Advisory circulars; availability, etc.: Aging airplane safety; comment request,

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Federal Register: November 20, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 224)NoticesPage 70103-70104From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr20no02-96

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Advisory Circular (AC) 91-60A, the Continued Airworthiness of Older Airplanes; AC 120-AAR, Aging Airplane Inspections and Records Review; and AC 91-56B, Continuing Structural Integrity Program for Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and request for comments on proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 91-60A, which provides guidance about development and use of service-history based Structural Supplemental Inspection Programs to design-approval holders, owners, and operators of U.S.-registered multi-engine airplanes certificated with nine or less passenger seats; AC 120-AAR, which provides guidance about aging airplane inspections and records reviews that are accomplished to satisfy the requirements of the final rule ``Aging Airplane Safety;'' and AC 91-56B, which provides guidance on developing a continuing structural integrity program to ensure safe operation of older airplanes throughout their operational life. These proposed ACs address airplanes affected by the ``Aging Airplane Safety Rule'' and provide guidance on the development and use of a damage-tolerance-based Supplemental Structural Inspection Program (SSIP) for all airplanes operated under title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121; all U.S.-registered multi-engine airplanes operated under 14 CFR part 129 certificated with 10 or more passenger seats; and all multiengine airplanes used in scheduled operations under 14 CFR part 135 certificated with 10 or more passenger seats. These ACs outline an acceptable method, but not the only method, of compliance with the Aging Airplane Safety Rule.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed ACs to: Brent Bandley, Transport Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, ANM-120L, Federal Aviation Administration; 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712--4137; telephone number: (562) 627-5237, facsimile: (562) 627-5210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brent Bandley, Transport Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, ANM-120L, Federal Aviation Administration; 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; telephone number: (562) 627-5237, facsimile: (562) 627- 5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Copies of the draft ACs may be obtained by accessing the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm or at http://faa.gov/ avr/afs/acs/ac-idx.htm. Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the proposed ACs. Commenters must identify AC 91-60A, AC 120-AAR, or AC 91-56B and submit comments to the address specified above. The FAA will consider all communications received on or before the closing date for comments before issuing the final ACs.

Discussion

These proposed ACs provide guidance to type certificate holders and airplane operators on how to incorporate an FAA-approved Aging Aircraft Program into FAA-approved maintenance or inspection programs. Previous versions of AC 91-56 (AC 91-56 and AC 91-56A) provided guidance to operators of large transport category airplanes on how to develop a damage-tolerance-based SSIP. In this proposed AC, the FAA expands this guidance to small transport category airplanes. In addition, AC 91-56 and AC 91-56A considered only the effects of repair and modifications approved by the type certificate holder and the effects of repairs and operator-approved modifications on individual airplanes. This proposed AC considers the effect of all major repairs, major alterations, and modifications approved by the type certificate holder. In addition, the AC includes an expanded discussion of repairs, alterations, and modifications to take into consideration all major repairs and operator-approved alterations and modifications on individual airplanes. The proposed AC also describes the current Mandatory Modifications Program, Corrosion Prevention and Control Program, the Repair Assessment Program, and Evaluation for Widespread Fatigue Damage.

[Page 70104]

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2002. James J. Ballough, Director, Flight Standards Service.

FR Doc. 02-29445 Filed 11-19-02; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 4910-13-M

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