[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81512-81514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32658]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-1204; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-147-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Various Aviation Communication &
Surveillance Systems (ACSS) Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance
System (TCAS) Units
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
various aircraft equipped with certain ACSS TCAS units. This proposed
AD would require upgrading software. This proposed AD results from
reports of anomalies with TCAS units during a flight test over a high
density airport. The TCAS units dropped several reduced surveillance
aircraft tracks because of interference limiting. We are proposing this
AD to prevent TCAS units from dropping tracks, which could compromise
separation of air traffic and lead to subsequent mid-air collisions.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 11,
2011.
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 proposed AD, contact
Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems, LLC, 19810 North 7th
Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85027-4741; telephone (623) 445-7040; fax
(623) 445-7004; e-mail 3com.com">acss.orderadmin@L-3com.com; Internet http://www.acss.com. You may review copies of the referenced service
information at
[[Page 81513]]
the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind, Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
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: Abby Malmir, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5351; fax (562) 627-5210.
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-2010-1204;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-147-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
We have received reports of anomalies with the Aviation
Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) Traffic Alert and Collision
Avoidance System (TCAS) units during a flight test over a high density
airport. The TCAS units dropped several reduced surveillance aircraft
tracks because of interference limiting. When the TCAS unit
interrogated aircraft in a high density airport area, some of the
targets disappeared from the cockpit display or were not recognized.
One occurrence of dropped tracks occurred for 30 to 40 seconds of a 90-
minute flight segment. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to
possible loss of separation of air traffic and possible mid-air
collision.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed the ACSS service information specified in the
following table. The service information describes procedures for
upgrading software for the ACSS TCAS to improve tracking of nearby
Mode-S intruders in high density environments.
Relevant Service Information
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ACSS Publication
ATA Service Bulletin No. No. Date
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4066010-34-6036.................. 8008230-001 May 25, 2010.
7517900-34-6040.................. 8008229-001 May 12, 2010.
7517900-34-6041.................. 8008231-001 May 24, 2010.
7517900-34-6042.................. 8008236-001 May 27, 2010.
9000000-34-6016.................. 8008233-001 June 4, 2010.
9000000-34-6017.................. 8008234-001 June 4, 2010.
9000000-34-6018.................. 8008238-001 June 4, 2010.
9003000-34-6006.................. 8008235-001 June 4, 2010.
9003500-34-6014.................. 8008221-001 May 27, 2010.
9003500-34-6015.................. 8008222-001 May 27, 2010.
9003500-34-6016.................. 8008223-001 May 27, 2010.
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FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type
designs. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in the service information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 9,000 airplanes of
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours
per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is
$85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost up to $2,870 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD to the
U.S. operators to be up to $27,360,000, or up to $3,040 per product.
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 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 this proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866,
[[Page 81514]]
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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems, LLC: Docket No. FAA-
2010-1204; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-147-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by February 11, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Aviation Communication & Surveillance
Systems (ACSS) Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
units with the part numbers (P/Ns) specified in the ACSS service
bulletins identified in Table 1 of this AD, as installed on, but not
limited to, various transport and small airplanes, certificated in
any category.
Table 1--Applicable Service Bulletins
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ACSS
ATA Service Bulletin No. Publication No. Date
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4066010-34-6036.................. 8008230-001 May 25, 2010.
7517900-34-6040.................. 8008229-001 May 12, 2010.
7517900-34-6041.................. 8008231-001 May 24, 2010.
7517900-34-6042.................. 8008236-001 May 27, 2010.
9000000-34-6016.................. 8008233-001 June 4, 2010.
9000000-34-6017.................. 8008234-001 June 4, 2010.
9000000-34-6018.................. 8008238-001 June 4, 2010.
9003000-34-6006.................. 8008235-001 June 4, 2010.
9003500-34-6014.................. 8008221-001 May 27, 2010.
9003500-34-6015.................. 8008222-001 May 27, 2010.
9003500-34-6016.................. 8008223-001 May 27, 2010.
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Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34:
Navigation.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from reports of anomalies with TCAS units
during a flight test over a high density airport. The TCAS units
dropped several reduced surveillance aircraft tracks because of
interference limiting. The Federal Aviation Administration is
issuing this AD to prevent TCAS units from dropping tracks, which
could compromise separation of air traffic and lead to subsequent
mid-air collisions.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Upgrade Software
(g) Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD,
upgrade software for the ACSS TCAS, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable ACSS service bulletin
identified in Table 1 of this AD.
Note 1: ACSS Publication Number 8008233-001, dated June 4, 2010,
ATA Service Bulletin 9000000-34-6016, contains three part numbers
(P/Ns 9000000-10007, -20007, and -55007) which were never produced.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send
information to Attn: Abby Malmir, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and
Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount
Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-
5351; fax (562) 627-5210.
(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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 13, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-32658 Filed 12-27-10; 8:45 am]
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