[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46272-46273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23365]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplanes and
Engine Issues--New Task
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (ARAC).
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SUMMARY: Notice is given of a new task assigned to and accepted by the
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice informs the
public of the activities of ARAC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stewart R. Miller, Transport Standards
Staff (ANM-110), Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, WA 98055-4056; phone (425) 227-1255; fax (425) 227-1320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA has established an Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
to provide advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator, through
the Associate Administrator for Regulation and Certification, on the
full range of the FAA's rulemaking activities with respect to aviation-
related issues. This includes obtaining advice and recommendations on
the FAA's commitment to harmonize its Federal Aviation Regulations
(FAR) and practices with its trading partners in Europe and Canada.
One area ARAC deals with is Transport Airplane and Engine Issues.
These issues involve the airworthiness standards for transport category
airplanes and engines in 14 CFR parts 25, 33, and 35 and parallel
provisions in 14 CFR parts 121 and 135.
The Task
This notice is to inform the public that the FAA has asked ARAC to
provide advice and recommendation on the following harmonization task:
Task 2: Passenger Seat Safety
The primary issue for FAR 25.562:
FAR 25.562(b) states ``Each seat type design approved for crew or
passenger occupancy during takeoff and landing must successfully
complete dynamic test or be demonstrated by rational analysis based on
dynamic tests of a similar type seat * * *.'' The method for
determining the required ``rational analysis based on dynamic tests''
is different between regulatory bodies.
The FAA has accepted the Revised Means of Compliance (RMCC) as a
method of determining which members of a seat family must be
demonstrated by dynamic test so that the rest may be certified by
similarity. The JAA has not accepted this method of determining the
test seats. Harmonization of test article selection is the objective.
A secondary issue for FAR 25.562:
Harmonization should also occur on other methods of compliance to
FAR 25.562, including pass/fail criteria and test methodology.
The primary issue for FAR 25.785:
FAR 25.785(c) states that each seat or berth must be approved. The
FAA requires all seats that are ``in-flight only'' to have a restraint
system before they will be approved. The JAA does not require
restraints for seats that are not occupied for taxi, takeoff and
[[Page 46273]]
landing. Harmonization on this issue is the goal.
A secondary issue for FAR 25.785:
FAR 25.785(b) states ``Each seat and berth * * * must be designed
so that a person making proper use of these facilities will not suffer
serious injury in an emergency landing as a result of the inertial
forces specified in 25.561 and 25.562.'' FAR 25.785(e) states ``Berths
must be free from corners and protuberances likely to cause injury to a
person occupying the berth during emergency conditions.'' The
subjective criteria used to determine ``corners and protuberances
likely to cause injury'' and the test/analysis required to demonstrate
compliance are different between regulatory bodies. The expectations
for demonstrating compliance should be harmonized.
Three specific areas of passenger seat certification issues need to
be addressed:
(a) In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) video arms which allow a video
screen to rotate in front of the passenger during flight.
(b) Seat back mounted accessories such as telephones, video
screens, etc.
(c) Definition of what design features are considered sharp edges
or in appropriate corners when exposed to the passenger cabin.
Guidance on acceptable methods of compliance should be provided
which are acceptable to both the FAA and the JAA. An advisory circular
should be revised or newly issued to address the new guidance.
The FAA expects ARAC to submit its recommendation(s) by July 31,
2000.
The FAA requests that ARAC draft appropriate regulatory documents
with supporting economic and other required analyses, and any other
related guidance material or collateral documents to support its
recommendations. If the resulting recommendation(s) are one or more
notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published by the FAA, the FAA may
ask ARAC to recommend disposition of any substantive comments the FAA
receives.
Working Group Activity
ARAC has accepted the task and has chosen to assign it to the
existing Seat Testing Harmonization Working Group. As a result of the
new task assigned to the working group and because the working group
has been dormant for some time, membership is being reopened. The
working group will serve as staff to ARAC to assist ARAC in the
analysis of the assigned task. Working group recommendations must be
reviewed and approved by ARAC. If ARAC accepts the working group's
recommendations, it forwards them to the FAA as ARAC recommendations.
The Seat Testing Harmonization Working Group is expected to comply
with the procedures adopted by ARAC. As part of the procedures, the
working group is expected to:
1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the tasks, including the
rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration at the meeting of
ARAC to consider transport airplane and engine issues held following
publication of this notice.
2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed
recommendations, prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3
below.
3. Draft appropriate regulatory documents with supporting economic
and other required analyses, and/or any other related guidance material
or collateral documents the working group determines to be appropriate;
or, if new or revised requirements or compliance methods are not
recommended, a draft report stating the rationale for not making such
recommendations. If the resulting recommendation is one or more notices
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published by the FAA, the FAA may ask
ARAC to recommend disposition of any substantive comments the FAA
receives.
4. Provide a status report at each meeting of ARAC held to consider
transport airplane and engine issues.
Participation in the Working Group
The Seat Testing Harmonization Working Group will be composed of
technical experts having an interest in the assigned task. A working
group member need not be a representative of a member of the full
committee.
An individual who has expertise in the subject matter and wishes to
become a member of the working group should write to the person listed
under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that
desire, describing his or her interest in the tasks, and stating the
expertise he or she would bring to the working group. All requests to
participate must be received no later than October 1, 1998. The
requests will be reviewed by the assistant chair, the assistant
executive director, and the working group chair, and the individuals
will be advised whether or not the request can be accommodated.
Individuals chosen for membership on the working group will be
expected to represent their aviation community segment and participate
actively in the working group (e.g., attend all meetings, provide
written comments when requested to do so, etc.). They also will be
expected to devote the resources necessary to ensure the ability of the
working group to meet any assigned deadline(s). Members are expected to
keep their management chain advised of working group activities and
decisions to ensure that the agreed technical solutions do not conflict
with their sponsoring organization's position when the subject being
negotiated is presented to ARAC for a vote.
Once the working group has begun deliberations, members will not be
added or substituted without the approval of the assistant chair, the
assistant executive director, and the working group chair.
The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the formation
and use of ARAC are necessary and in the public interest in connection
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
Meetings of ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the Seat
Testing Harmonization Working Group will not be open to the public,
except to the extent that individuals with an interest and expertise
are selected to participate. No public announcement of working group
meetings will be made.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 25, 1998.
Joseph A. Hawkins,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-23365 Filed 8-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
