[Federal Register: November 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 228)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 67263-67264]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28no07-15]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 67263]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0254; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-209-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Boeing Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD would require
installing software upgrades to the airplane information management
system (AIMS) located in the flight compartment. This proposed AD
results from an investigation that revealed that detrimental effects
could occur on certain AIMS software during flight. We are proposing
this AD to prevent an unannunciated loss of cabin pressure. If an
undetected loss of pressure event were to cause an unsafe pressure in
the cabin, the flight crew could become incapacitated.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 14,
2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Yi, Aerospace Engineer, Systems
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 917-6494; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0254;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-209-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
An investigation of a service problem revealed that detrimental
effects could occur during flight on certain Boeing Model 777 airplanes
with certain airplane information management system (AIMS) software.
The following airplane effects could potentially occur: A false measure
of cabin pressure by the left air supply and cabin pressure controller
(ASCPC) could result in an unannunciated loss of cabin pressure. If an
undetected loss of pressure event were to cause an unsafe pressure in
the cabin, the flightcrew could become incapacitated.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119,
Revision 1, dated March 27, 2007; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-31A0120, Revision 1, dated March 23, 2007. Service Bulletin 777-
31A0119 describes procedures for installing the AIMS-1 Blockpoint 2006
(BP06) operational software in the AIMS-1 hardware. Service Bulletin
777-31A0120 describes procedures for installing the AIMS-2 BP06
operational software in the AIMS-2 hardware.
Concurrent Service Bulletins
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119 recommends prior or
concurrent accomplishment of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
777-31-0098, Revision 1, dated May 3, 2007. That service bulletin
describes procedures for installing the AIMS-1 Blockpoint 2005A (BP05A)
operational software. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0120
recommends prior or concurrent accomplishment of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-0097, Revision 3, dated February 22,
2007. That service bulletin describes procedures for installing the
AIMS-2 BP05A operational software.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes
of this same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD,
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 142 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 2 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take between 1 and 4 work
hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour.
Based
[[Page 67264]]
on these figures, the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S.
operators is between $160 and $640, or between $80 and $320 per
airplane.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2007-0254; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
209-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January
14, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, -
300ER series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified
in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119, Revision 1, dated
March 27, 2007; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0120,
Revision 1, dated March 23, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from an investigation that revealed that
detrimental effects could occur on certain airplane information
management system (AIMS) software during flight. We are issuing this
AD to prevent an unannunciated loss of cabin pressure. If an
undetected loss of pressure event were to cause an unsafe pressure
in the cabin, the flight crew could become incapacitated.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Software Installation
(f) Within 15 months after the effective date of this AD, do the
actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD, as
applicable.
(1) Install the AIMS Blockpoint 2006 (BP06) operational software
by doing all the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119, Revision
1, dated March 27, 2007; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
31A0120, Revision 1, dated March 23, 2007; as applicable.
(2) Prior to or concurrently with accomplishing the software
installation, install the AIMS Blockpoint 2005A (BP05A) software in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-0098, Revision 1, dated May 3,
2007; or Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-0097,
Revision 3, dated February 22, 2007; as applicable.
Credit for Actions Done Using Previous Service Information
(g) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0119, or Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 777-31A0120, both dated October 16, 2006, are
considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions
specified in this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 20, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23117 Filed 11-27-07; 8:45 am]
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