[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54790-54791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21698]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 1, 23, 25, 27, 29, 61, 91, 121, 125, and 135

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0485; Notice No. 1209]
RIN 2120-AJ94


Revisions to Operational Requirements for the Use of Enhanced 
Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) and to Pilot Compartment View Requirements 
for Vision Systems; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was 
published on June 11, 2013. In that document, the FAA proposed to 
permit operators to use an EFVS in lieu of natural vision to continue 
descending from 100 feet height above runway touchdown zone elevation 
and land on certain straight-in instrument approach procedures under 
instrument flight rules. This rule would also permit certain operators 
using EFVS-equipped aircraft to dispatch, release, or takeoff under 
instrument flight rules (IFR), and to initiate and continue an 
approach, when the destination airport weather is below authorized 
visibility minimums for the runway of intended landing. Pilot training, 
recent flight experience, and proficiency would be required for 
operators who use EFVS in lieu of natural vision to descend below 
decision altitude, decision height, or minimum descent altitude. EFVS-
equipped aircraft conducting operations to touchdown and rollout would 
be required to meet additional airworthiness requirements. This rule 
would also revise pilot compartment view certification requirements for 
all vision systems. Given the technical complexity of the NPRM, 
Dassault-Aviation has requested that the FAA extend the comment period 
to October 15, 2013 to allow time to adequately analyze the NPRM and 
provide meaningful comments.

DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published on June 11, 2013, was 
scheduled to close on September 9, 2013, and is extended until October 
15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by docket number FAA-2013-
0485 using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     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.
     Hand Delivery or 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.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    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 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: Ida Klepper, ARM-100, Office of 
Rulemaking, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20591,

[[Page 54791]]

telephone (202) 267-9688; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  See the ``Additional Information'' section 
for information on how to comment on this proposal and how the FAA will 
handle comments received. The ``Additional Information'' section also 
contains related information about the docket. In addition, there is 
information on obtaining copies of related rulemaking documents.

Background

    On June 11, 2013, the FAA issued Notice No. 1209, entitled 
``Revisions to Operational Requirements for the Use of Enhanced Flight 
Vision Systems (EFVS) and to Pilot Compartment View Requirements for 
Vision Systems'' (78 FR 34935). Comments to that document were to be 
received on or before September 9, 2013.
    Dassault-Aviation submitted an electronic request for an extension 
of the comment period from September 9, 2013 to October 15, 2013. The 
petitioner requested this extension to allow adequate time to evaluate 
and prepare comments for the NPRM and two draft Advisory Circulars 
(ACs) which are directly related to the NPRM. On August 13, 2013, the 
FAA published a Notice of Availability (78 FR 49318) making draft AC 
90-106A, Enhanced Flight Vision Systems, and draft AC 20-167A, 
Airworthiness Approval of Enhanced Vision System, Synthetic Vision 
System, Combined Vision System, and Enhanced Flight Vision System 
Equipment, available for public comment. The comment period for both 
ACs closes on October 15, 2013. The petitioner asserted that comments 
to the NPRM should be linked with comments to both draft ACs, and that 
the comment period for the NPRM should therefore be extended to October 
15, 2013 to match the comment period closing date for the draft ACs. 
The petitioner further asserted that doing so would provide them with 
adequate additional time to evaluate and provide comments for all three 
documents. The FAA agrees with the petitioner's position and is 
granting an extension of the comment period to October 15, 2013.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec.  11.47(c) of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petition made by Dassault-
Aviation for extension of the comment period to the NPRM. This 
petitioner has shown a substantive interest in the proposed rule and 
good cause for the extension. The FAA has determined that extension of 
the comment period is consistent with the public interest, and that 
good cause exists for taking this action.
    Accordingly, the comment period for the NPRM Notice No. 1209 is 
extended until October 15, 2013.

Additional Information

A. Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. The agency 
also invites comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, 
or federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in 
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion 
of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain 
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written 
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should 
submit only one time.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The agency may change this proposal in 
light of the comments it receives.

B. Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of rulemaking documents may be obtained from the 
Internet by--
    1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov);
    2. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies Web page at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies or
    3. Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/.
    Copies may also be obtained by sending a request to the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9680. 
Commenters must identify the docket or notice number of this 
rulemaking.
    All documents the FAA considered in developing this proposed rule, 
including economic analyses and technical reports, may be accessed from 
the Internet through the Federal eRulemaking Portal referenced in item 
(1) above.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2013.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2013-21698 Filed 9-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P