[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 67503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32407]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[AC No. 20-XX FSCAP]
Proposed Advisory Circular (AC) on Eligibility and Evaluation of
U.S. Military Surplus Flight Safety Critical Aircraft Parts (FSCAP),
Engines, and Propellers
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed FSCAP AC and request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests
comments on a proposed AC pertaining to guidance for use in determining
the eligibility of and evaluating U.S. military surplus flight safety
critical aircraft parts for installation on U.S. type certificated
products. This notice is necessary to give all interested persons the
opportunity to present their views on the proposed AC.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 5, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed AC to: Federal Aviation
Administration, Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Division, AFS-300,
800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, attention Al
Michaels. Comments may be inspected at the above address between 9:00
a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Al Michaels, AFS-300, at the above address, or telephone (202) 267-
8203, or facsimile (202) 267-5115.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
A copy of the proposed AC may be obtained by downloading through
the Internet at the following Uniform Resource Location (URL): http://
www.faa.gov/avr/afs/acs/fscap.doc. The file name is ``FSCAP.'' doc in
word 6 format.
Interested persons are invited to comment on the draft AC by
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire or
E:mail Al Michaels at Albert.Michaels@faa.gov. Commenters should
identify FSCAP AC, Eligibility and Evaluation of U.S. Military Surplus
Flight Safety Critical Aircraft Parts, Engines, and Propellers to the
address specified above. All comments will be considered by the
Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Division, AFS-300, before issuing
the final AC.
Background
The U.S. Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949,
as amended, requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to dispose of its
surplus property. However, the DoD is prevented from destroying
property with economic value. With the ``downsizing'' of military
requirements, increasing quantities of surplus DoD aircraft and their
parts have become available for civil purchase. Depending on the
aircraft type and/or whether these surplus military products have had
civilian counterpart models for which an FAA U.S. type certificate had
been issued, such aircraft may have potential eligibility for issuance
of either standard or special airworthiness certificates. Concerns
regarding military surplus aircraft parts, specifically those parts
designated by the proponent military service as Flight Safety Critical
Aircraft Parts (FSCAP), entering into the civil market place led to the
forming of a joint DoD/FAA FSCAP Process Action Team (PAT). This team,
representing the Defense Logistics Agency, the Departments of the Army,
Navy and Air Force, and the FAA, produced recommendations related to
the identification, disposition and control of military surplus FSCAP.
DoD and the FAA accepted the PAT recommendations and jointly signed the
implementation plan memorandum in 1995. This proposed FSCAP AC is part
of the Flight Safety Critical Aircraft Parts, Process Action Team's
(PAT) implementation recommendations and provides guidance that is
pertinent to any member of the aviation community concerned with the
potential installation of military surplus FSCAP on FAA type-
certificated products. While many military parts may be the same as
their FAA-approved civil counterparts, they are not generally FAA-
approved for installation. Typically, the procuring military service
specifies requirements for the design, production, and acquisition of
parts that may not meet 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); however,
certain parts procured by the DoD have the potential to be approved for
civil use. Conversely, certain military unique FSCAP are currently part
of FAA-certificated, restricted category military surplus products.
Some military unique replacement parts have no alternative source other
than the military surplus stocks originally procured solely for armed
forces use.
The DoD makes no representation as to a military surplus part's
eligibility for installation on FAA type certificated products.
Therefore, prior to installing such parts on a certificated product,
the installer must make a determination of airworthiness. In order to
maintain the airworthiness of any aircraft, parts used to maintain the
aircraft must meet that aircraft's applicable airworthiness
requirements. Failure to comply with Federal Aviation Regulation
requirements can subject the owner and/or installer to enforcement
actions. Since military surplus parts may not meet FAA type design,
and/or may have been operated outside the limitations specified by the
Code of Federal Regulations inspections and/or FAA approvals may be
needed to determine the part's condition for safe operation and
eligibility for installation on a type-certificated product. This
Advisory Circular (AC) would address a means to help the installer make
these required determinations.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 1, 1998.
Richard O. Gordon,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32407 Filed 12-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M'
