[Federal Register: June 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 111)]
[Notices]               
[Page 32393-32394]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jn04-111]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 
Proposed Revision to Advisory Circular 43.13-2A, ``Acceptable 
Methods, Techniques, and Practices--Aircraft Alterations''

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking advance 
comments on the agency's plan to update and revise Advisory Circular 
(AC) 43.13-2A, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices--Aircraft 
Alterations. The subject AC was last revised in 1977 and needs to be 
revised to reflect advances in aviation technology. The comments from 
the public will be used in developing an updated version of the AC.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 9, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Address your comments to William O'Brien, Aircraft 
Maintenance Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William O'Brien, Aircraft Maintenance 
Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3796, facsimile (202) 267-
5115, e-mail william.o'brien@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is 
seeking advance comments on the agency's plan to update and revise 
Advisory Circular (AC) 43.13-2A, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and 
Practices--Aircraft Alterations. This AC provides information to 
mechanics and repair stations on how to perform simple alterations to 
non-pressurized, certificated aircraft weighing less than 12,500 
pounds. The AC was last updated in 1977 and was published in the old 
U.S. Government Printing Office format with the uninterrupted running 
of page numbers that makes tracking changes and revisions to the AC 
difficult.
    The FAA plans to include a new policy that would allow mechanics 
and repair stations to use acceptable data as approved data for major 
alterations to certain non-pressurized aircraft. The new policy would 
apply to a landplane, seaplane, or floatplane, fixed gear aircraft of 
6,000 pounds or less maximum gross weight, of 4 seats or less, and with 
a reciprocating engine of 200 horsepower or less. This new policy would 
be similar to the policy on

[[Page 32394]]

acceptable data contained in AC 43.13-1B, Acceptable Methods, 
Techniques, and Practices--Aircraft Inspection and Repair. The intent 
of the new policy would be to reduce the need for field approvals for 
alterations to certain non-pressurized aircraft without reducing the 
level of safety. The new policy would reduce the workload on the Flight 
Standards Districts Office inspectors and reduce the waiting time for 
FAA approval.

Comments Invited

    The FAA is requesting comments on the proposed policy change and on 
other matters related to the subject AC. Comments, recommendations, new 
data, or corrections should indicate the appropriate AC chapter, page, 
and paragraph number when possible. Indicate on your comments that they 
are for Advisory Circular 43.13-2A, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and 
Practices--Aircraft Alterations.
    An electronic copy of the current AC 43.13-2A is available on the 
FAA's ``Regulatory Guidance Library'' Web site at http://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl
 or by contacting the individual under FOR 

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: Issued in Washington, DC on May 28, 2004.
John M. Allen,
Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 04-12987 Filed 6-8-04; 8:45 am]

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