[Federal Register: October 20, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 202)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56059]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20oc98-132]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 
Proposed Advisory Circular 25.803-1A, Emergency Evacuation 
Demonstrations

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 
25.803-1A and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on a proposed advisory circular (AC) which provides guidance 
on a means, but not the only means, of compliance with the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (FAR) concerning (1) conduct of full-scale 
emergency evacuation demonstrations, and (2) use of analysis and tests 
in lieu of conducting an actual demonstration. This notice is necessary 
to give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on 
the proposed AC.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on proposed AC to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Attention: Frank Tiangsing, Propulsion, Mechanical 
Systems and Crashworthiness Branch, ANM-112, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, 
Renton, WA 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at the above address 
between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katherine Burks, Transport Standards Staff, at the address above, 
telephone (206) 227-2114.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    A copy of the draft AC may be obtained by contacting the person 
named above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Interested persons 
are invited to comment on the proposed AC by submitting such written 
data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Commenters should 
identify AC 25.803-1A and submit comments, in duplicate, to the address 
specified above. All communications received on or before the closing 
date for comments will be considered by the Transport Standards Staff 
before issuing the final AC.

Discussion

    Section 25.803(c) requires that for airplanes with a passenger 
seating capacity of more than 44 passengers, it must be shown that the 
passengers and required crewmembers can be evacuated to the ground in 
90 seconds under simulated emergency conditions. Compliance can be 
shown by conducting a full-scale emergency evacuation demonstration 
under the test conditions specified in Appendix J of part 25 or a 
combination of analysis and testing found acceptable by the FAA. 
Advisory Circular 25.803-1, issued on November 13, 1989, provided 
guidance on how to conduct a full-scale emergency evacuation 
demonstration and the use of analysis and testing in lieu of conducting 
a full-scale demonstration. This proposed revision to the AC provides 
additional guidance on how to conduct a full-scale demonstration, 
including information on the test start signal, briefing of test 
participants, obtaining informed consent, and flight attendant 
training. In addition, the proposed revision expands the discussion on 
the determination on whether a combination of analysis and testing may 
be used in lieu of the full-scale demonstration, including the types of 
testing which may be necessary to support an analysis. Finally, 
additional guidance is provided on what and how information and test 
data should be provided in an analysis.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 8, 1998.
John J. Hickey,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, ANM-100.
[FR Doc. 98-28040 Filed 10-19-98; 8:45 am]
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