[Federal Register: June 24, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 121)]
[Notices]
[Page 42701-42702]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24jn02-114]
[[Page 42701]]
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Part V
Department of Transportation
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Federal Aviation Administration
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Proposed Advisory Circular 43-L39, L-39 Albatross Military Jet
Recommended Inspection Program and Overhaul Times; Notice
[[Page 42702]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Proposed Advisory Circular 43-L39, L-39 Albatross Military Jet
Recommended Inspection Program and Overhaul Times
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed Advisory Circular and
request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests
comments on proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 43-L39, L-39 Albatross
Military Jet Recommended Inspection Program and Overhaul Times. The
proposed AC provides a recommended inspection program and overhaul
times L-39 Albatross aircraft issued experimental airworthiness
certificates for the purpose of exhibition. This AC provides a means,
but not the only means, of addressing the inspections and overhaul
times for the purpose of complying with continued airworthiness
requirements specified in an aircraft's operating limitations. This
notice is necessary to give all interested persons the opportunity to
present their views on the proposed AC.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 23, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed AC to: Federal Aviation
Administration, Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Division
(Attention: AFS-305), 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20591, or electronically to william.obrien@faa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill O'Brien, AFS-305, at the address
above, by e-mail at william.obrien@faa.gov, or telephonically at (202)
267-3796.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The proposed AC is available on the FAA Web site at http://
www.faa.gov/avr/afs/acs/ac-idx.htm, under AC No. 43-L39. Interested
persons are invited to comment on the proposed AC by submitting such
written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Please identify
AC 43-L39, L-39 Albatross Military Jet Recommended Inspection Program
and Overhaul Times, and submit comments, either hard copy or
electronic, to the appropriate address listed above. Comments may be
inspected at the above address between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays,
except Federal holidays.
Background
The L-39 Albatross aircraft is an all metal, two place, tandem,
military jet training aircraft. Almost 3000 L-39 aircraft have been
manufactured in the Czech Republic by Aero Vodochody and the aircraft
currently constitutes the most numerous former military jet trainer
imported into the United States civilian aircraft market. There are
currently over 110 registered L-39 aircraft operating in the United
States. Additionally, almost 200 L-39 aircraft are undergoing repairs
and alterations in the United States in preparation for the issuance of
airworthiness certificates.
L-39 aircraft registered in the United States have been issued
experimental certificates for the purpose of exhibition. In conjunction
with the issuance of experimental certificates for the purpose of
exhibition, the Administrator issues operating limitations under Title
14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 91.319. These operating
limitations have required the aircraft to be inspected in accordance
with a specified program. Applicants for experimental exhibition
airworthiness certificates, however, have experienced difficulty in
developing or obtaining acceptable inspection programs for L-39
aircraft. This has resulted in a lack of standardization in the
inspection programs used to support these aircraft and has
significantly increased the time required for these aircraft to obtain
airworthiness certification. The FAA therefore has developed the
recommended aircraft inspection program specified in this proposed AC.
Making this program available to applicants should encourage
standardization in the scope and detail of inspection programs
referenced in operating limitations and facilitate the issuance of
airworthiness certificates to operate L-39 aircraft for the purpose of
exhibition.
The FAA recognizes that the manufacturer's inspection program did
not originally contemplate civilian operation of the aircraft for the
purpose of exhibition and therefore is specifically requesting comments
on the scope of the program for civilian application and that portion
of the program pertaining to ejection seat inspection. The FAA is
particularly interested in comments on how the manufacturer's engine
overhaul times can be extended and comments that include more detailed
procedures for performing L-39 ejection seat and canopy inspections.
Use of the recommended inspection program and compliance with
recommended overhaul times should provide a uniform level of safety for
operators of these aircraft while simultaneously streamlining the
process for airworthiness certification.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 13, 2002.
Louis C. Cusimano,
Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service, AFS-2.
[FR Doc. 02-15834 Filed 6-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M