[Federal Register: September 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 175)]
[Notices]
[Page 53424-53426]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10se03-123]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; General Aviation
Certification and Operations Issues
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; assignment of new tasks to the Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (ARAC) and withdrawal of prior tasks.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the withdrawal of four prior ARAC tasks,
and describes two new tasks assigned to and accepted by the ARAC. This
notice informs the public of the ARAC activities and invites public
participation in the ARAC working groups.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Showers, Manager, Standards
Office, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, (816) 329-4110,
david.r.showers@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA set up the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to
give recommendations to the FAA Administrator on aviation-related
rulemakings. The Secretary of Transportation determined the formation
and use of the ARAC are necessary and in the public interest in
performing duties imposed on the FAA by law.
In 1992, the JAA and the FAA committed to harmonizing, where proper
and to the maximum extent possible, the FAR (Federal Aviation
Regulations) and JAR (Joint Aviation Requirements) rules and associated
materials. However, since the new ARAC tasks will not result in a
change to the FAR (i.e., 14 CFR part 23) or the associated guidance
material, formal harmonization with the JAR is not planned. The FAA
will share the ARAC's recommendations and the FAA's actions on them
with the JAA. Although the FAA is not currently planning rulemaking
action as a result of these tasks, if such action is proper in the
future, harmonization with the JAR will be undertaken.
New Tasks
The FAA assigned and the ARAC accepted the two tasks described in
this section. Each task is to be done in two phases.
Task I: Develop safety standards suitable for all jet and high-
performance airplanes up to 19,000 pounds, including those in the
commuter category.
This task is intended to create safety standards that would be
available to address future part 23 jets and high-performance airplane
configurations. It would provide industry with a better understanding
of potential requirements before committing to a project involving
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these airplanes. The safety standards would include performance,
systems, occupant protection, and other issues for jets and high-
performance part 23 airplanes.
Task I: Phase 1
1.Define ``high performance'' as it relates to high-performance
airplanes; and
2. Review 14 CFR part 23 as a benchmark and identify safety
concerns that are not currently addressed for jet and high-performance
part 23 airplanes. Give particular attention to commuter and other part
23 airplanes used in part 135 service.
3. As part of the evaluations, consider the following:
[sbull] Systems issues such as stick pushers and integrated flight
controls
[sbull] Structures issues such as mach effects (compressibility)
and bird strike
[sbull] Powerplant location issues
[sbull] Aircraft performance issues such as accelerate-stop
distance, single-engine climb, mach buffet, stall speed
[sbull] Cabin safety issues, including Occupant Protection for
Commuter Category Airplane Crashworthiness (Dynamic Seats),
Fireblocking Provisions, Thermal/Acoustic Insulation
[sbull] Cockpit display issues (multifunction displays, primary
flight displays)
Schedule Task I: Phase 1
The ARAC should complete phase 1 of task I and forward their
recommendations to the FAA by March 10, 2004.
Task I: Phase 2
1. Recommend safety standards to address the safety concerns
identified in phase 1 of task I, unless the project is withdrawn or
changed by the FAA.
Schedule Task I: Phase 2
The ARAC should complete this task and forward their
recommendations to the FAA by September 12, 2005.
Task II: Develop safety standards suitable for emerging propulsion-
type technologies related to installing reciprocating engines in part
23 airplanes.
Task II would create safety standards that would be available to
address installing equipment associated with known emerging propulsion-
type technologies on part 23 airplanes. These standards would address
technologies such as diesel engines, electronic engine and propeller
controls, electronic engine displays, and so forth. They would give
industry information on the possible safety requirements in these areas
before they committed resources to a related project.
Task II: Phase 1
1. Review 14 CFR part 23 as a benchmark and identify safety
concerns that are not currently addressed for emerging propulsion-type
technologies related to the installation of reciprocating engines in
part 23 airplanes.
2. As part of the evaluations, consider the following:
[sbull] Single lever power control (SLP)
[sbull] Electronic engine control (EEC) and propeller controls
[sbull] Fuel quantity calibration and low-fuel warning systems
[sbull] Diesel engine installations, which include consideration of
the way fuels are addressed in part 23
[sbull] Electronic engine displays
[sbull] Other technologies the Committee finds suitable
Schedule for Task II: Phase 1
The ARAC should complete phase 1 of task II and forward their
recommendations to the FAA by March 10, 2004.
Task II: Phase 2
1. Recommend safety standards to address the safety concerns
identified in phase 1 of task II, unless the project is withdrawn or
changed by the FAA.
Schedule for Task II: Phase 2
The ARAC should complete phase 2 of task II and forward their
recommendations to the FAA by September 12, 2005.
ARAC Acceptance of Tasks
The ARAC accepted the tasks and has agreed to the schedules for
completing the tasks. The Committee will assign the tasks to the newly
formed working groups under General Aviation Certification and
Operations Issues.
Working Group Activity
The working group will serve as staff to ARAC and help in the
analysis of the assigned tasks. ARAC must review and approve the
working groups' recommendations. If ARAC accepts the working groups'
recommendations, they will forward them to the FAA as ARAC
recommendations.
The Part 23 Jet and High-Performance Airplane Safety Standards
Working Group and the Part 23 Emerging Propulsion-type Technologies
Working Group are expected to comply with the procedures adopted by
ARAC. As part of the procedures, the working groups are expected to:
1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including the
rationale supporting such a plan for consideration at the next meeting
of the ARAC on General Aviation Certification and Operations issues
held following publication of this notice.
2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed
recommendations before proceeding with the work stated in item 3 below.
3. Draft the appropriate documents, required analyses, and any
other related materials or documents.
4. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ARAC held to
consider general aviation certification and operations issues.
Participation in the Working Group
Each working group will be composed of technical experts with an
interest in the assigned task. Working group participants should be
prepared to devote a significant portion of their time and resources to
the ARAC task. A working group member need not be a representative or a
member of the ARAC. Individuals who want to become a member of one of
the working groups should contact the person listed under the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. They should
describe their interest in the task, and state the expertise they would
bring to the working group. All requests to take part in these tasks
must be received by October 10, 2003. The co-assistant chairs, the co-
assistant executive directors, and the working group chair will review
all requests and advise which requests they can grant.
Individuals chosen for membership in a working group are expected
to represent their part of the aviation community and actively
participate in the working group (e.g., attend all meetings, provide
written comments when requested, etc.). In addition, they 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.
Once the working group has begun deliberations, members will not be
added or substituted without the approval of the co-assistant chair,
the co-assistant executive director, and the working group chair.
Meetings of the ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the
working groups will not be open to the public, except those individuals
selected as working group members. The FAA will make no public
announcement of working group meetings.
Withdrawn Tasks
This notice also announces the withdrawal of four prior tasks
assigned to the ARAC. Two of these tasks were
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published on March 21, 2001 (66 FR 14427; 66 FR 14428), one on June 6,
2001 (66 FR 30500), and one on August 22, 2001 (66 FR 44201).
A description of the withdrawn tasks follows.
Occupant Protection and Safety Standards
The FAA tasked the ARAC to review occupant protection standards to
address criteria for improved occupant protection commonly used on part
23 airplanes, and develop requirements to improve the safety of part 23
airplanes. The ARAC's recommendations were to include an assessment
of--
1. Flammability Standards for Seat Fireblocking Provisions;
2. Standardization of Emergency Landing Dynamic Conditions;
3. Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Flammability;
4. Airworthiness Certification of Airplanes Used in Cargo/Passenger
Combination Operations;
5. Emergency Exit Markings;
6. Emergency Exit Access; and
7. Electric Cables and Equipment.
To consolidate FAA and industry resources, the FAA withdraws this
task and includes it in new Task I described in this notice. Although
the entire withdrawn task is not included in the new task, the FAA has
determined that the intended results from the withdrawn task will be
accomplished with new Task I.
Propulsion Certification Requirements
The FAA tasked ARAC to review part 23 standards to evaluate
criteria for propulsion technologies used on part 23 airplanes and
requirements that would improve the safety of part 23 airplanes. The
ARAC recommendations were to include an evaluation of--
1. Turbofan/jet installations;
2. Single level power controls;
3. Electronic engine controls;
4. Fuel quantity calibration and low fuel warning for reciprocating
engines;
5. New technology reciprocating engines (for example, diesel
engines);
6. New technology powerplant displays; and
7. Various miscellaneous updates to part 23 powerplant
requirements.
To consolidate FAA and industry resources, the FAA withdraws this
task and incorporates it in new Task II described in this notice.
Static Directional and Lateral Stability
The FAA tasked the ARAC to review Sec. 23.177 and JAR 23 and make
recommendations on harmonized changes to Sec. 23.177 for demonstrating
positive dihedral effect in all landing gear and flap positions that
would improve the safety of part 23 airplanes. The ARAC's
recommendations were to include a draft notice of proposed rulemaking
with preamble language, rule language, and any supporting legal
analysis.
Miscellaneous Systems Standards
The FAA tasked the ARAC with evaluating the requirements for
systems in the following CFR sections and make recommendations to
address systems safety that would improve the safety of part 23
airplanes:
1. Revise Sec. 23.735 to clarify the requirement for operation of
brakes after a single failure in the braking system in commuter
category airplanes.
2. Revise Sec. 23.1301 by deleting paragraph (d); revise Sec.
23.1309 to include warning requirements, probability values, and
failure conditions applicable to powerplant systems; make warning
requirements compatible with other regulations; delete paragraphs (c)
and (d).
3. Add a new Sec. 23.1310, Power Source Capacity and Distribution,
from existing paragraphs 23.1309(c) and (d).
4. Revise Sec. 23.1311 to address redundancy requirements for
primary flight instruments; define ``indicator,'' the sensory cue
requirements in paragraph (a)(6); delete the redundancy requirement in
paragraph (b).
5. Review and revise Sec. Sec. 23.1326(b)(1) and 23.1322 to
require the amber light to be illuminated when the pitot tube heater is
``off.''
6. Review and revise Sec. 23.1311 to call out required flight
instruments as indicated in Sec. Sec. 23.1303 and 91.205.
The FAA withdraws these tasks to free-up resources that will allow
the FAA and industry to focus on other priorities. Withdrawal of these
tasks does not prohibit the FAA from issuing future notices on these
subject matters or committing the agency to a future course of action.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 5, 2003.
Tony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 03-23022 Filed 9-9-03; 8:45 am]
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