[Federal Register: December 15, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 240)] [Notices] [Page 70104-70105] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15de99-112] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and Engine Issues--New Task AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of a new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is given of a new task assigned to and accepted by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice informs the public of the activities of ARAC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Larson, Transport Standards Staff, ANM-110, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., Renton, WA 98055-4056, telephone (425) 227-1760, fax (425) 227-1100. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The FAA has established an Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee to provide advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator, through the Associate Administrator for Regulation and Certification, on the full range of the FAA's rulemaking activities with respect to aviation- related issues. This includes obtaining advice and recommendations on the FAA's commitment to harmonize its Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and practices with the aviation authorities in Europe and Canada. One area ARAC deals with is transport airplane and engine issues. These issues involve the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes in 14 CFR parts 25, 33, and 35 and parallel provisions in 14 CFR parts 121 and 135. The corresponding European airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes are contained in Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR)-25, JAR-E and JAR-P, respectively. The corresponding Canadian Standards are contained in Chapters 525, 533, and 535, respectively. The Task This notice is to inform the public that the FAA has asked ARAC to provide advice and recommendation on the following harmonization task: Task 6: Aging Aircraft Program (Widespread Fatigue Damage) (WFD) The FAA requests that ARAC propose new operating rules (14 CFR parts 91, 121, 125, 129, and 135) that would ensure that no large transport category airplane (>75,000 lbs. Gross Take Off Weight) is operated beyond the flight cycle limits to be specified in the regulation, unless an ``Aging Aircraft Program'' has been incorporated into the operator's maintenance program. [[Page 70105]] The proposed rule and advisory material will establish: 1. The content of the Aging Aircraft Program (e.g., the necessary special inspections and modification actions for prevention of WFD), and 2. A limit of the ``validity'' (in terms of flight cycles or hours) of the Aging Aircraft Program where additional reviews are necessary for continued operation. Additionally, ARAC is asked to review 14 CFR 25.1529 and 14 CFR part 25, Appendix H, and recommend changes to establish: 1. The required content of an Aging Aircraft Program. 2. The criteria by which to determine the validity of the Aging Aircraft Program (in terms of flight cycles or flight hours). This would effectively prohibit the operation of airplanes beyond the limited validity of the maintenance program. In order to operate beyond the declared limit, further evaluation of the design must be accomplished and the additional inspections and/or modifications added to the Aging Aircraft Program as necessary. The FAA may ask ARAC to recommend disposition of any substantive comments the FAA receives in response to any of the notices of proposed rulemaking that result from ARAC's recommendations. The FAA expects ARAC to forward its recommendations to the FAA within 9 months after tasking. ARAC Acceptance of Task ARAC has accepted this task and has chosen to assign it to the existing Airworthiness Assurance Working Group. The working group serves as staff to ARAC to assist ARAC in the analysis of the assigned task. Working group recommendations must be reviewed and approved by ARAC. If ARAC accepts the working groups recommendations, it forwards them to the FAA as ARAC recommendations. Working Group Activity The 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 ARAC to consider transport airplane and engine issue held following publication of this notice. 2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed recommendations, prior to proceeding with its work. 3. Draft appropriate regulatory documents with supporting economic and other required analyses, and any other related guidance material or collateral documents to support its recommendations. 4. Provide a status report at each meeting of ARAC held to consider transport airplane and engine issues. The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the formation and use of ARAC are necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law. Meetings of ARAC will be open to the public, except as authorized by section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Meetings of the Airworthiness Assurance Working Group will not be open to the public, except to the extent that individuals with an interest and expertise are selected to participate. No public announcement of working group meetings will be made. Issued in Washington, DC, on December 9, 1999. Anthony F. Fazio, Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee. [FR Doc. 99-32462 Filed 12-14-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-M