Advisory circulars; availability, etc.: Transport category airplanes— based inspections and procedures,

[Federal Register: April 2, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 63)]

[Notices]

[Page 16321]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr02ap99-97]

[[Page 16321]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Advisory Circular (AC) 91-MA, Continued Airworthiness of Older Small Transport and Commuter Airplanes; Establishment of Damage- Tolerance-Based Inspections and Procedures

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 AC 91-MA, which provides information and guidance to manufacturers and operators for use in developing contained structural integrity programs to ensure the safe operation of small transport and commuter airplanes throughout their operational usage. The material provides an acceptable means, but not the only means, of showing compliance with the operational requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations applicable to the establishment of a damage- tolerance-based inspections and procedures.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 2, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed AC to: Bobby Sexton, ACE- 102, Aging Airplane Program Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Central Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas, Missouri, 64106; telephone number (816) 426-3241.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bobby Sexton, ACE-102, Aging Airplane Program Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Central Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas, Missouri, 64106; telephone number: (816) 426-3241.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

A copy of the draft AC may be obtained by accessing the FAA's webgage at http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm. Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the proposed AC. Commenters must identify AC 91-MA, and submit comments to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered by the FAA before issuing the final AC.

Discussion

Service experience has revealed a need to assess the continuing airworthiness of small transport and commuter sized airplanes as they age. The structural integrity of these airplanes should be assessed on the basis of the most modern tools of analyses, testing, and nondestructive inspections in conjunction with the gathering of operational service experience. Fatigue cracking is usage dependent and, if left uncorrected, will degrade the integrity of the airframe to unsafe levels. Additional inspections, component modification, or structural component replacement may be essential to maintain the required level of safety.

Increased utilization, longer operation, and the high safety demands imposed on airplanes currently operating in air transportation service indicates that there is a need for a program to provide a high level of structural integrity for all airplanes in the commuter air transportation fleet. Accordingly, the program outlined in the draft AC is intended to describe a structural integrity assessment of each airplane type, to be accomplished by its manufacturer or other competent engineering organization have access to design data; and the adaptation of the results of that assessment into each operator's maintenance program.

Issued in Washington, DC on March 19, 1999. L. Nicholas Lacey, Director, Flight Standards Service.

[FR Doc. 99-7445Filed4-1-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M