[Federal Register: March 12, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 48)]
[Notices]
[Page 14427]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12mr01-146]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; General Aviation
Certification and Operations Issues--New Task
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (ARAC).
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SUMMARY: The FAA has assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory
Committee a new task to develop recommendations for improving occupant
protection standards. This notice is to inform the public of this ARAC
activity.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Taylor, 901 Locust, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106, (816) 329-4134, leslie.b.taylor@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA has established the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
to provide advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator on the
FAA's rulemaking activities with respect to aviation-related issues.
The Task
Review occupant protection standards and recommend rulemaking in
the form of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to address criteria
for improved occupant protection more commonly used on part 23
airplanes and requirements that would improve the safety of part 23
airplanes. The NPRM should include the preamble and rule language,
along with any supporting legal analysis.
The following are to be included in the ARAC evaluation:
Flammability Standards for Seat Fireblocking Provisions,
Standardization of Emergency Landing Dynamic Conditions,
Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Flammability,
Airworthiness Certification of Airplanes Used in Cargo/
Passenger Combination Operations,
Emergency Exit Markings,
Emergency Exit Access, and
Electric Cables and Equipment.
Schedule: ARAC should forward its recommendations to the FAA within
1 year of task assignment.
ARAC Acceptance of Tasks
ARAC accepted the task and assigned the task to the Flammability
Standards for Commuter Airplane Seats Working Group, General Aviation
Certification and Operations Issues. The working group will serve as
staff to ARAC and assist in the analysis of the assigned task. ARAC
must review and approve the working group's recommendations. If ARAC
accepts the working group's recommendations, it forwards them to the
FAA as ARAC recommendations. The agency seeks ARAC's advice and
recommendations on these important issues. Recommendations that are
received from ARAC will be submitted to the agency's Rulemaking
Management Council to address the availability of resources and
prioritization.
Working Group Activity
The Flammability Standards for Commuter Airplane Seats Working
Group is expected to comply with the procedures adopted by ARAC. As
part of the procedures, the working group is expected to:
1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including the
rationale supporting such a plan for consideration at the meeting of
the ARAC General Aviation Certification and Operations Issues held
following publication of this notice.
2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed
recommendations, prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3
below.
3. Draft the appropriate documents and required analyses and/or any
other related materials or documents.
4. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ARAC held to
consider ARAC General Aviation Certification and Operations Issues.
Participation in the Working Group
The Flammability Standards for Commuter Airplane Seats Working
Group is composed of technical experts having an interest in the
assigned task. A working group member need not be a representative or a
member of the full committee.
An individual who has expertise in the subject matter and wishes to
become a member of the working group should write to the person listed
under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that
desire, describing his or her interest in the task and stating the
expertise he or she would bring to the work group. All requests to
participate must be received by March 30, 2001. The requests will be
reviewed by the co-assistant chairs, the co-assistant executive
directors, and the working group chair. Individuals will be advised
whether or not their request can be accommodated.
Individuals chosen for membership on the working group are expected
to represent their aviation community segment and participate actively
in the working group (e.g., attend all meetings, provide written
comments when requested to do so, etc.). They also are expected to
devote the resources necessary to support the working group in meeting
any assigned deadlines. Members are expected to keep their management
chain and those they may represent advised of working group activities
and decisions to ensure that the proposed technical solutions do not
conflict with their sponsoring organization's position when the subject
being negotiated is presented to ARAC for approval.
Once the working group has begun deliberations, members will not be
added or substituted without the approval of the co-assistant chairs,
the co-assistant executive directors, and the working group chair.
The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the formation
and use of the ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in
connection with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
Meetings of the ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the
Flammability Standards for Commuter Airplane Seats Working Group will
not be open to the public, except to the extent that individuals with
the interest and expertise are selected to participate. The FAA will
make no public announcement of working group meetings.
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 1, 2001.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 01-6095 Filed 3-9-01; 8:45 am]
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