[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 48142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15821]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 21 and 25

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1463]


Draft Notice Regarding Submittal and Disclosure of Safety 
Critical Information by Applicants for Transport Category Airplane Type 
Certificates

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This draft Notice, as part of the FAA's implementation of the 
Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, would provide 
additional guidance regarding the process for applying for a new or 
amended type certificate (TC) for a transport category airplane. This 
guidance would facilitate the provision of safety critical information 
about the applicant's proposed design to the FAA.

DATES: Comments on the draft Notice must be received on or before 
August 25, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments with the subject line, ``Submittal and 
Disclosure of Safety Critical Information by Applicants for Transport 
Category Airplane Type Certificates'' identified by docket number FAA-
2023-1463, using the following method:
     Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to https://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 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.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: In addition to the final Notice, the FAA will post all 
comments it receives, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov/, 
including any personal information the commenter provides. 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 https://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue McCormick, Product Policy 
Management: Systems Standards Section, AIR-63A, Organization and 
Systems Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service, by email at [email protected], or by phone 
at (206) 231-3242.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    Section 105(a) of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and 
Accountability Act, Public Law 116-260 (the Act), mandates that the 
Administrator require the submittal and disclosure of safety critical 
information by applicants for, or holders of, TCs for transport 
category airplanes covered under title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 
(14 CFR) part 25. As detailed in the draft Notice, the Act defines 
safety critical information.
    Applicants for transport airplane type certificates currently 
submit safety critical information with their initial certification 
plan, and throughout their project. However, it may not be clearly 
demarcated as safety critical. Therefore, as part of its interim 
implementation of Section 105(a), the FAA plans to issue a Notice to 
supplement its application processes to provide guidance for applicants 
to delineate safety critical information. A draft of the Notice may be 
examined in the docket and at https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites the public to submit comments on the draft Notice, 
as specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notification. Commenters 
should include the subject line, ``Submittal and Disclosure of Safety 
Critical Information by Applicants for Transport Category Airplane Type 
Certificates'' and the docket number on all comments submitted to the 
FAA. The most helpful comments will reference a specific 
recommendation, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting information. The FAA will consider all comments 
received on or before the closing date, before issuing the final 
Notice. The FAA will also consider late-filed comments if it is 
possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 21, 2023.
Brian Cable,
Manager, Organization and Systems Policy Branch, Policy and Standards 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-15821 Filed 7-25-23; 8:45 am]
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