[Federal Register: October 27, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 207)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 61161-61162]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc03-22]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. FAA-2003-14594]
14 CFR Part 121
Operating Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental
Operations; Petition for Rulemaking
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of a petition for rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This document contains a summary of a petition for rulemaking
from the Air Transport Association of America, Inc. to change certain
specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this document is to
improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of
FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this document nor
the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to
affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.
Although 14 CFR part 11 does not require the publication of a summary
for a petition to amend a regulation, we have determined that the
public should be afforded the opportunity to comment on this issue.
DATES: Comments on the petition received must identify the petition
docket number involved and must be received on or before December 26,
2003.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to DMS Docket Number FAA-2003-14594
by any of the following methods:
[sbull] Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
[sbull] Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
[sbull] Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-001.
[sbull] Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif
Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 am and 5
pm, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
[sbull] Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-
401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC, between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except
Federal Holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Buchanan-Sumter (202) 267-7271,
Office of Rulemaking (ARM-1), Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.
Petition
Docket No.: FAA-2003-14594.
Petitioner: Air Transport Association of America, Inc.
Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.391(a) and 121.393(b)
Description of Change Sought: The proposed amendment would permit a
flight attendant to communicate with company or airport personnel via
the jet bridge telephone located adjacent to the aircraft door while
passengers are boarding, deplaning, or are on board, in order to
perform safety, security, and/or passenger service duties. The
amendment would reduce the number of required flight attendants onboard
the aircraft while the aircraft is on the ground and stationary.
Section 121.391 states:
(a) Each certificate holder shall provide at least the following
flight attendants on each passenger-carrying airplane used:
(1) For airplaines having a maximum payload capacity of more than
7,500 pounds and having a seating capacity of more than 9 but less than
51 passengers--one flight attendant.
(2) For airplanes having a maximum payload capacity of 7,500 pounds
or less and having a seating capacity of more than 19 but less than 51
passengers--one flight attendant.
(3) For airplanes having a seating capacity of more than 50 but
less than 101 passengers--two flight attendants.
(4) For airplanes having a seating capacity of more than 100
passengers--two flight attendants plus one additional flight attendant
for each unit (or part of a unit) of 50 passenger seats above a seating
capacity of 100 passengers
Section 121.393 states:
(b) On each airplane for which flight attendants are required by
Sec. 121.391(a), but the number of flight attendants remaining on
board is fewer than required by Sec. 121.391(a), the certificate
holder must meet the following requirements:
(1) The certificate holder shall ensure that:
(i) The airplane engines are shut down;
[[Page 61162]]
(ii) At least one floor level exit remains open to provide for the
deplaning of passengers; and
(iii) The number of flight attendants on board is at least half the
number required by Sec. 121.391(a), rounded down to the next lower
number in the case of fractions, but never fewer than one.
(2) The certificate holder may substitute for the required flight
attendants other persons qualified in the emergency evacuation
procedures for that aircraft as required in Sec. 121.417, if these
persons are identified to the passengers.
(3) If only one flight attendant or other qualified person is on
board during a stop, that flight attendant or other qualified person
shall be located in accordance with the certificate holder's FAA-
approved operating procedures. If more than one flight attendant or
other qualified person is on board, the flight attendants or other
qualified persons shall be spaced throughout the cabin to provide the
most effective assistance for the evacuation in case of an emergency.
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting comments, data, or views. We specifically
invite comments relating to how a reduced number of flight attendants
onboard: (1) will provide adequate passenger supervision and safety
while the airplane is on the ground and stationary; and (2) Will allow
for the effective deplaning of passengers should an emergency situation
arise.
Before acting on this petition for rulemaking, 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.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 20, 2003.
James J. Ballough,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 03-27055 Filed 10-22-03; 5:01 pm]
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