[Federal Register: December 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 244)]
[Notices]
[Page 76422-76423]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20de06-155]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and
Engine Issue Area--New Task
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of a new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (ARAC).
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SUMMARY: Notice is given of a new task assignment for the Aviation
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice is to inform the
public of this ARAC activity and solicit membership to a new Propeller
Harmonization Working Group to support ARAC in developing advice and
recommendations on this new task.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Turnberg, Rulemaking and Policy
Branch, Engine and Propeller Directorate, ANE-110, Federal Aviation
Administration, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington,
Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-7116; facsimile (781) 238-
7199; e-mail jay.turnberg@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 22, 1991 (56 FR 2190), the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) established the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory
Committee (ARAC) to provide advice and recommendations to the FAA
Administrator on the FAA's rulemaking activities for aviation-related
issues. This includes obtaining advice and recommendations on the FAA's
commitments to harmonize Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(14 CFR) with its partners in Europe, Canada, and Brazil.
In order to develop such advice and recommendations, the ARAC may
choose to establish a working group to which a specific task is
assigned. The working group would be comprised of experts from those
organizations having an interest in the assigned task. A working group
member need not be a representative of the full committee. For this
task, ARAC has chosen to establish a new Propeller Harmonization
Working Group.
In 1999, the Propeller Harmonization Working Group (PHWG) reached
consensus on a harmonized version of part 35 and JAR-P, with a few
exceptions, and submitted those proposed requirements to the ARAC. The
PHWG has been inactive for a number of years. Because ARAC was unable
to reach consensus on a propeller critical parts requirement, the FAA
decided to table the issue for re-evaluation at a future date.
Subsequently, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published CS-P
160 Propeller Critical Parts Integrity rule. The FAA does not have a
similar requirement; however, we believe a requirement for propeller
critical parts warrants consideration for inclusion in 14 CFR part 35.
We have asked ARAC to address this new task as part of the Transport
Airplane and Engine (TAE) Issues. ARAC has decided to establish a new
Propeller Harmonization Working Group to support this activity.
The Task
The ARAC has accepted the task to provide information about
specific propeller critical parts integrity requirements for part 35,
and make recommendations for revising part 35 and guidance material, as
appropriate. The Propeller Harmonization Working Group (PHWG) will--
1. Review the background and intent of relevant existing
requirements, existing guidance material, related ARAC recommendations
on part 35, and the current EASA requirements for propeller critical
parts integrity.
2. Develop a report containing recommendations for rulemaking or
guidance material, or both, and explain the rationale and safety
benefits for each proposed change. The report will define a
standardized approach for applying specific propeller critical parts
integrity in the appropriate circumstances. The FAA will define the
report format to ensure the report contains the necessary information
for developing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), Advisory
Circular (AC), or both.
3. Make recommendations to ARAC for acceptance and submission to
the FAA.
If a NPRM or proposed AC is published for public comment as a
result of the recommendations from this tasking, the FAA may ask ARAC
to review the comments received and provide a recommendation for
disposition of comments for each issue.
ARAC Acceptance of Task
ARAC accepted the task and will establish a new Propeller
Harmonization Working Group to serve as staff to the ARAC and assist in
the analysis of the task. ARAC must review and approve the working
group's recommendations. If ARAC accepts the working group's
recommendations, it will forward them to the FAA. The FAA will submit
the recommendations it receives to the agency's Rulemaking Management
Council to address the availability of resources and prioritization.
Working Group Activity
The PHWG must comply with the procedures adopted by ARAC. As part
of the procedures, the working group must:
1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including the
rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration at the next meeting
of ARAC on Transport Airplane and Engine Issues held following
publication of this notice.
2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation on the proposed
recommendation(s), before continuing with the work stated in item 3
below.
3. If proposed rule changes are recommended, provide supporting
economic and other required analyses. If new or revised requirements or
compliance methods are not recommended, provide a draft report stating
the rationale for not making such recommendations; and
4. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ARAC held to
consider propeller critical parts integrity issues.
Participation in the Working Group
The PHWG will be comprised of technical experts having an interest
in the assigned task. A working group member does not need to be a
representative or member of ARAC. The PHWG membership will have broad
propeller critical parts integrity experience. As needed, the PHWG may
organize, oversee, guide, and monitor the activities and progress of
task groups comprised of subject matter experts (SMEs).
If you have expertise in the subject matter and wish to become a
member of the working group, contact the person listed under the
caption FOR FURTHER
[[Page 76423]]
INFORMATION CONTACT. Describe your interest in the task and state the
expertise you would bring to the working group. We must receive all
requests by January 24, 2007. The assistant chair, the assistant
executive director, and the FAA representative will review the requests
and notify you if your request is approved.
If you are chosen for membership on the working group, you must
represent your aviation community segment and actively participate in
the working group by attending all meetings and provide written
comments when requested to do so. You must devote the resources
necessary to support the working group in meeting any assigned
deadlines. You must keep your management chain and those you may
represent advised of working group activities and decisions to ensure
the proposed technical solutions don't conflict with your sponsoring
organization's position when the subject being negotiated is presented
to ARAC for approval. Once the working group has begun deliberations,
members will not be added or substituted without the approval of the
assistant chair, the assistant executive director, and the working
group chair.
The Secretary of Transportation determined that the formation and
use of the ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
Meetings of the ARAC are open to the public. Meetings of the PHWG
will not be open to the public, except to the extent individuals with
an interest and expertise are selected to participate. The FAA will
make no public announcement of working group meetings.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 13, 2006.
Pamela Hamilton-Powell,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. E6-21651 Filed 12-19-06; 8:45 am]
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