[Federal Register: December 3, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 232)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 71908-71909]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03de02-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 121
[Docket No. FAA-2002-13464; Notice No. 02-17]
RIN 2120-AC84
Improved Seats in Air Carrier Transport Category Airplanes;
Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM); extension
of comment period.
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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an SNPRM the FAA
issued on September 26, 2002. In that document, the FAA proposed to
require that all passenger and flight attendant seats in transport
category airplanes used in passenger-carrying operations meet improved
crashworthiness standards. This extension is a result of requests from
the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), The Boeing Company
(Boeing), and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
DATES: Send your comments on or before March 3, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Address your comments to the Docket Management System, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket number FAA-
2002-13464 at the beginning of your comments, and you should send two
copies of your comments. If you wish to receive confirmation that FAA
received your comments, include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.
You may also send comments through the Internet to http://dms.dot.gov.
You may review the public docket containing comments to
these proposed regulations in person in the Dockets Office between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The
Dockets Office is on the plaza level of the NASSIF Building at the
Department of Transportation at the above address. Also, you may review
public dockets on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal Jensen, Aircraft Certification
Service, Aircraft Engineering Division, AIR-120, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591;
telephone: (202) 267-8807, facsimile (202) 267-5340, or E-mail:
hal.jensen@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also
invite comments about 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. We ask that you send us two copies of written
comments.
We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
about this proposed rulemaking. The docket is available for public
inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to
review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section
of this preamble between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using the
Internet at the web address in the ADDRESSES section.
Before acting on this proposal, we will consider all comments we
receive on or before the closing date for comments. We will consider
comments filed late if it is possible to do so without incurring
expense or delay. We may change this proposal because of the comments
we receive.
If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this
proposal, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard
on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the
postcard and mail it to you.
Background
On September 26, 2002, the FAA issued Notice No. 02-17, Improved
Seats in Air Carrier Transport Category Airplanes (67 FR 62294, October
4, 2002). Comments to that document were to be received on or before
December 3, 2002.
On October 29, 2002, Boeing asked the FAA to extend the comment
period on Notice No. 02-17 an additional 4 months. In its petition,
Boeing indicates that additional time is necessary to collect and
confirm economic data. Boeing adds the SNPRM is significantly different
from the FAA's original proposal. On November 5, 2002, AIA asked for a
4-6 month extension of the comment period for the same reasons
identified by Boeing. Further, on November 6, 2002, GAMA asked for a
90-day extension. GAMA states the proposal is complex and an extension
is
[[Page 71909]]
necessary to allow interested parties time to develop meaningful and
substantive comments.
While the FAA agrees with the petitioners' requests for an
extension of the comment period on Notice No. 02-17, the FAA believes
that a 4-6 month extension would be excessive. The FAA believes an
added 90 days would be adequate for these petitioners to collect
economic data necessary to provide meaningful comment to Notice No. 02-
17. This will also allow commenters who may have anticipated an
extension in the comment period to send their comments by a date
certain. Absent unusual circumstances, the FAA does not anticipate any
further extension of the comment period for this rulemaking.
Extension of Comment Period
In accordance with Sec. 11.47(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions made by AIA, Boeing,
and GAMA for extension of the comment period to Notice No. 02-17. The
FAA finds that extension of the comment period is consistent with the
public interest, and that good cause exists for taking this action.
These petitioners have a substantive interest in the proposed rule and
good cause for the extension.
Accordingly, the comment period to Notice No. 02-17 is extended
until March 3, 2003.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 27, 2002.
John J. Hickey,
Director, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-30695 Filed 11-29-02; 12:22 pm]
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