[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21379]
[[Page 45089]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part V
Department of Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
Federal Aviation Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
14 CFR Parts 119, 121 et al.
Aging Airplane Safety; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 64. No. 159 / Wednesday, August 18, 1999 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 45090]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Parts 119, 121, 129, 135, and 183
[Docket No. FAA-1999-5401; Notice No. 99-02]
RIN 2120-AE42
Aging Airplane Safety
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On April 2, 1999, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding aging aircraft safety and invited comments
for a 120-day period. The comment period closed on August 2, 1999;
however, the FAA is reopening the comment period for an additional 60
days in response to a request from the National Air Transportation
Association (NATA). Per NATA, the reopening of the comment period is
needed to allow small businesses whose operations are especially busy
during the spring and summer additional time to evaluate the extensive
proposal.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 18, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed rulemaking should be mailed or
delivered, in triplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation
Dockets, Docket No. FAA-1999-5401, 400 Seventh St. SW., Room Plaza 401,
Washington, DC 20590. Comments also may be submitted electronically to
the following Internet address: [email protected] Comments may be
filed and/or examined in Room Plaza 401, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00
p.m. weekdays except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Sobeck, Aircraft Maintenance
Division (AFS-300), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591,
telephone (202) 267-7355.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they desire. Comments relating to the environmental, energy,
federalism, or economic impact that might result from adopting the
proposals in this notice also are invited. Substantive comments should
be accompanied by cost estimates. Comments must identify the regulatory
docket or notice number and be submitted in triplicate to the Rules
Docket address specified above.
All comments received, as well as a report summarizing each
substantive public contact with FAA personnel on this rulemaking, will
be filed in the docket. The docket is available for public inspection
before and after the comment closing date.
All comments received on or before the closing date will be
considered by the Administrator before taking action on this proposed
rulemaking. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent
practicable. The proposals contained in this NPRM may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this NPRM must include a pre-addressed,
stamped postcard with those comments on which the following statement
is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-1999-5401.'' The postcard will be
date stamped and mailed to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Using a modem and suitable communications software, an electronic
copy of this document may be downloaded from the FAA regulations
section of the FedWorld electronic bulletin board service (telephone:
(703) 321-3339), or the Federal Register's electronic bulletin board
service (telephone: (202) 512-1661).
Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov/
avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm or the Government Printing Office's webpage at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara for access to recently published
rulemaking documents.
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1,
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202)
267-9680. Communications must identify the notice number or docket
number of this NPRM.
Persons interested in being placed on the mailing list for future
NPRMs should request from the above office a copy of Advisory Circular
No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which
describes the application procedure.
Background
On March 19, 1999, the FAA issued NPRM 99-02 (63 FR 16298, April 2,
1999). The NPRM proposed to require all airplanes operated under part
121 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), all U.S.-
registered multiengine airplanes operated under 14 CFR part 129, and
all multiengine airplanes used in scheduled operations under 14 CFR
part 135 to undergo records reviews and inspections by the
Administrator after their 14th year in service to ensure that the
maintenance of all these airplanes' age-sensitive parts and components
has been adequate and timely. The comment period closed August 2, 1999.
By letter dated July 26, 1999, the NATA requested that the comment
period be extended by an additional 60 days in order to give the
companies of small businesses whose operations are especially busy
during the spring and summer additional time to complete an economic
analysis, audit the impact of this proposal on scheduled air carriers,
evaluate the economic impact of this proposal on aviation businesses,
and to develop meaningful comments to this proposal.
The FAA finds that it is in the public interest to reopen the
comment period for sixty (60) days.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 12, 1999.
L. Nicholas Lacey,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21379 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
