[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3751]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 91-NM-195-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
that proposed to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes. That
action would have required the modification of certain distance
measuring equipment (DME), which would terminate a previously required
limitation of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) that
prohibits terminal area and enroute area navigation operations under
certain conditions. Since the issuance of the NPRM, the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued separate rulemaking that
requires installation of the modification proposed in the NPRM.
Accordingly, the proposed rule is withdrawn.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pete Skaves, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2795; fax (206)
227-1181.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to supersede AD 91-12-08,
amendment 39-7019 (56 FR 25362, June 4, 1991), applicable to certain
Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes, was published in the Federal
Register on November 1, 1991 (56 FR 56177). The proposed rule would
have required modification of certain distance measuring equipment
(DME). Accomplishment of that modification would have constituted
terminating action for a previously required limitation of the FAA-
approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) that prohibits terminal area and
enroute area navigation operations under certain conditions. That
action was prompted by the development of a design change that would
prevent erroneous distance information from being displayed to the
flight crew and sent to the flight management computer (FMC). The
proposed actions were intended to prevent decreased enroute area
navigation (RNAV) accuracy or decreased terminal area navigation
capabilities, which may then necessitate missed approaches, the use of
alternative means of navigation for approach, or diversion to an
alternative airport.
Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA issued AD 94-02-02 (59 FR
2519, January 18, 1994), applicable to Rockwell International/Collins
Air Transport Division DME-700 Distance Measuring Equipment. (A
correction of the rule was published in the Federal Register on
February 23, 1994 (59 FR 8519)). That AD requires, in part,
modification of certain DME units, including those units installed on
the Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes that would have been
applicable to the rule proposed by the NPRM.
Since modification of the DME units is now required by AD 94-02-02,
the FAA finds that the proposed requirements of the NPRM are
unnecessary, since they would merely duplicate those currently required
by AD 94-02-02. Accordingly, the proposed rule is hereby withdrawn.
Additionally, since the modification required by AD 94-02-02
eliminates the need for the AFM limitation required by AD 91-12-08, the
FAA is considering rescinding that AD by a separate rulemaking action.
Withdrawal of this notice of proposed rulemaking constitutes only
such action, and does not preclude the agency from issuing another
notice in the future, nor does it commit the agency to any course of
action in the future.
Since this action only withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking,
it is neither a proposed nor a final rule and therefore, is not covered
under Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Withdrawal
Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket 91-NM-195-
AD, published in the Federal Register on November 1, 1991 (56 FR
56177), is withdrawn.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 9, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3751 Filed 2-14-95; 8:45 am]
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