A refers to the Maintenance Steering Group 2 
(MSG-2) logic for developing maintenance programs, which dates from the 
1970's. AC 120-16F, dated November 15, 2012, provides guidance for the 
implementation of an air carriers maintenance program. Air carriers 
consider the maintenance requirements for identifying tasks and 
intervals when establishing maintenance programs. These considerations 
address corrective and preventive maintenance on airframes, engines, 
rotors, propellers, appliances, and emergency equipment. Recognizing 
the experience gained from MSG-2, we now use MSG 3 logic, which 
replaced MSC-2 logic in 1980, for developing a more effective set of 
procedures through analysis of aircraft functions, rather than 
components. In response to the NTSB safety recommendation, the FAA is 
requesting ARAC assistance to evaluate the guidance contained in the 
AC's that are associated with methods for establishing, monitoring, 
maintaining and overseeing air carrier reliability programs.
    The Maintenance Reliability Program Working Group will provide 
advice and recommendations on the concepts and standards for 
maintenance reliability methods for ARAC review and approval.

The Task

    The Maintenance Reliability Program Working Group is to complete 
the following:
    1. Review the NTSB Recommendation A-09-110. http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/recletters/2009/A09_108_111.pdf
    2. Review AC 120-17A, ``Maintenance Control by Reliability 
Methods'' http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/22744, and AC 120-16F 
``Air Carrier Maintenance Programs''. http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%20120-16F.pdf
    3. Gather and review all internal and external guidance documents 
that reference or provide information on establishing, monitoring, 
maintaining and overseeing air carrier reliability programs.
    4. Determine whether updated guidance material is appropriate and 
if so, develop draft internal and external guidance based on modern 
concepts, which ensure a standardized methodology for establishing, 
monitoring, maintaining and overseeing air carrier's aircraft 
maintenance reliability programs.
    5. Develop and submit a report that contains recommendations for 
ensuring consistent establishment, monitoring, maintaining and 
overseeing an air carrier reliability program that explains the 
decisions made in developing the recommendation and any corresponding 
documents.
    6. The working group may be reinstated to assist the ARAC by 
responding to FAA's questions or concerns after the recommendation has 
been submitted.
    The report should document both majority and minority positions on 
the findings and the rationale for each position. Any disagreements 
should be documented, including the rationale for each position and the 
reasons for the disagreement.

Schedule

    The recommendation report must be submitted to the FAA for review 
and acceptance no later than September 30, 2014.

Working Group Activity

    The Maintenance Reliability Program Working Group must comply with 
the

[[Page 49596]]

procedures adopted by ARAC. As part of the procedures, the working 
group must:
    1. Conduct a review and analysis of the assigned tasks and the 
related materials or documents.
    2. Draft and submit a work plan for completion of the task, 
including the rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration by 
ARAC.
    3. Provide a status report on the work plan at each ARAC meeting.
    4. Draft and submit the recommendation report based on the review 
and analysis of the assigned tasks.
    5. Present the recommendation report to the ARAC at a regularly 
scheduled meeting.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Maintenance Reliability Program Working Group will be comprised 
of technical experts having an interest in the assigned task. A working 
group member need not be a member representative of ARAC. The FAA would 
like a wide range of members to ensure all aspects of the tasks are 
considered in development of the recommendations.
    The June 18, 2010 Presidential memorandum ``Lobbyists on Agency 
Boards and Commissions,'' states that a member must not be a federally 
registered lobbyist, who is subject to the registration and reporting 
requirements of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) as amended, 2 
U.S.C 1603, 1604, and 1605, at the time of appointment or reappointment 
to the ARAC, and has not served in such a role for a two-year period 
prior to appointment. For further information see OMB final guidance on 
appointment of lobbyists to federal boards and commissions (76 FR 
61756, October 5, 2011.) Therefore, the FAA will not select any person 
that is a registered lobbyist.
    If you wish to become a member of the Maintenance Reliability 
Program Working Group, write the person listed under the caption FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that desire. Describe your 
interest in the task and state the expertise you would bring to the 
working group. We must receive all requests by September 3, 2013. ARAC 
and the FAA will review the requests and advise you whether or not your 
request is approved.
    If you are chosen for membership on the working group, you must 
actively participate in the working group by attending all meetings, 
and providing written comments when requested to do so. You must devote 
the resources necessary to support the working group in meeting any 
assigned deadlines. You must keep your management chain and those you 
may represent advised of working group activities and decisions to 
ensure the proposed technical solutions do not conflict with the 
position of those you represent. Once the working group has begun 
deliberations, members will not be added or substituted without the 
approval of the ARAC Chair, the FAA, including the Designated Federal 
Officer, and the Working Group Chair.
    The Secretary of Transportation determined the formation and use of 
ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the 
performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
    ARAC meetings are open to the public. However, meetings of the 
Maintenance Reliability Program Working Group are not open to the 
public, except to the extent individuals with an interest and expertise 
are selected to participate. The FAA will make no public announcement 
of working group meetings.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 9, 2013.
Lirio Liu,
Designated Federal Officer, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 2013-19739 Filed 8-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P