Activation of Ice Protection, 52241-52249 [2011-21247]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
[FR Doc. 2011–21052 Filed 8–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 121
[Docket No.: FAA–2009–0675;
Amendment No. 121–356]
RIN 2120–AJ43
Activation of Ice Protection
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This action revises the
operating rules for flight in icing
conditions. For certain airplanes
certificated for flight in icing, the new
standards require either installation of
ice detection equipment or changes to
the airplane flight manual to ensure
timely activation of the airframe ice
protection system. This action is the
result of information gathered from
icing accidents and incidents. It is
intended to increase the level of safety
when airplanes fly in icing conditions.
DATES: This amendment becomes
effective October 21, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
operational questions contact Charles J.
Enders, Air Carrier Operations Branch,
SUMMARY:
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II. Background
On October 31, 1994, an accident
involving an Avions de Transport
Regional ATR 72 series airplane
occurred in icing conditions. This
prompted the FAA to initiate a review
of aircraft safety in icing conditions and
determine what changes could be made
to increase the level of safety. In May
1996, we sponsored the International
Conference on Aircraft Inflight Icing,
where icing specialists made
recommendations for increasing safety.
We reviewed these recommendations
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AFS–220, Flight Standards Service,
Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Ave., SW., Washington,
DC 20591; telephone (202) 493–1422;
facsimile (202) 267–5229; e-mail
Charles.J.Enders@faa.gov.
For aircraft certification questions
contact Robert Jones, Propulsion/
Mechanical Systems Branch, ANM–112,
Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356;
telephone (425) 227–1234; facsimile
(425) 227–1149; e-mail
Robert.C.Jones@faa.gov.
For legal questions contact Douglas
Anderson, Office of Regional Counsel,
ANM–7, Federal Aviation
Administration, 1601 Lind Ave., SW.,
Renton, Washington 98057–3356;
telephone (425) 227–2166; facsimile
(425) 227–1007; e-mail
Douglas.Anderson@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA’s authority to issue rules on
aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the
United States Code. Subtitle I, Section
106 describes the authority of the FAA
Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation
Programs, describes in more detail the
scope of the agency’s authority.
This rulemaking is promulgated
under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section
44701. Under that section, the FAA is
charged with prescribing regulations
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in
air commerce by prescribing minimum
standards required in the interest of
safety for the design and performance of
aircraft; regulations and minimum
standards of safety for inspecting,
servicing, and overhauling aircraft; and
regulations for other practices, methods,
and procedures the Administrator finds
necessary for safety in air commerce.
This regulation is within the scope of
that authority because it prescribes new
safety standards for the operation of
certain airplanes used in air carrier
service.
I. Summary of the Final Action
The FAA is creating new regulations
in Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations
(14 CFR) part 121 (Operating
Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and
Supplemental Operations) related to the
operation of certain transport category
airplanes in icing conditions. To
improve the safety of these airplanes
operating in icing conditions, the new
regulations require either installation of
ice detection equipment and procedures
for its use, or changes to the airplane
flight manual (AFM) to ensure timely
activation of the airframe ice protection
system.
The economic evaluation for the final
rule shows that the benefits exceed the
costs for the nominal, seven, and three
percent present value rates. The
estimated benefits are $27.2 million
($16.2 million present value). The total
estimated costs are $12.7 million ($6.7
million present value). The following
table shows these results.
and developed a comprehensive, multiyear icing plan. The FAA Inflight
Aircraft Icing Plan, dated April 1997,1
described various activities we were
considering for improving aircraft safety
in icing conditions. In accordance with
this plan, we tasked the Aviation
Rulemaking Advisory Committee
(ARAC) to consider the need for ice
detectors or other means to give
flightcrews early indication about action
required for ice accumulating on critical
surfaces of the airplane.2 The work was
carried out by ARAC’s Ice Protection
Harmonization Working Group
(IPHWG). Its recommendations may be
found in the docket for this rulemaking
(FAA–2009–0675).
1 FAA Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan, dated April
1997, is available in the Docket.
2 Published in the Federal Register on December
8, 1997 (62 FR 64621).
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A. Summary of the NPRM
On November 23, 2009, the FAA
published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) based on ARAC’s
recommendations to the FAA (74 FR
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61055). That NPRM proposed changes
to the regulations for operators of
certain airplanes certificated for flight in
icing conditions that are operated under
14 CFR part 121. It proposed
requirements for installation of ice
detection equipment and/or changes to
the AFM to ensure timely activation of
the airframe ice protection system. The
comment period for that NPRM closed
on February 22, 2010.
B. Definitions
An appendix to the preamble of this
rule gives definitions of the terms used
here.
C. Related Activity
The FAA is currently engaged in
rulemaking that would require operators
of airplanes to exit icing conditions for
which the airplane has not been
certified. Supercooled large droplet
icing conditions may be an example of
such conditions.
D. Summary of Comments
The FAA received 56 comment
documents in response to the NPRM.
Some commenters submitted multiple
comments.
• Twenty-two commenters (Boeing,
Airbus, the Regional Airline Association
(RAA), Air Line Pilots Association
International (ALPA), and 16 private
citizens) expressed support for the
proposal in the NPRM.
• Twenty-nine private citizens
offered general comments on icing and
ice protection that did not specifically
address the proposal in the NPRM.
These commenters stated that the FAA
had not done enough, early enough, to
solve the safety problems of flight in
icing conditions. Because these
comments were beyond the scope of the
NPRM’s proposal, we are not
responding to them in this preamble.
• BAE Systems, XCEL Jet
Management, the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB),
and two private citizens provided
critical or non-supportive comments to
the proposal in the NPRM.
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III. Discussion of the Final Rule
This final rule is identical to the rule
proposed in the NPRM. Its goal is to
ensure that ice protection systems are
activated in a timely way. It does this by
relieving the flightcrew of the need for
judging when to activate the ice
protection system. It gives the
flightcrew—
• Primary ice detectors that will alert
them to icing,
• Specific visual cues to indicate
icing, supplemented by advisory ice
detectors, or
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• Specific air temperatures to check
for which, in the presence of visible
moisture, will indicate conditions
conducive to icing and the need to
follow icing procedures.
This rule applies to airplanes
operating under part 121 rules with a
certified maximum takeoff weight
(MTOW) of less than 60,000 pounds. It
requires—
a. A primary ice detection system and
appropriate activation equipment and
procedures to ensure timely activation
of the ice protection system,
b. An advisory ice detection system
plus substantiated visual cues and
procedures to ensure timely activation
and, if necessary, repeated operation of
the ice protection system, or
c. If the airplane is not equipped to
comply with either a or b above, that
flightcrews activate and continuously or
cyclically operate the ice protection
system when in icing conditions
during—
• The takeoff climb after second
segment,
• En route climb,
• Holding,
• Maneuvering for approach and
landing, and
• Any other operation at approach or
holding airspeeds.
Icing conditions will be indicated by
a specific air temperature and the
presence of visible moisture. The
flightcrew must operate the ice
protection at the first sign of ice
accumulation for any other phases of
flight until after exiting the icing
conditions. When the ice protection
system is activated, the flightcrew must
also initiate any additional procedures
for operation in conditions conducive to
icing specified in the AFM or the
manual required by § 121.133. This
third option of the rule permits
compliance without additional
equipment. It supports part 121
operations of existing airplanes that are
not equipped with ice detectors and
new airplanes designed in accordance
with § 25.1419(e)(3). However, if the
AFM prohibits these procedures, then
compliance must be demonstrated with
either of the first two options.
To eliminate any guesswork for the
flightcrew in identifying icing
conditions, this rule defines icing
conditions as the presence of visible
moisture in temperatures of 5° C or less
static air temperature or 10° C or less
total air temperature, unless the AFM
defines it differently.
The rule requires that ice protection
procedures be established in the AFM or
the manual required by § 121.133, and
that they address—
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• Initial activation of the ice
protection system,
• Operation of the ice protection
system after initial activation, and
• Deactivation of the ice protection
system.
These procedures must address
whether, after initial activation, the ice
protection system must be operated
continuously or cycled automatically or
manually. The rule also specifies that if
an operator elects to install an ice
detection system, it must be approved
through an amended or supplemental
type certificate in accordance with part
21.
The FAA considers this rule to be a
necessary increase in the standard of
safety because there have been accidents
and incidents in which the flightcrew
did not start the airframe ice protection
system soon enough. In some cases,
crews were completely unaware of ice
accumulation on the airframe. In other
cases, they knew that ice was
accumulating, but thought it not
significant enough to require activating
the ice protection system. This rule is
meant to prevent that from happening
again by giving flightcrews a clear
means of knowing when to activate the
airframe ice protection system.
Following are the comments requesting
changes to the rule.
A. Training
XCEL Jet Management commented
that poor training and airmanship in
relation to operating in icing conditions
were responsible for both the Colgan
Air 3 and ATR accidents and that better
pilot training was the solution. An
individual commenter suggested that
improved and more complete pilot
training were the real solutions for
reducing icing accidents and suggested
that pilots should obtain a license
endorsement for flight in icing. Neither
of these commenters felt that this
additional operating rule was
warranted.
While icing conditions were present
at the time of the Colgan accident, the
NTSB did not find that these conditions
either caused or contributed to the
accident. Rather, the NTSB found that
Colgan Air’s inadequate procedures for
airspeed selection and management
during approaches in icing condition
contributed to the accident. The Colgan
Air flightcrew was operating the ice
protection system properly, and the
airplane stall occurred very close to the
clean wing stall speed. The Bombardier
3 The Colgan Air accident occurred on February
12, 2009, when a Bombardier Model DHC–8–400
series airplane flying in icing conditions crashed
outside of Buffalo, NY, killing 50 people.
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system activation during cruise at the
first sign of icing.
We have not changed the rule based
on this comment.
B. Require Automatic Detection and
Activation
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Model DHC–8–400 series airplane that
those pilots were flying has an advisory
ice detection system that helped them
know when to activate the ice
protection system. Pilots may fail to
activate an ice protection system for any
number of reasons that could include
inattention, a heavy workload that
causes ice monitoring vigilance to be
reduced, or failure to detect the ice
because of environmental conditions.
Additional training may not effectively
address any of those issues. Thus, we
proposed a rule that will require either
actively alerting the pilot to icing
conditions or causing the pilot to
activate the ice protection system when
a certain temperature exists in
conditions of visible moisture. The
exception to this would be during the
cruise phase, when activation of the ice
protection system at the first sign of
icing will be required. This will ensure
safe flight in icing conditions
independent of icing flight training.
Therefore, the proposed rule is not
changed based on these comments.
Note that many new training materials
developed by National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) have
been released in order to ensure that
pilots have access to information that
will give them the knowledge and skills
to safely and strategically fly in icing
conditions.
D. Existing Procedures Are Safe Enough
An individual commenter indicated
that the ice protection system should be
turned on automatically but in a
‘‘sequence that would allow the crew to
turn it off both before it activated and
after it completed a cycle.’’
We understand from this that the
commenter thinks automatic activation
should be mandatory, but with features
that allow the pilot to intercede. While
automatic activation has advantages, we
have not determined it should be
mandatory. The FAA does not dictate
design of aircraft systems. Instead we
provide performance-based rules. We
believe it should be up to the operator/
applicant to choose the best design for
its aircraft. Under this approach, an
automatic activation design would be
acceptable. Examples of other safe and
acceptable options include—
• Primary ice detection with manual
ice protection system activation,
• Advisory ice detection and pilot
monitoring with manual ice protection
system activation, and
• Manual ice protection system
activation based on temperature and
visible moisture for non-cruise flight
phases, as well as manual ice protection
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C. Does the rule include withdrawn
airworthiness directives (ADs)?
BAE stated that it is not clear whether
the rule applies to airplanes for which
previously proposed ADs were
withdrawn. It is the FAA’s intent that
this new rule will apply to all airplanes
with a certified MTOW less than 60,000
pounds, whether or not original ADs
requiring ice protection system
activation at the first sign of icing have
been withdrawn. As discussed in the
NPRM, the purpose of the ADs was to
require that the ice protection system be
activated at the first sign of icing. This
assumes the flightcrew detects the icing.
The fact that we concluded there was no
need to prevent delayed activation on
certain airplanes, and therefore
withdrew those ADs, is irrelevant to the
purpose of this rule. The purpose of this
rulemaking is to ensure detection and
activation or, if operating without an ice
detection system, timely activation in
non-cruise flight. The FAA also finds
that, for airplanes not equipped with ice
detectors, it is acceptable to activate the
ice protection system at the first sign of
icing for any phase not identified in
§ 121.321(a)(3)(i) (for example, cruise).
BAE stated that original certification
of their airplanes for flight in icing was
based on the most adverse accretions
determined from Appendix C to part 25,
and that the procedures established
during this certification, including
activation after accumulating one-half
inch of ice on the airframe, do not result
in an unsafe condition.
We agree that following the
established procedures does not result
in an unsafe condition, as long as the
flightcrew detects the icing and
activates the ice protection system in
accordance with those procedures. But
several accidents and incidents have
occurred because of failure to activate
the ice protection system in a timely
fashion. In some of those cases, critical
ice formed before the crew activated the
ice protection system. Other cases have
occurred when, for any number of
reasons, there was a delay in activating
the ice protection system. This rule is
intended to ensure timely detection of
icing on the airframe and activation of
the ice protection system. It helps
ensure that ice protection system
activation procedures are followed.
Therefore, the proposed rule is not
changed based on this comment.
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E. Residual and Intercycle Ice
BAE suggested that the larger ice
accretions assessed during certification
might be safer than ice accumulated
when operating the ice protection
system in conditions conducive to icing,
at the first sign of icing, and at regular
intervals thereafter. BAE also expressed
concern that aircraft handling qualities
and performance have not been
demonstrated with these new
procedures. BAE does not recommend
acceptance of this rule in its current
form unless we can provide further
justification for its adoption.
We believe there is ample justification
for this rule. In the initial stages of the
IPHWG’s examination of the problems
of flight in icing, there was great
concern about activating boot ice
protection systems at the first sign of
icing because of a phenomenon known
as ice bridging.4 We infer this is the
reason BAE suggested larger ice
accretions may be safer than those that
would be formed under this rule. No
one has reported ice bridging nor has it
been seen during testing on modern
deicing boots. Classical ice bridging was
associated with older designs that had
slow inflation and deflation rates; on the
order of ten seconds. Modern systems,
with their small-diameter inflation
chambers and high inflation rates,
ensure that bridging is not a concern.
We also infer from this comment a
concern that residual and intercycle ice
might be more critical than allowing a
certain depth of ice to accrete before ice
protection system activation. This
concern is limited to booted ice
protection systems.
Persistent ice accretions occur in icing
conditions even when pneumatic
deicing boots are operating. Whether
one-quarter or one-half inch of ice is
allowed to accumulate before activation,
or the icing boots are activated at the
first sign of ice accumulation, or they
are activated at annunciation by an ice
detector system and periodically
afterwards, residual and intercycle ice
will exist. The procedure will minimize
residual and intercycle ice accretions
because the ice will shed when the
minimum thickness or mass required for
shedding is reached. Adverse airplane
flying qualities resulting from ice
accretions typically are affected by the
thickness, shape, texture, and location
of the ice. The thickness of the residual
and intercycle ice resulting from this
4 Ice bridging is a phenomenon that may have
occurred on some obsolete de-icing boot systems. In
theory, ice could form around the outside of a fully
inflated boot, forming a ‘‘bridge,’’ which then could
not be removed by subsequent inflation cycles of
the boot.
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procedure is less than what is typically
allowed to accumulate before deicing
boot operation when the manufacturer
has recommended delayed activation.
The FAA has written many ADs
requiring airplane operators to include
in their AFM procedures to activate
deicing boots at the first sign of ice
accumulation. The airplane models to
which these ADs were directed have
many different wing and stabilizer
design characteristics and different
deicing boot configurations. In addition,
they represent a large proportion of the
airplane fleet that is equipped with
pneumatic deicing boots. We have not
received any reports of these airplanes
suffering adverse effects of ice from
early activation of the deicing boots.
In addition, a number of airplane
models are equipped with deicing boot
systems with automatic operating
modes. These systems automatically
cycle at specific time intervals after
being initially activated. Such automatic
cycling has certainly resulted in
operation of the boots with less than the
recommended thickness of ice accretion
originally included in the AFMs. We
have received no reports indicating any
adverse effects from use of the
automatic mode. Boot ice protection
systems operated early and often to
remove ice, including intercycle and
residual ice, have performed safely and
effectively. We have not changed the
rule based on this comment.
F. Additional Certification Will Be
Necessary
BAE noted that crews operating under
§ 121.321(a)(3) (without ice detectors)
need to activate the ice protection
system in conditions conducive to icing
irrespective of whether ice is actually
accreting. For aircraft that do not have
an automatic mode to cycle the ice
protection system, the continuous
manual cycling of the system would
result in an increased workload for the
flightcrew. Section 121.321(d)(iv)
requires that, for airplanes without
automatic cycling modes, procedures
will be needed for a specific time
interval for repeated cycling of the ice
protection system. BAE said that
validation of this procedure could
require further icing certification
testing, and that this issue had not been
raised in the NPRM.
With respect to increasing workload,
currently pilots have to monitor for ice.
Sometimes in these conditions it may be
difficult to determine whether
activation of the ice protection system is
needed. This final rule requires that,
after initial activation of the ice
protection system, the pilot periodically
activate the ice protection system. To do
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this, the pilot only has to monitor time,
not ice accretion thickness. Therefore,
we do not believe there will be any
significant increase in workload, and
that the workload may decrease in some
circumstances.
With respect to BAE’s comment that
validating ice protection system cycling
procedures and the potential for icing
certification testing was not raised in
the NPRM, every airplane that uses a
manual deicing system has established
procedures for its operation until the
airplane has exited icing conditions.
Models with periodic cycling
procedures should require no
incremental certification testing because
they already have an approved periodic
cycling procedure. For airplanes in
which flightcrews have in the past
activated boots based on ice accretion
thickness, calculating a conservative
cycling interval based on Appendix C to
part 25 is a relatively straightforward
process. It should not require flight
testing. In addition, AC 121.321–X
provides guidance recommending that
intervals should not exceed three
minutes. Thus, we do not believe that
validation of this procedure should
require additional certification testing.
G. Include All Airplanes
The NTSB expressed support for the
proposed rule. However, the NTSB
stated that the rule should apply to all
deicing-boot-equipped airplanes
currently in service. This would include
airplanes weighing more than 60,000
pounds. The NTSB also suggested that
the Bombardier Model DHC–8–400
series airplane (which has a MTOW of
slightly more than 60,000 pounds and
was involved in the Colgan Air
accident) might have been better
protected if this rule had been applied
to it.
The FAA appreciates the NTSB’s
support for the proposed rule. We do
not believe, however, that it is necessary
to expand the rule to cover airplanes
with higher weights. The IPHWG data
and analysis showed that only airplanes
falling below the weight level in the rule
have had problems associated with
delayed activation of the ice protection
system.
As for the Bombardier Model DHC–8–
400 series airplane, while icing
conditions were present at the time of
the Colgan accident, the NTSB did not
find that these conditions either caused
or contributed to the accident. Rather,
the NTSB found that Colgan Air’s
inadequate procedures for airspeed
selection and management during
approaches in icing condition
contributed to the accident. In fact, the
accident airplane had an ice detector
and would have been in compliance
with this rule through the majority of its
flight profile. Therefore, increasing the
maximum applicable weight to capture
the Bombardier Model DHC–8–400
series airplane would have very little, if
any, safety benefit. Increasing the rule’s
weight applicability to encompass other
airplanes of this size and larger is not
justified by available data. We have not
changed the rule as a result of this
comment.
Another reason the NTSB suggested
that the rule should encompass heavier
airplanes is that it believes such
procedures would also help protect
these airplanes in conditions that fall
outside of Appendix C to part 25. This
rule does not address conditions outside
of Appendix C. In supercooled large
droplet (SLD) conditions (which are not
included in Appendix C), ice may form
aft of the ice protection system
equipment. To suggest that this rule
may help address the SLD issue is not
correct. The most significant item to
consider, however, is that data show
that these heavier airplanes have not
had any safety problems associated with
delayed activation of the ice protection
system. Therefore, the rule is not
changed as a result of this comment.
H. Include Parts 91 and 135 Operations
The NTSB supported applying the
proposed rule to airplanes operated
under part 121, but stated that a similar
rule should also be levied on all
airplanes operated under 14 CFR parts
91 and 135. The NTSB stated that on
parts 91 and 135 airplanes with ADs
directing flightcrews to activate the ice
protection system at the first sign of
icing, it can be difficult for crews to
identify icing on the airplanes. The
NTSB noted that a Circuit City Citation
Model 560 series airplane involved in
an icing accident was operated under
part 91 and had an AD for activation of
deicing boots at the first sign of icing,
which had been withdrawn. This left
the flightcrew to observe a prescribed
amount of ice before activation. The
NTSB believed that similar accidents
may occur if parts 91 and 135 airplanes
are not included in this rule.
We considered including parts 91 and
135 operations during deliberations of
the IPHWG and during drafting of the
NPRM. We determined, however, that
the increased flexibility afforded by
unscheduled operations (the types of
operations governed by parts 91 and
135), coupled with appropriate
direction on when pilots should activate
the ice protection systems (usually at
the first sign of icing or in conditions of
visible moisture and specific
temperatures), provides an adequate
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Paperwork Reduction Act
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The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires that the
FAA consider the impact of paperwork
and other information collection
burdens imposed on the public.
According to the 1995 amendments to
the Paperwork Reduction Act (5 CFR
1320.8(b)(2)(vi)), an agency may not
collect or sponsor the collection of
information, nor may it impose an
information collection requirement
unless it displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number.
This final rule will impose the
following new information collection
requirements. As required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3507(d)), the FAA has submitted
these proposed information collection
amendments to OMB for its review.
This final rule requires—
a. A primary ice detection system and
appropriate activation equipment and
procedures to ensure timely activation
of the ice protection system,
b. An advisory ice detection system
plus substantiated visual cues and
procedures to ensure timely activation
and, if necessary, repeated operation of
the ice protection system, or
c. If the airplane is not equipped to
comply with either a or b above, that
flightcrews activate and continuously or
cyclically operate the ice protection
system when in icing conditions
during—
• The takeoff climb after second
segment,
• En route climb,
• Holding,
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• Maneuvering for approach and
landing, and
• Any other operation at approach or
holding airspeeds.
This rule may require operators to
revise their airplane flight manuals or
the manual required by § 121.133.
Adding these new procedures may
require the addition of a page or two to
those manuals. This is classified as a
record keeping item and no data will be
collected.
We have received no comments about
the recordkeeping burden of this rule.
The OMB control number for this
information collection will be published
in the Federal Register after the Office
of Management and Budget approves it.
International Compatibility
In keeping with U.S. obligations
under the Convention on International
Civil Aviation, it is FAA policy to
conform to International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) Standards and
Recommended Practices to the
maximum extent practicable. The FAA
has determined that there are no ICAO
Standards and Recommended Practices
that correspond to these regulations.
IV. Regulatory Evaluation, Regulatory
Flexibility Determination, International
Trade Impact Assessment, and
Unfunded Mandates Assessment
Changes to Federal regulations must
undergo several economic analyses.
First, Executive Order 12866 directs that
each Federal agency shall propose or
adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned
determination that the benefits of the
intended regulation justify its costs.
Second, the Regulatory Flexibility Act
of 1980 (Pub. L. 96–354) requires
agencies to analyze the economic
impact of regulatory changes on small
entities. Third, the Trade Agreements
Act (Pub. L. 96–39) prohibits agencies
from setting standards that create
unnecessary obstacles to the foreign
commerce of the United States. In
developing U.S. standards, this Trade
Agreements Act requires agencies to
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consider international standards and,
where appropriate, that they be the basis
of U.S. standards. Fourth, the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L.
104–4) requires agencies to prepare a
written assessment of the costs, benefits,
and other effects of proposed or final
rules that include a Federal mandate
likely to result in the expenditure by
State, local, or Tribal governments, in
the aggregate, or by the private sector, of
$100 million or more annually (adjusted
for inflation with base year of 1995).
This portion of the preamble
summarizes the FAA’s analysis of the
economic impacts of this final rule.
Readers seeking greater detail should
read the full regulatory evaluation, a
copy of which we have placed in the
docket for this rulemaking.
In conducting these analyses, FAA
has determined that this final rule: (1)
Has benefits that justify its costs; (2) is
not an economically ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ as defined in section
3(f) of Executive Order 12866; (3) has
been designated as a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ by the Office of
Management and Budget, and is
therefore ‘‘significant’’ under DOT’s
Regulatory Policies and Procedures; (4)
will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities; (5) will not create unnecessary
obstacles to the foreign commerce of the
United States; and (6) will not impose
an unfunded mandate on State, local, or
Tribal governments, or on the private
sector by exceeding the threshold
identified above. These analyses are
summarized below.
Total Benefits and Costs of This Rule
The estimated cost of this final rule is
about $12.7 million in nominal dollars
($6.7 million in seven percent present
value terms). The estimated potential
benefits of averting one accident and
five fatalities are about $22.1 million in
nominal dollars ($11.4 million in seven
percent present value terms). Table 1
shows these results.
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level of safety for ice protection system
activation. Pilots flying scheduled
operations, on the other hand, may not
have the flexibility to avoid flying into
weather that would otherwise be
avoided. This rule ensures that part 121
operators of applicable airplanes will be
directed to operate the ice protection
systems appropriately.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
Who is potentially affected by this rule?
Operators of transport category
airplanes with a certified MTOW under
60,000 pounds operating under 14 CFR
part 121.
Assumptions
(1) The base year is 2010.
(2) This final rule will be effective in
2011.
(3) The compliance date of the rule is
24 months from the effective date of the
final rule.
(4) The analysis period extends for
20 years from 2013 through 2032. We
believe this analysis period captures
nearly all of the expected benefits and
costs.
(5) All monetary values are expressed
in constant 2010 dollars. The present
value of the potential 10-year benefit
stream was calculated by discounting
the monetary values using three and
seven percent present value rates over
the 2013 to 2032 analysis period.
(6) The value of an averted fatality is
$6.0 million.5
(7) The FAA used a $104.99 hourly
rate for a mechanic/technician working
for an airplane manufacturer or modifier
and an $86.48 hourly rate for an
engineer working for an airplane
manufacturer or modifier. These hourly
rates include overhead costs.6
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Benefits of This Rule
The benefits of this final rule consist
of the value of averted fatalities,
airplane loss, and investigation cost
from avoiding accidents involving
transport category airplanes with a
certified MTOW under 60,000 pounds
operating under 14 CFR part 121. We
estimate that one accident and five
fatalities could potentially be avoided,
over the analysis period, by adopting
the final rule. The value of an averted
fatality is assumed to be $6.0 million. A
series of Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
were issued for airplanes with
pneumatic de-icing boots to activate the
systems at the first sign of ice accretion.
Due to the similarity of requirements
between the ADs and this proposal, we
accounted for the effects of the ADs by
reducing the estimated benefits. Over
the analysis period, the potential
benefits of the final rule will be $22.1
million in nominal dollars ($11.4
million in seven percent present value
terms).
5 ‘‘Treatment of the Economic Value of a
Statistical Life in Departmental Analysis,’’ March
18, 2009, U.S. Department of Transportation
Memorandum.
6 Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Employment and Wages.
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Estimated Costs of This Rule
We estimate the total cost of the final
rule, over the analysis period, to be
about $12.7 million in nominal dollars
using airplane compliance costs
developed by the IPHWG. The seven
percent present value cost of this final
rule over the analysis period is about
$6.7 million. We estimate the initial
costs for a new certification program for
operating the deicing boots based on
visible moisture and temperature are
about $400,000. We estimate the
operating and training costs are about
$12.3 million.
Alternatives Considered
Alternative One
Maintain the status quo: Simply
maintaining the status quo for flight in
icing procedures would not be a
practice that is responsive to NTSB
recommendations and the FAA Inflight
Aircraft Icing Plan. The FAA has
rejected this alternative because the
final rule will enhance passenger safety
and prevent ice-related accidents for
airplanes with a certified MTOW less
than 60,000 pounds. As it stands, the
final rule is the reasoned result of the
FAA Administrator carrying out the
FAA Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan.
Alternative Two
Issue more ADs requiring a means to
know when to activate the icing
protection system: The FAA has already
issued ADs to address activation of icing
protection systems. An evaluation of
accidents and incidents led to the
conclusion that the ADs do not provide
adequate assurance that the flightcrew
will be made aware of when to activate
the icing protection system. Because
this problem is not unique to particular
airplane designs, but exists for all
airplanes susceptible to the icing
hazards described previously, it is
appropriate to address this problem
through an operational rule, rather than
by ADs.
Alternative Three
Issue new standards: The third
alternative is this final rule. The FAA’s
judgment is that this is the most viable
option because the final rule will
increase the safety of the flying public
by reducing icing-related accidents in
the future in the least costly way.
Regulatory Flexibility Determination
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980
(Pub. L. 96–354) (RFA) establishes ‘‘as a
principle of regulatory issuance that
agencies shall endeavor, consistent with
the objectives of the rule and of
applicable statutes, to fit regulatory and
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informational requirements to the scale
of the businesses, organizations, and
governmental jurisdictions subject to
regulation. To achieve this principle,
agencies are required to solicit and
consider flexible regulatory proposals
and to explain the rationale for their
actions to assure that such proposals are
given serious consideration.’’ The RFA
covers a wide-range of small entities,
including small businesses, not-forprofit organizations, and small
governmental jurisdictions.
Agencies must perform a review to
determine whether a rule will have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. If
the agency determines that it will, the
agency must prepare a regulatory
flexibility analysis as described in the
RFA.
The FAA has determined that this
final rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. The FAA
made the same determination in the
NPRM. There were no comments
regarding small entities for the NPRM.
The following briefly describes the
history leading up to this rulemaking
and the methodology used to determine
that this final rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
On October 31, 1994, at 1559 Central
Standard Time, an Avions de Transport
Regional model ATR 72, operated by
Simmons Airlines, Incorporated, and
doing business as American Eagle flight
4184, crashed during a rapid descent
after an uncommanded roll excursion.
The FAA, Aerospatiale, the French
´ ´
Direction Generale de l’Aviation Civile,
Bureau Enquete Accident, NASA,
NTSB, and others conducted an
extensive investigation of this accident.
This accident and the investigation
prompted the FAA to initiate a review
of aircraft inflight icing safety and
determine changes that could be made
to increase the level of safety. The final
rule is responsive to NTSB
recommendation A–07–14. The final
rule is also one of the items listed in the
FAA Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan, dated
April 1997. The Inflight Aircraft Icing
Plan details the FAA’s plans for
improving the safety of airplanes when
they are operated in icing conditions.
This final rule specifically applies to
part 121 operators of airplanes that have
a certified MTOW of less than 60,000
pounds. We have determined which
small entities could be affected by
associating airplanes with a certified
MTOW of less than 60,000 pounds with
part 121 operators. For this section of
the analysis, only those operators
meeting the above criteria that have
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
52247
that each of the small operators’
airplanes is retired when their airplanes
reach the average retirement age of 25.9
years.
Using information provided by the
World Aviation Directory, SEC filings,
and the Internet, scheduled and nonscheduled commercial operators that are
subsidiary businesses of larger
businesses were eliminated from the
database. An example of a subsidiary
business is Continental Express, Inc.,
which is a subsidiary of Continental
Airlines. Using information provided by
the U.S. Department of Transportation
Form 41 filings, the World Aviation
Directory Winter 2009, and the Internet,
all businesses with more than 1,500
employees were eliminated. The FAA
obtained company revenue from the
remaining businesses. Following this
approach, five small entities operate
airplanes that will be affected by this
proposal.
The FAA estimated the cost of
compliance per airplane and multiplied
this cost by the total fleet of affected
airplanes per operator, over the analysis
period, to obtain the total compliance
cost for each small entity. The nonrecurring costs, for updating the
airplane flight manual for each major
airplane group, were distributed equally
among the airplanes in each major
airplane group. These non-recurring
costs occurred in year four of the
analysis period. Note that the more
airplanes in a major airplane group, the
less expensive, per airplane, the nonrecurring costs are to the operators of
those airplanes. In addition to the
airplane flight manual cost, the
additional incremental recurring costs
include boot maintenance, replacement
and installation labor. These recurring
costs started in 2013 and continued
either until the airplane retired or
through the end of the analysis period.
The degree to which small air
operator entities can ‘‘afford’’ the cost of
compliance is determined by the
availability of financial resources. The
initial implementation costs of the final
rule may be financed, paid for using
existing company assets, or borrowed. A
proxy for the firm’s ability to afford the
cost of compliance is the ratio of the
total annualized cost of the final rule as
a percentage of annual revenue. No
small business operator potentially
affected by this final rule incurred costs
greater than one percent of its annual
revenue. On that basis, we believe firms
can afford the compliance costs of this
final rule. We used a similar metric for
the initial regulatory flexibility analysis
and received no comments. Table 2
shows the economic impact on the
small entity air operators affected by
this final rule.
Therefore as the FAA Administrator,
I certify that this rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
International Trade Impact Assessment
from establishing standards or engaging
in related activities that create
unnecessary obstacles to the foreign
commerce of the United States.
Pursuant to these Acts, the
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The Trade Agreements Act of 1979
(Pub. L. 96–39), as amended by the
Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub.
L. 103–465), prohibits Federal agencies
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1,500 or fewer employees are
considered.
To estimate the number of affected
airplanes, the FAA analyzed the current
active fleet of airplanes, a forecast of
airplanes affected by the final rule
entering the fleet, and a forecast of the
retired affected airplanes exiting the
fleet during the analysis period.
A list of all U.S. operated civilian
airplanes operating under part 121 was
generated by the FAA Flight Standards
Service. Each airplane group was
matched with its current (as of May
2010) MTOW and average age through
the use of the OAG FleetPCTM database.
All airplanes with a MTOW greater than
60,000 pounds were eliminated.
Using industry sources, the FAA
determined which airplanes currently
had primary or advisory icing detection
systems. Airplanes equipped with either
a primary or advisory ice detection
system are in compliance, and this final
rule will impose no costs to operators of
those airplanes. All turbojets affected by
this proposal are in compliance because
those airplanes are equipped with either
a certificated primary or advisory ice
detection systems.
The FAA used the OAG FleetPCTM
database and determined that
turboprops are retired from U.S.
certificated service at an average age
(mean) of 25.9 years. Thus, we assume
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
establishment of standards is not
considered an unnecessary obstacle to
the foreign commerce of the United
States, so long as the standard has a
legitimate domestic objective, such the
protection of safety, and does not
operate in a manner that excludes
imports that meet this objective. The
statute also requires consideration of
international standards and, where
appropriate, that they be the basis for
U.S. standards. The FAA has assessed
the potential effect of this final rule and
determined that the proposed standards
are necessary for aviation safety and
will not create unnecessary obstacles to
the foreign commerce of the United
States.
Unfunded Mandates Assessment
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4)
requires each Federal agency to prepare
a written statement assessing the effects
of any Federal mandate in a proposed or
final agency rule that may result in an
expenditure of $100 million or more (in
1995 dollars) in any one year by State,
local, and Tribal governments, in the
aggregate, or by the private sector; such
a mandate is deemed to be a ‘‘significant
regulatory action.’’ The FAA currently
uses an inflation-adjusted value of
$143.1 million in lieu of $100 million.
This final rule does not contain such a
mandate; therefore, the requirements of
Title II of the Act do not apply.
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Executive Order 13132, Federalism
The FAA has analyzed this final rule
under the principles and criteria of
Executive Order 13132, Federalism. We
have determined that this action will
not have a substantial direct effect on
the States, or the relationship between
the Federal Government and the States,
or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, and, therefore,
does not have federalism implications.
Regulations Affecting Intrastate
Aviation in Alaska
Section 1205 of the FAA
Reauthorization Act of 1996 (110 Stat.
3213) requires the FAA, when
modifying its regulations in a manner
affecting intrastate aviation in Alaska, to
consider the extent to which Alaska is
not served by transportation modes
other than aviation, and to establish
appropriate regulatory distinctions. In
the NPRM, we requested comments on
whether the proposed rule should apply
differently to intrastate operations in
Alaska. We did not receive any
comments, and we have determined,
based on the administrative record of
this rulemaking, that there is no need to
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make any regulatory distinctions
applicable to intrastate aviation in
Alaska.
Environmental Analysis
FAA Order 1050.1E identifies FAA
actions that are categorically excluded
from preparation of an environmental
assessment or environmental impact
statement under the National
Environmental Policy Act in the
absence of extraordinary circumstances.
The FAA has determined this
rulemaking action qualifies for the
categorical exclusion identified in
paragraph 312f and involves no
extraordinary circumstances.
Regulations That Significantly Affect
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
The FAA has analyzed this final rule
under Executive Order 13211, Actions
Concerning Regulations that
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use (May 18, 2001). We
have determined that it is not a
‘‘significant energy action’’ under the
executive order because, while it is
considered a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ under DOT’s Regulatory Policies
and Procedures, it is not likely to have
a significant adverse effect on the
supply, distribution, or use of energy.
Availability of Rulemaking Documents
You can get an electronic copy of
rulemaking documents using the
Internet by—
1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking
Portal (https://www.regulations.gov);
2. Visiting the FAA’s Regulations and
Policies Web page at https://
www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/ or
3. Accessing the Government Printing
Office’s Web page at https://
www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
You can also get a copy by sending 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. Make sure to
identify the notice, amendment, or
docket number of this rulemaking.
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78) or you
may visit https://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
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Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act
The Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of
1996 requires FAA to comply with
small entity requests for information or
advice about compliance with statutes
and regulations within its jurisdiction. If
you are a small entity and you have a
question regarding this document, you
may contact your local FAA official, or
the person listed under the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT heading at the
beginning of the preamble. You can find
out more about SBREFA on the Internet
at https://www.faa.gov/
regulations_policies/rulemaking/
sbre_act/.
Appendix—Definition of Terms Used in
This Rule
For purposes of this final rule, the
following definitions are applicable. Note
that some of these definitions are common to
those used in the preamble to the final rule
for § 25.1419 Ice protection, and that rule’s
accompanying guidance material.
a. Advisory ice detection system—A system
that advises the flightcrew of the presence of
ice accretion or icing conditions. Both
primary ice detection systems and advisory
ice detection systems can either direct the
pilot to manually activate the ice protection
system or provide a signal that automatically
activates the ice protection system. However,
because it has lower reliability than a
primary system, an advisory ice detection
system can only be used in conjunction with
other means (most commonly, visual
observation by the flightcrew) to determine
the need for, or timing of, activating the antiicing or deicing system. With an advisory ice
detection system, the flightcrew is
responsible for monitoring icing conditions
or ice accretion as defined in the airplane
flight manual (AFM), typically using total air
temperature and visible moisture criteria or
visible ice accretion. With an advisory ice
detection system, the flightcrew is
responsible for activating the anti-icing or
deicing system(s).
b. Airframe icing—Ice accretion on the
airplane, except for on the propulsion
system.
c. Anti-icing—Prevention of ice accretions
on a protected surface, either by:
• Evaporating the impinging water, or
• Allowing the impinging water to run
back and off the protected surface or freeze
on non-critical areas.
d. Automatic cycling mode—A mode of
operation of the airframe de-icing system that
provides repetitive cycles of the system
without the need for the pilot to select each
cycle. This is generally done with a timer,
and there may be more than one timing
mode.
e. Conditions conducive to airframe icing—
Visible moisture at or below a static air
temperature of 5°C or total air temperature of
10°C, unless otherwise substantiated.
f. Deicing—The removal or the process of
removal of an ice accretion after it has
formed on a surface.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
g. Ice protection system (IPS)—A system
that protects certain critical aircraft parts
from ice accretion. To be an approved
system, it must satisfy the requirements of
§ 23.1419 or § 25.1419 and other applicable
requirements.
h. Primary ice detection system—A
detection system used to determine when the
IPS must be activated. This system
announces the presence of ice accretion or
icing conditions, and it may also provide
information to other aircraft systems. A
primary automatic system automatically
activates the anti-icing or deicing IPS. A
primary manual system requires the
flightcrew to activate the anti-icing or deicing
IPS upon indication from the primary ice
detection system.
i. Reference surface—The observed surface
used as a reference for the presence of ice on
the monitored surface. The reference surface
may be observed directly or indirectly. Ice
must occur on the reference surface before—
or at the same time as—it appears on the
monitored surface. Examples of reference
surfaces include windshield wiper blades or
bolts, windshield posts, ice evidence probes,
the propeller spinner, and the surface of ice
detectors. The reference surface may also be
the monitored surface.
j. Static air temperature—The air
temperature that would be measured by a
temperature sensor that is not in motion in
relation to that air. This temperature is also
referred to in other documents as ‘‘outside air
temperature,’’ ‘‘true outside temperature,’’ or
‘‘ambient temperature.’’
k. Total air temperature—The static air
temperature plus the rise in temperature due
to the air being brought to rest relative to the
airplane.
l. Visual cues—Ice accretion on a reference
surface that the flightcrew observes. The
visual cue is used to detect the first sign of
airframe ice accretion.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 121
Aircraft, Air carriers, Aviation safety,
Safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
The Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the
Federal Aviation Administration
amends part 121 of title 14, Code of
Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 121—OPERATING
REQUIREMENTS: DOMESTIC, FLAG,
AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS
1. The authority citation for part 121
continues to read as follows:
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■
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 40119,
44101, 44701–44702, 44705, 44709–44711,
44713, 44716–44717, 44722, 44901, 44903–
44904, 44912, 46105.
■
2. Revise § 121.321 to read as follows:
§ 121.321
Operations in Icing.
After October 21, 2013 no person may
operate an airplane with a certificated
maximum takeoff weight less than
60,000 pounds in conditions conducive
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to airframe icing unless it complies with
this section. As used in this section, the
phrase ‘‘conditions conducive to
airframe icing’’ means visible moisture
at or below a static air temperature of
5°C or a total air temperature of 10°C,
unless the approved Airplane Flight
Manual provides another definition.
(a) When operating in conditions
conducive to airframe icing, compliance
must be shown with paragraph (a)(1), or
(2), or (3) of this section.
(1) The airplane must be equipped
with a certificated primary airframe ice
detection system.
(i) The airframe ice protection system
must be activated automatically, or
manually by the flightcrew, when the
primary ice detection system indicates
activation is necessary.
(ii) When the airframe ice protection
system is activated, any other
procedures in the Airplane Flight
Manual for operating in icing conditions
must be initiated.
(2) Visual cues of the first sign of ice
formation anywhere on the airplane and
a certificated advisory airframe ice
detection system must be provided.
(i) The airframe ice protection system
must be activated when any of the
visual cues are observed or when the
advisory airframe ice detection system
indicates activation is necessary;
whichever occurs first.
(ii) When the airframe ice protection
system is activated, any other
procedures in the Airplane Flight
Manual for operating in icing conditions
must be initiated.
(3) If the airplane is not equipped to
comply with the provisions of
paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this section,
then the following apply:
(i) When operating in conditions
conducive to airframe icing, the
airframe ice protection system must be
activated prior to, and operated during,
the following phases of flight:
(A) Takeoff climb after second
segment,
(B) En route climb,
(C) Go-around climb,
(D) Holding,
(E) Maneuvering for approach and
landing, and
(F) Any other operation at approach
or holding airspeeds.
(ii) During any other phase of flight,
the airframe ice protection system must
be activated and operated at the first
sign of ice formation anywhere on the
airplane, unless the Airplane Flight
Manual specifies that the airframe ice
protection system should not be used or
provides other operational instructions.
(iii) Any additional procedures for
operation in conditions conducive to
icing specified in the Airplane Flight
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52249
Manual or in the manual required by
§ 121.133 must be initiated.
(b) If the procedures specified in
paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section are
specifically prohibited in the Airplane
Flight Manual, compliance must be
shown with the requirements of
paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this section.
(c) Procedures necessary for safe
operation of the airframe ice protection
system must be established and
documented in:
(1) The Airplane Flight Manual for
airplanes that comply with
§ 121.321(a)(1) or (2), or
(2) The Airplane Flight Manual or in
the manual required by § 121.133 for
airplanes that comply with
§ 121.321(a)(3).
(d) Procedures for operation of the
airframe ice protection system must
include initial activation, operation after
initial activation, and deactivation.
Procedures for operation after initial
activation of the ice protection system
must address—
(1) Continuous operation,
(2) Automatic cycling,
(3) Manual cycling if the airplane is
equipped with an ice detection system
that alerts the flightcrew each time the
ice protection system must be cycled, or
(4) Manual cycling based on a time
interval if the airplane type is not
equipped with features necessary to
implement (d)(i)–(iii) of this section.
(e) System installations used to
comply with § 121.321(a)(1) or (2) must
be approved through an amended or
supplemental type certificate in
accordance with part 21 of this chapter.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 11,
2011.
J. Randolph Babbitt,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011–21247 Filed 8–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
16 CFR Parts 3 and 4
Rules of Practice
Federal Trade Commission
(‘‘Commission’’ or ‘‘FTC’’).
ACTION: Final rule amendments.
AGENCY:
The FTC is amending its
Rules of Practice for its adjudicative
process, including those regarding the
initiation of discovery, limitations on
discovery, the Standard Protective
Order, the admission of certain hearsay
evidence, the video recording of
proceedings, the designation of
confidentiality on documents, the
timing for oral argument on appeal, and
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\22AUR1.SGM
22AUR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52241-52249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21247]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 121
[Docket No.: FAA-2009-0675; Amendment No. 121-356]
RIN 2120-AJ43
Activation of Ice Protection
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action revises the operating rules for flight in icing
conditions. For certain airplanes certificated for flight in icing, the
new standards require either installation of ice detection equipment or
changes to the airplane flight manual to ensure timely activation of
the airframe ice protection system. This action is the result of
information gathered from icing accidents and incidents. It is intended
to increase the level of safety when airplanes fly in icing conditions.
DATES: This amendment becomes effective October 21, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For operational questions contact
Charles J. Enders, Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-220, Flight
Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 493-1422; facsimile
(202) 267-5229; e-mail Charles.J.Enders@faa.gov.
For aircraft certification questions contact Robert Jones,
Propulsion/Mechanical Systems Branch, ANM-112, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 227-1234; facsimile (425) 227-1149; e-mail
Robert.C.Jones@faa.gov.
For legal questions contact Douglas Anderson, Office of Regional
Counsel, ANM-7, Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Ave., SW.,
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2166; facsimile
(425) 227-1007; e-mail Douglas.Anderson@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety is found in
Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 describes
the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation
Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority.
This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701. Under that section,
the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations promoting safe flight
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing minimum standards
required in the interest of safety for the design and performance of
aircraft; regulations and minimum standards of safety for inspecting,
servicing, and overhauling aircraft; and regulations for other
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that
authority because it prescribes new safety standards for the operation
of certain airplanes used in air carrier service.
I. Summary of the Final Action
The FAA is creating new regulations in Title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 121 (Operating Requirements: Domestic, Flag,
and Supplemental Operations) related to the operation of certain
transport category airplanes in icing conditions. To improve the safety
of these airplanes operating in icing conditions, the new regulations
require either installation of ice detection equipment and procedures
for its use, or changes to the airplane flight manual (AFM) to ensure
timely activation of the airframe ice protection system.
The economic evaluation for the final rule shows that the benefits
exceed the costs for the nominal, seven, and three percent present
value rates. The estimated benefits are $27.2 million ($16.2 million
present value). The total estimated costs are $12.7 million ($6.7
million present value). The following table shows these results.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22AU11.051
II. Background
On October 31, 1994, an accident involving an Avions de Transport
Regional ATR 72 series airplane occurred in icing conditions. This
prompted the FAA to initiate a review of aircraft safety in icing
conditions and determine what changes could be made to increase the
level of safety. In May 1996, we sponsored the International Conference
on Aircraft Inflight Icing, where icing specialists made
recommendations for increasing safety. We reviewed these
recommendations and developed a comprehensive, multi-year icing plan.
The FAA Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan, dated April 1997,\1\ described
various activities we were considering for improving aircraft safety in
icing conditions. In accordance with this plan, we tasked the Aviation
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to consider the need for ice
detectors or other means to give flightcrews early indication about
action required for ice accumulating on critical surfaces of the
airplane.\2\ The work was carried out by ARAC's Ice Protection
Harmonization Working Group (IPHWG). Its recommendations may be found
in the docket for this rulemaking (FAA-2009-0675).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ FAA Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan, dated April 1997, is
available in the Docket.
\2\ Published in the Federal Register on December 8, 1997 (62 FR
64621).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Summary of the NPRM
On November 23, 2009, the FAA published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) based on ARAC's recommendations to the FAA (74 FR
[[Page 52242]]
61055). That NPRM proposed changes to the regulations for operators of
certain airplanes certificated for flight in icing conditions that are
operated under 14 CFR part 121. It proposed requirements for
installation of ice detection equipment and/or changes to the AFM to
ensure timely activation of the airframe ice protection system. The
comment period for that NPRM closed on February 22, 2010.
B. Definitions
An appendix to the preamble of this rule gives definitions of the
terms used here.
C. Related Activity
The FAA is currently engaged in rulemaking that would require
operators of airplanes to exit icing conditions for which the airplane
has not been certified. Supercooled large droplet icing conditions may
be an example of such conditions.
D. Summary of Comments
The FAA received 56 comment documents in response to the NPRM. Some
commenters submitted multiple comments.
Twenty-two commenters (Boeing, Airbus, the Regional
Airline Association (RAA), Air Line Pilots Association International
(ALPA), and 16 private citizens) expressed support for the proposal in
the NPRM.
Twenty-nine private citizens offered general comments on
icing and ice protection that did not specifically address the proposal
in the NPRM. These commenters stated that the FAA had not done enough,
early enough, to solve the safety problems of flight in icing
conditions. Because these comments were beyond the scope of the NPRM's
proposal, we are not responding to them in this preamble.
BAE Systems, XCEL Jet Management, the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and two private citizens provided
critical or non-supportive comments to the proposal in the NPRM.
III. Discussion of the Final Rule
This final rule is identical to the rule proposed in the NPRM. Its
goal is to ensure that ice protection systems are activated in a timely
way. It does this by relieving the flightcrew of the need for judging
when to activate the ice protection system. It gives the flightcrew--
Primary ice detectors that will alert them to icing,
Specific visual cues to indicate icing, supplemented by
advisory ice detectors, or
Specific air temperatures to check for which, in the
presence of visible moisture, will indicate conditions conducive to
icing and the need to follow icing procedures.
This rule applies to airplanes operating under part 121 rules with
a certified maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of less than 60,000 pounds.
It requires--
a. A primary ice detection system and appropriate activation
equipment and procedures to ensure timely activation of the ice
protection system,
b. An advisory ice detection system plus substantiated visual cues
and procedures to ensure timely activation and, if necessary, repeated
operation of the ice protection system, or
c. If the airplane is not equipped to comply with either a or b
above, that flightcrews activate and continuously or cyclically operate
the ice protection system when in icing conditions during--
The takeoff climb after second segment,
En route climb,
Holding,
Maneuvering for approach and landing, and
Any other operation at approach or holding airspeeds.
Icing conditions will be indicated by a specific air temperature
and the presence of visible moisture. The flightcrew must operate the
ice protection at the first sign of ice accumulation for any other
phases of flight until after exiting the icing conditions. When the ice
protection system is activated, the flightcrew must also initiate any
additional procedures for operation in conditions conducive to icing
specified in the AFM or the manual required by Sec. 121.133. This
third option of the rule permits compliance without additional
equipment. It supports part 121 operations of existing airplanes that
are not equipped with ice detectors and new airplanes designed in
accordance with Sec. 25.1419(e)(3). However, if the AFM prohibits
these procedures, then compliance must be demonstrated with either of
the first two options.
To eliminate any guesswork for the flightcrew in identifying icing
conditions, this rule defines icing conditions as the presence of
visible moisture in temperatures of 5[deg] C or less static air
temperature or 10[deg] C or less total air temperature, unless the AFM
defines it differently.
The rule requires that ice protection procedures be established in
the AFM or the manual required by Sec. 121.133, and that they
address--
Initial activation of the ice protection system,
Operation of the ice protection system after initial
activation, and
Deactivation of the ice protection system.
These procedures must address whether, after initial activation,
the ice protection system must be operated continuously or cycled
automatically or manually. The rule also specifies that if an operator
elects to install an ice detection system, it must be approved through
an amended or supplemental type certificate in accordance with part 21.
The FAA considers this rule to be a necessary increase in the
standard of safety because there have been accidents and incidents in
which the flightcrew did not start the airframe ice protection system
soon enough. In some cases, crews were completely unaware of ice
accumulation on the airframe. In other cases, they knew that ice was
accumulating, but thought it not significant enough to require
activating the ice protection system. This rule is meant to prevent
that from happening again by giving flightcrews a clear means of
knowing when to activate the airframe ice protection system. Following
are the comments requesting changes to the rule.
A. Training
XCEL Jet Management commented that poor training and airmanship in
relation to operating in icing conditions were responsible for both the
Colgan Air \3\ and ATR accidents and that better pilot training was the
solution. An individual commenter suggested that improved and more
complete pilot training were the real solutions for reducing icing
accidents and suggested that pilots should obtain a license endorsement
for flight in icing. Neither of these commenters felt that this
additional operating rule was warranted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The Colgan Air accident occurred on February 12, 2009, when
a Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplane flying in icing
conditions crashed outside of Buffalo, NY, killing 50 people.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
While icing conditions were present at the time of the Colgan
accident, the NTSB did not find that these conditions either caused or
contributed to the accident. Rather, the NTSB found that Colgan Air's
inadequate procedures for airspeed selection and management during
approaches in icing condition contributed to the accident. The Colgan
Air flightcrew was operating the ice protection system properly, and
the airplane stall occurred very close to the clean wing stall speed.
The Bombardier
[[Page 52243]]
Model DHC-8-400 series airplane that those pilots were flying has an
advisory ice detection system that helped them know when to activate
the ice protection system. Pilots may fail to activate an ice
protection system for any number of reasons that could include
inattention, a heavy workload that causes ice monitoring vigilance to
be reduced, or failure to detect the ice because of environmental
conditions. Additional training may not effectively address any of
those issues. Thus, we proposed a rule that will require either
actively alerting the pilot to icing conditions or causing the pilot to
activate the ice protection system when a certain temperature exists in
conditions of visible moisture. The exception to this would be during
the cruise phase, when activation of the ice protection system at the
first sign of icing will be required. This will ensure safe flight in
icing conditions independent of icing flight training. Therefore, the
proposed rule is not changed based on these comments.
Note that many new training materials developed by National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have been released in order
to ensure that pilots have access to information that will give them
the knowledge and skills to safely and strategically fly in icing
conditions.
B. Require Automatic Detection and Activation
An individual commenter indicated that the ice protection system
should be turned on automatically but in a ``sequence that would allow
the crew to turn it off both before it activated and after it completed
a cycle.''
We understand from this that the commenter thinks automatic
activation should be mandatory, but with features that allow the pilot
to intercede. While automatic activation has advantages, we have not
determined it should be mandatory. The FAA does not dictate design of
aircraft systems. Instead we provide performance-based rules. We
believe it should be up to the operator/applicant to choose the best
design for its aircraft. Under this approach, an automatic activation
design would be acceptable. Examples of other safe and acceptable
options include--
Primary ice detection with manual ice protection system
activation,
Advisory ice detection and pilot monitoring with manual
ice protection system activation, and
Manual ice protection system activation based on
temperature and visible moisture for non-cruise flight phases, as well
as manual ice protection system activation during cruise at the first
sign of icing.
We have not changed the rule based on this comment.
C. Does the rule include withdrawn airworthiness directives (ADs)?
BAE stated that it is not clear whether the rule applies to
airplanes for which previously proposed ADs were withdrawn. It is the
FAA's intent that this new rule will apply to all airplanes with a
certified MTOW less than 60,000 pounds, whether or not original ADs
requiring ice protection system activation at the first sign of icing
have been withdrawn. As discussed in the NPRM, the purpose of the ADs
was to require that the ice protection system be activated at the first
sign of icing. This assumes the flightcrew detects the icing. The fact
that we concluded there was no need to prevent delayed activation on
certain airplanes, and therefore withdrew those ADs, is irrelevant to
the purpose of this rule. The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure
detection and activation or, if operating without an ice detection
system, timely activation in non-cruise flight. The FAA also finds
that, for airplanes not equipped with ice detectors, it is acceptable
to activate the ice protection system at the first sign of icing for
any phase not identified in Sec. 121.321(a)(3)(i) (for example,
cruise).
D. Existing Procedures Are Safe Enough
BAE stated that original certification of their airplanes for
flight in icing was based on the most adverse accretions determined
from Appendix C to part 25, and that the procedures established during
this certification, including activation after accumulating one-half
inch of ice on the airframe, do not result in an unsafe condition.
We agree that following the established procedures does not result
in an unsafe condition, as long as the flightcrew detects the icing and
activates the ice protection system in accordance with those
procedures. But several accidents and incidents have occurred because
of failure to activate the ice protection system in a timely fashion.
In some of those cases, critical ice formed before the crew activated
the ice protection system. Other cases have occurred when, for any
number of reasons, there was a delay in activating the ice protection
system. This rule is intended to ensure timely detection of icing on
the airframe and activation of the ice protection system. It helps
ensure that ice protection system activation procedures are followed.
Therefore, the proposed rule is not changed based on this comment.
E. Residual and Intercycle Ice
BAE suggested that the larger ice accretions assessed during
certification might be safer than ice accumulated when operating the
ice protection system in conditions conducive to icing, at the first
sign of icing, and at regular intervals thereafter. BAE also expressed
concern that aircraft handling qualities and performance have not been
demonstrated with these new procedures. BAE does not recommend
acceptance of this rule in its current form unless we can provide
further justification for its adoption.
We believe there is ample justification for this rule. In the
initial stages of the IPHWG's examination of the problems of flight in
icing, there was great concern about activating boot ice protection
systems at the first sign of icing because of a phenomenon known as ice
bridging.\4\ We infer this is the reason BAE suggested larger ice
accretions may be safer than those that would be formed under this
rule. No one has reported ice bridging nor has it been seen during
testing on modern deicing boots. Classical ice bridging was associated
with older designs that had slow inflation and deflation rates; on the
order of ten seconds. Modern systems, with their small-diameter
inflation chambers and high inflation rates, ensure that bridging is
not a concern. We also infer from this comment a concern that residual
and intercycle ice might be more critical than allowing a certain depth
of ice to accrete before ice protection system activation. This concern
is limited to booted ice protection systems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Ice bridging is a phenomenon that may have occurred on some
obsolete de-icing boot systems. In theory, ice could form around the
outside of a fully inflated boot, forming a ``bridge,'' which then
could not be removed by subsequent inflation cycles of the boot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persistent ice accretions occur in icing conditions even when
pneumatic deicing boots are operating. Whether one-quarter or one-half
inch of ice is allowed to accumulate before activation, or the icing
boots are activated at the first sign of ice accumulation, or they are
activated at annunciation by an ice detector system and periodically
afterwards, residual and intercycle ice will exist. The procedure will
minimize residual and intercycle ice accretions because the ice will
shed when the minimum thickness or mass required for shedding is
reached. Adverse airplane flying qualities resulting from ice
accretions typically are affected by the thickness, shape, texture, and
location of the ice. The thickness of the residual and intercycle ice
resulting from this
[[Page 52244]]
procedure is less than what is typically allowed to accumulate before
deicing boot operation when the manufacturer has recommended delayed
activation.
The FAA has written many ADs requiring airplane operators to
include in their AFM procedures to activate deicing boots at the first
sign of ice accumulation. The airplane models to which these ADs were
directed have many different wing and stabilizer design characteristics
and different deicing boot configurations. In addition, they represent
a large proportion of the airplane fleet that is equipped with
pneumatic deicing boots. We have not received any reports of these
airplanes suffering adverse effects of ice from early activation of the
deicing boots.
In addition, a number of airplane models are equipped with deicing
boot systems with automatic operating modes. These systems
automatically cycle at specific time intervals after being initially
activated. Such automatic cycling has certainly resulted in operation
of the boots with less than the recommended thickness of ice accretion
originally included in the AFMs. We have received no reports indicating
any adverse effects from use of the automatic mode. Boot ice protection
systems operated early and often to remove ice, including intercycle
and residual ice, have performed safely and effectively. We have not
changed the rule based on this comment.
F. Additional Certification Will Be Necessary
BAE noted that crews operating under Sec. 121.321(a)(3) (without
ice detectors) need to activate the ice protection system in conditions
conducive to icing irrespective of whether ice is actually accreting.
For aircraft that do not have an automatic mode to cycle the ice
protection system, the continuous manual cycling of the system would
result in an increased workload for the flightcrew. Section
121.321(d)(iv) requires that, for airplanes without automatic cycling
modes, procedures will be needed for a specific time interval for
repeated cycling of the ice protection system. BAE said that validation
of this procedure could require further icing certification testing,
and that this issue had not been raised in the NPRM.
With respect to increasing workload, currently pilots have to
monitor for ice. Sometimes in these conditions it may be difficult to
determine whether activation of the ice protection system is needed.
This final rule requires that, after initial activation of the ice
protection system, the pilot periodically activate the ice protection
system. To do this, the pilot only has to monitor time, not ice
accretion thickness. Therefore, we do not believe there will be any
significant increase in workload, and that the workload may decrease in
some circumstances.
With respect to BAE's comment that validating ice protection system
cycling procedures and the potential for icing certification testing
was not raised in the NPRM, every airplane that uses a manual deicing
system has established procedures for its operation until the airplane
has exited icing conditions. Models with periodic cycling procedures
should require no incremental certification testing because they
already have an approved periodic cycling procedure. For airplanes in
which flightcrews have in the past activated boots based on ice
accretion thickness, calculating a conservative cycling interval based
on Appendix C to part 25 is a relatively straightforward process. It
should not require flight testing. In addition, AC 121.321-X provides
guidance recommending that intervals should not exceed three minutes.
Thus, we do not believe that validation of this procedure should
require additional certification testing.
G. Include All Airplanes
The NTSB expressed support for the proposed rule. However, the NTSB
stated that the rule should apply to all deicing-boot-equipped
airplanes currently in service. This would include airplanes weighing
more than 60,000 pounds. The NTSB also suggested that the Bombardier
Model DHC-8-400 series airplane (which has a MTOW of slightly more than
60,000 pounds and was involved in the Colgan Air accident) might have
been better protected if this rule had been applied to it.
The FAA appreciates the NTSB's support for the proposed rule. We do
not believe, however, that it is necessary to expand the rule to cover
airplanes with higher weights. The IPHWG data and analysis showed that
only airplanes falling below the weight level in the rule have had
problems associated with delayed activation of the ice protection
system.
As for the Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplane, while icing
conditions were present at the time of the Colgan accident, the NTSB
did not find that these conditions either caused or contributed to the
accident. Rather, the NTSB found that Colgan Air's inadequate
procedures for airspeed selection and management during approaches in
icing condition contributed to the accident. In fact, the accident
airplane had an ice detector and would have been in compliance with
this rule through the majority of its flight profile. Therefore,
increasing the maximum applicable weight to capture the Bombardier
Model DHC-8-400 series airplane would have very little, if any, safety
benefit. Increasing the rule's weight applicability to encompass other
airplanes of this size and larger is not justified by available data.
We have not changed the rule as a result of this comment.
Another reason the NTSB suggested that the rule should encompass
heavier airplanes is that it believes such procedures would also help
protect these airplanes in conditions that fall outside of Appendix C
to part 25. This rule does not address conditions outside of Appendix
C. In supercooled large droplet (SLD) conditions (which are not
included in Appendix C), ice may form aft of the ice protection system
equipment. To suggest that this rule may help address the SLD issue is
not correct. The most significant item to consider, however, is that
data show that these heavier airplanes have not had any safety problems
associated with delayed activation of the ice protection system.
Therefore, the rule is not changed as a result of this comment.
H. Include Parts 91 and 135 Operations
The NTSB supported applying the proposed rule to airplanes operated
under part 121, but stated that a similar rule should also be levied on
all airplanes operated under 14 CFR parts 91 and 135. The NTSB stated
that on parts 91 and 135 airplanes with ADs directing flightcrews to
activate the ice protection system at the first sign of icing, it can
be difficult for crews to identify icing on the airplanes. The NTSB
noted that a Circuit City Citation Model 560 series airplane involved
in an icing accident was operated under part 91 and had an AD for
activation of deicing boots at the first sign of icing, which had been
withdrawn. This left the flightcrew to observe a prescribed amount of
ice before activation. The NTSB believed that similar accidents may
occur if parts 91 and 135 airplanes are not included in this rule.
We considered including parts 91 and 135 operations during
deliberations of the IPHWG and during drafting of the NPRM. We
determined, however, that the increased flexibility afforded by
unscheduled operations (the types of operations governed by parts 91
and 135), coupled with appropriate direction on when pilots should
activate the ice protection systems (usually at the first sign of icing
or in conditions of visible moisture and specific temperatures),
provides an adequate
[[Page 52245]]
level of safety for ice protection system activation. Pilots flying
scheduled operations, on the other hand, may not have the flexibility
to avoid flying into weather that would otherwise be avoided. This rule
ensures that part 121 operators of applicable airplanes will be
directed to operate the ice protection systems appropriately.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires
that the FAA consider the impact of paperwork and other information
collection burdens imposed on the public. According to the 1995
amendments to the Paperwork Reduction Act (5 CFR 1320.8(b)(2)(vi)), an
agency may not collect or sponsor the collection of information, nor
may it impose an information collection requirement unless it displays
a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
This final rule will impose the following new information
collection requirements. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)), the FAA has submitted these proposed
information collection amendments to OMB for its review.
This final rule requires--
a. A primary ice detection system and appropriate activation
equipment and procedures to ensure timely activation of the ice
protection system,
b. An advisory ice detection system plus substantiated visual cues
and procedures to ensure timely activation and, if necessary, repeated
operation of the ice protection system, or
c. If the airplane is not equipped to comply with either a or b
above, that flightcrews activate and continuously or cyclically operate
the ice protection system when in icing conditions during--
The takeoff climb after second segment,
En route climb,
Holding,
Maneuvering for approach and landing, and
Any other operation at approach or holding airspeeds.
This rule may require operators to revise their airplane flight
manuals or the manual required by Sec. 121.133. Adding these new
procedures may require the addition of a page or two to those manuals.
This is classified as a record keeping item and no data will be
collected.
We have received no comments about the recordkeeping burden of this
rule. The OMB control number for this information collection will be
published in the Federal Register after the Office of Management and
Budget approves it.
International Compatibility
In keeping with U.S. obligations under the Convention on
International Civil Aviation, it is FAA policy to conform to
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and
Recommended Practices to the maximum extent practicable. The FAA has
determined that there are no ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices
that correspond to these regulations.
IV. Regulatory Evaluation, Regulatory Flexibility Determination,
International Trade Impact Assessment, and Unfunded Mandates Assessment
Changes to Federal regulations must undergo several economic
analyses. First, Executive Order 12866 directs that each Federal agency
shall propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned determination
that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its costs. Second,
the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-354) requires
agencies to analyze the economic impact of regulatory changes on small
entities. Third, the Trade Agreements Act (Pub. L. 96-39) prohibits
agencies from setting standards that create unnecessary obstacles to
the foreign commerce of the United States. In developing U.S.
standards, this Trade Agreements Act requires agencies to consider
international standards and, where appropriate, that they be the basis
of U.S. standards. Fourth, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104-4) requires agencies to prepare a written assessment of
the costs, benefits, and other effects of proposed or final rules that
include a Federal mandate likely to result in the expenditure by State,
local, or Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private
sector, of $100 million or more annually (adjusted for inflation with
base year of 1995). This portion of the preamble summarizes the FAA's
analysis of the economic impacts of this final rule. Readers seeking
greater detail should read the full regulatory evaluation, a copy of
which we have placed in the docket for this rulemaking.
In conducting these analyses, FAA has determined that this final
rule: (1) Has benefits that justify its costs; (2) is not an
economically ``significant regulatory action'' as defined in section
3(f) of Executive Order 12866; (3) has been designated as a
``significant regulatory action'' by the Office of Management and
Budget, and is therefore ``significant'' under DOT's Regulatory
Policies and Procedures; (4) will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities; (5) will not create
unnecessary obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United States; and
(6) will not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or Tribal
governments, or on the private sector by exceeding the threshold
identified above. These analyses are summarized below.
Total Benefits and Costs of This Rule
The estimated cost of this final rule is about $12.7 million in
nominal dollars ($6.7 million in seven percent present value terms).
The estimated potential benefits of averting one accident and five
fatalities are about $22.1 million in nominal dollars ($11.4 million in
seven percent present value terms). Table 1 shows these results.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22AU11.052
[[Page 52246]]
Who is potentially affected by this rule?
Operators of transport category airplanes with a certified MTOW
under 60,000 pounds operating under 14 CFR part 121.
Assumptions
(1) The base year is 2010.
(2) This final rule will be effective in 2011.
(3) The compliance date of the rule is 24 months from the effective
date of the final rule.
(4) The analysis period extends for 20 years from 2013 through
2032. We believe this analysis period captures nearly all of the
expected benefits and costs.
(5) All monetary values are expressed in constant 2010 dollars. The
present value of the potential 10-year benefit stream was calculated by
discounting the monetary values using three and seven percent present
value rates over the 2013 to 2032 analysis period.
(6) The value of an averted fatality is $6.0 million.\5\
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\5\ ``Treatment of the Economic Value of a Statistical Life in
Departmental Analysis,'' March 18, 2009, U.S. Department of
Transportation Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7) The FAA used a $104.99 hourly rate for a mechanic/technician
working for an airplane manufacturer or modifier and an $86.48 hourly
rate for an engineer working for an airplane manufacturer or modifier.
These hourly rates include overhead costs.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Employment and Wages.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefits of This Rule
The benefits of this final rule consist of the value of averted
fatalities, airplane loss, and investigation cost from avoiding
accidents involving transport category airplanes with a certified MTOW
under 60,000 pounds operating under 14 CFR part 121. We estimate that
one accident and five fatalities could potentially be avoided, over the
analysis period, by adopting the final rule. The value of an averted
fatality is assumed to be $6.0 million. A series of Airworthiness
Directives (ADs) were issued for airplanes with pneumatic de-icing
boots to activate the systems at the first sign of ice accretion. Due
to the similarity of requirements between the ADs and this proposal, we
accounted for the effects of the ADs by reducing the estimated
benefits. Over the analysis period, the potential benefits of the final
rule will be $22.1 million in nominal dollars ($11.4 million in seven
percent present value terms).
Estimated Costs of This Rule
We estimate the total cost of the final rule, over the analysis
period, to be about $12.7 million in nominal dollars using airplane
compliance costs developed by the IPHWG. The seven percent present
value cost of this final rule over the analysis period is about $6.7
million. We estimate the initial costs for a new certification program
for operating the deicing boots based on visible moisture and
temperature are about $400,000. We estimate the operating and training
costs are about $12.3 million.
Alternatives Considered
Alternative One
Maintain the status quo: Simply maintaining the status quo for
flight in icing procedures would not be a practice that is responsive
to NTSB recommendations and the FAA Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan. The
FAA has rejected this alternative because the final rule will enhance
passenger safety and prevent ice-related accidents for airplanes with a
certified MTOW less than 60,000 pounds. As it stands, the final rule is
the reasoned result of the FAA Administrator carrying out the FAA
Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan.
Alternative Two
Issue more ADs requiring a means to know when to activate the icing
protection system: The FAA has already issued ADs to address activation
of icing protection systems. An evaluation of accidents and incidents
led to the conclusion that the ADs do not provide adequate assurance
that the flightcrew will be made aware of when to activate the icing
protection system. Because this problem is not unique to particular
airplane designs, but exists for all airplanes susceptible to the icing
hazards described previously, it is appropriate to address this problem
through an operational rule, rather than by ADs.
Alternative Three
Issue new standards: The third alternative is this final rule. The
FAA's judgment is that this is the most viable option because the final
rule will increase the safety of the flying public by reducing icing-
related accidents in the future in the least costly way.
Regulatory Flexibility Determination
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-354) (RFA)
establishes ``as a principle of regulatory issuance that agencies shall
endeavor, consistent with the objectives of the rule and of applicable
statutes, to fit regulatory and informational requirements to the scale
of the businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions
subject to regulation. To achieve this principle, agencies are required
to solicit and consider flexible regulatory proposals and to explain
the rationale for their actions to assure that such proposals are given
serious consideration.'' The RFA covers a wide-range of small entities,
including small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and small
governmental jurisdictions.
Agencies must perform a review to determine whether a rule will
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. If the agency determines that it will, the agency must
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis as described in the RFA.
The FAA has determined that this final rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The FAA made the same determination in the NPRM. There were no comments
regarding small entities for the NPRM.
The following briefly describes the history leading up to this
rulemaking and the methodology used to determine that this final rule
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities.
On October 31, 1994, at 1559 Central Standard Time, an Avions de
Transport Regional model ATR 72, operated by Simmons Airlines,
Incorporated, and doing business as American Eagle flight 4184, crashed
during a rapid descent after an uncommanded roll excursion. The FAA,
Aerospatiale, the French Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation
Civile, Bureau Enquete Accident, NASA, NTSB, and others conducted an
extensive investigation of this accident.
This accident and the investigation prompted the FAA to initiate a
review of aircraft inflight icing safety and determine changes that
could be made to increase the level of safety. The final rule is
responsive to NTSB recommendation A-07-14. The final rule is also one
of the items listed in the FAA Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan, dated
April 1997. The Inflight Aircraft Icing Plan details the FAA's plans
for improving the safety of airplanes when they are operated in icing
conditions.
This final rule specifically applies to part 121 operators of
airplanes that have a certified MTOW of less than 60,000 pounds. We
have determined which small entities could be affected by associating
airplanes with a certified MTOW of less than 60,000 pounds with part
121 operators. For this section of the analysis, only those operators
meeting the above criteria that have
[[Page 52247]]
1,500 or fewer employees are considered.
To estimate the number of affected airplanes, the FAA analyzed the
current active fleet of airplanes, a forecast of airplanes affected by
the final rule entering the fleet, and a forecast of the retired
affected airplanes exiting the fleet during the analysis period.
A list of all U.S. operated civilian airplanes operating under part
121 was generated by the FAA Flight Standards Service. Each airplane
group was matched with its current (as of May 2010) MTOW and average
age through the use of the OAG FleetPCTM database. All
airplanes with a MTOW greater than 60,000 pounds were eliminated.
Using industry sources, the FAA determined which airplanes
currently had primary or advisory icing detection systems. Airplanes
equipped with either a primary or advisory ice detection system are in
compliance, and this final rule will impose no costs to operators of
those airplanes. All turbojets affected by this proposal are in
compliance because those airplanes are equipped with either a
certificated primary or advisory ice detection systems.
The FAA used the OAG FleetPCTM database and determined
that turboprops are retired from U.S. certificated service at an
average age (mean) of 25.9 years. Thus, we assume that each of the
small operators' airplanes is retired when their airplanes reach the
average retirement age of 25.9 years.
Using information provided by the World Aviation Directory, SEC
filings, and the Internet, scheduled and non-scheduled commercial
operators that are subsidiary businesses of larger businesses were
eliminated from the database. An example of a subsidiary business is
Continental Express, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Continental
Airlines. Using information provided by the U.S. Department of
Transportation Form 41 filings, the World Aviation Directory Winter
2009, and the Internet, all businesses with more than 1,500 employees
were eliminated. The FAA obtained company revenue from the remaining
businesses. Following this approach, five small entities operate
airplanes that will be affected by this proposal.
The FAA estimated the cost of compliance per airplane and
multiplied this cost by the total fleet of affected airplanes per
operator, over the analysis period, to obtain the total compliance cost
for each small entity. The non-recurring costs, for updating the
airplane flight manual for each major airplane group, were distributed
equally among the airplanes in each major airplane group. These non-
recurring costs occurred in year four of the analysis period. Note that
the more airplanes in a major airplane group, the less expensive, per
airplane, the non-recurring costs are to the operators of those
airplanes. In addition to the airplane flight manual cost, the
additional incremental recurring costs include boot maintenance,
replacement and installation labor. These recurring costs started in
2013 and continued either until the airplane retired or through the end
of the analysis period.
The degree to which small air operator entities can ``afford'' the
cost of compliance is determined by the availability of financial
resources. The initial implementation costs of the final rule may be
financed, paid for using existing company assets, or borrowed. A proxy
for the firm's ability to afford the cost of compliance is the ratio of
the total annualized cost of the final rule as a percentage of annual
revenue. No small business operator potentially affected by this final
rule incurred costs greater than one percent of its annual revenue. On
that basis, we believe firms can afford the compliance costs of this
final rule. We used a similar metric for the initial regulatory
flexibility analysis and received no comments. Table 2 shows the
economic impact on the small entity air operators affected by this
final rule.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22AU11.053
Therefore as the FAA Administrator, I certify that this rule will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
International Trade Impact Assessment
The Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-39), as amended by the
Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. L. 103-465), prohibits Federal
agencies from establishing standards or engaging in related activities
that create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United
States. Pursuant to these Acts, the
[[Page 52248]]
establishment of standards is not considered an unnecessary obstacle to
the foreign commerce of the United States, so long as the standard has
a legitimate domestic objective, such the protection of safety, and
does not operate in a manner that excludes imports that meet this
objective. The statute also requires consideration of international
standards and, where appropriate, that they be the basis for U.S.
standards. The FAA has assessed the potential effect of this final rule
and determined that the proposed standards are necessary for aviation
safety and will not create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign
commerce of the United States.
Unfunded Mandates Assessment
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-
4) requires each Federal agency to prepare a written statement
assessing the effects of any Federal mandate in a proposed or final
agency rule that may result in an expenditure of $100 million or more
(in 1995 dollars) in any one year by State, local, and Tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector; such a mandate
is deemed to be a ``significant regulatory action.'' The FAA currently
uses an inflation-adjusted value of $143.1 million in lieu of $100
million. This final rule does not contain such a mandate; therefore,
the requirements of Title II of the Act do not apply.
Executive Order 13132, Federalism
The FAA has analyzed this final rule under the principles and
criteria of Executive Order 13132, Federalism. We have determined that
this action will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, or
the relationship between the Federal Government and the States, or on
the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels
of government, and, therefore, does not have federalism implications.
Regulations Affecting Intrastate Aviation in Alaska
Section 1205 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 1996 (110 Stat.
3213) requires the FAA, when modifying its regulations in a manner
affecting intrastate aviation in Alaska, to consider the extent to
which Alaska is not served by transportation modes other than aviation,
and to establish appropriate regulatory distinctions. In the NPRM, we
requested comments on whether the proposed rule should apply
differently to intrastate operations in Alaska. We did not receive any
comments, and we have determined, based on the administrative record of
this rulemaking, that there is no need to make any regulatory
distinctions applicable to intrastate aviation in Alaska.
Environmental Analysis
FAA Order 1050.1E identifies FAA actions that are categorically
excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy
Act in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. The FAA has
determined this rulemaking action qualifies for the categorical
exclusion identified in paragraph 312f and involves no extraordinary
circumstances.
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or
Use
The FAA has analyzed this final rule under Executive Order 13211,
Actions Concerning Regulations that Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use (May 18, 2001). We have determined that it is not
a ``significant energy action'' under the executive order because,
while it is considered a ``significant regulatory action'' under DOT's
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, it is not likely to have a
significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of
energy.
Availability of Rulemaking Documents
You can get an electronic copy of rulemaking documents using the
Internet by--
1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov);
2. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies Web page at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/ or
3. Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at https://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
You can also get a copy by sending 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. Make
sure to identify the notice, amendment, or docket number of this
rulemaking.
Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit
https://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of
1996 requires FAA to comply with small entity requests for information
or advice about compliance with statutes and regulations within its
jurisdiction. If you are a small entity and you have a question
regarding this document, you may contact your local FAA official, or
the person listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT heading at
the beginning of the preamble. You can find out more about SBREFA on
the Internet at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/sbre_act/.
Appendix--Definition of Terms Used in This Rule
For purposes of this final rule, the following definitions are
applicable. Note that some of these definitions are common to those
used in the preamble to the final rule for Sec. 25.1419 Ice
protection, and that rule's accompanying guidance material.
a. Advisory ice detection system--A system that advises the
flightcrew of the presence of ice accretion or icing conditions.
Both primary ice detection systems and advisory ice detection
systems can either direct the pilot to manually activate the ice
protection system or provide a signal that automatically activates
the ice protection system. However, because it has lower reliability
than a primary system, an advisory ice detection system can only be
used in conjunction with other means (most commonly, visual
observation by the flightcrew) to determine the need for, or timing
of, activating the anti-icing or deicing system. With an advisory
ice detection system, the flightcrew is responsible for monitoring
icing conditions or ice accretion as defined in the airplane flight
manual (AFM), typically using total air temperature and visible
moisture criteria or visible ice accretion. With an advisory ice
detection system, the flightcrew is responsible for activating the
anti-icing or deicing system(s).
b. Airframe icing--Ice accretion on the airplane, except for on
the propulsion system.
c. Anti-icing--Prevention of ice accretions on a protected
surface, either by:
Evaporating the impinging water, or
Allowing the impinging water to run back and off the
protected surface or freeze on non-critical areas.
d. Automatic cycling mode--A mode of operation of the airframe
de-icing system that provides repetitive cycles of the system
without the need for the pilot to select each cycle. This is
generally done with a timer, and there may be more than one timing
mode.
e. Conditions conducive to airframe icing--Visible moisture at
or below a static air temperature of 5[deg]C or total air
temperature of 10[deg]C, unless otherwise substantiated.
f. Deicing--The removal or the process of removal of an ice
accretion after it has formed on a surface.
[[Page 52249]]
g. Ice protection system (IPS)--A system that protects certain
critical aircraft parts from ice accretion. To be an approved
system, it must satisfy the requirements of Sec. 23.1419 or Sec.
25.1419 and other applicable requirements.
h. Primary ice detection system--A detection system used to
determine when the IPS must be activated. This system announces the
presence of ice accretion or icing conditions, and it may also
provide information to other aircraft systems. A primary automatic
system automatically activates the anti-icing or deicing IPS. A
primary manual system requires the flightcrew to activate the anti-
icing or deicing IPS upon indication from the primary ice detection
system.
i. Reference surface--The observed surface used as a reference
for the presence of ice on the monitored surface. The reference
surface may be observed directly or indirectly. Ice must occur on
the reference surface before--or at the same time as--it appears on
the monitored surface. Examples of reference surfaces include
windshield wiper blades or bolts, windshield posts, ice evidence
probes, the propeller spinner, and the surface of ice detectors. The
reference surface may also be the monitored surface.
j. Static air temperature--The air temperature that would be
measured by a temperature sensor that is not in motion in relation
to that air. This temperature is also referred to in other documents
as ``outside air temperature,'' ``true outside temperature,'' or
``ambient temperature.''
k. Total air temperature--The static air temperature plus the
rise in temperature due to the air being brought to rest relative to
the airplane.
l. Visual cues--Ice accretion on a reference surface that the
flightcrew observes. The visual cue is used to detect the first sign
of airframe ice accretion.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 121
Aircraft, Air carriers, Aviation safety, Safety, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
The Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration amends part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations
as follows:
PART 121--OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: DOMESTIC, FLAG, AND SUPPLEMENTAL
OPERATIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 121 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 40119, 44101, 44701-44702,
44705, 44709-44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 44722, 44901, 44903-44904,
44912, 46105.
0
2. Revise Sec. 121.321 to read as follows:
Sec. 121.321 Operations in Icing.
After October 21, 2013 no person may operate an airplane with a
certificated maximum takeoff weight less than 60,000 pounds in
conditions conducive to airframe icing unless it complies with this
section. As used in this section, the phrase ``conditions conducive to
airframe icing'' means visible moisture at or below a static air
temperature of 5[deg]C or a total air temperature of 10[deg]C, unless
the approved Airplane Flight Manual provides another definition.
(a) When operating in conditions conducive to airframe icing,
compliance must be shown with paragraph (a)(1), or (2), or (3) of this
section.
(1) The airplane must be equipped with a certificated primary
airframe ice detection system.
(i) The airframe ice protection system must be activated
automatically, or manually by the flightcrew, when the primary ice
detection system indicates activation is necessary.
(ii) When the airframe ice protection system is activated, any
other procedures in the Airplane Flight Manual for operating in icing
conditions must be initiated.
(2) Visual cues of the first sign of ice formation anywhere on the
airplane and a certificated advisory airframe ice detection system must
be provided.
(i) The airframe ice protection system must be activated when any
of the visual cues are observed or when the advisory airframe ice
detection system indicates activation is necessary; whichever occurs
first.
(ii) When the airframe ice protection system is activated, any
other procedures in the Airplane Flight Manual for operating in icing
conditions must be initiated.
(3) If the airplane is not equipped to comply with the provisions
of paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this section, then the following apply:
(i) When operating in conditions conducive to airframe icing, the
airframe ice protection system must be activated prior to, and operated
during, the following phases of flight:
(A) Takeoff climb after second segment,
(B) En route climb,
(C) Go-around climb,
(D) Holding,
(E) Maneuvering for approach and landing, and
(F) Any other operation at approach or holding airspeeds.
(ii) During any other phase of flight, the airframe ice protection
system must be activated and operated at the first sign of ice
formation anywhere on the airplane, unless the Airplane Flight Manual
specifies that the airframe ice protection system should not be used or
provides other operational instructions.
(iii) Any additional procedures for operation in conditions
conducive to icing specified in the Airplane Flight Manual or in the
manual required by Sec. 121.133 must be initiated.
(b) If the procedures specified in paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this
section are specifically prohibited in the Airplane Flight Manual,
compliance must be shown with the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) or
(2) of this section.
(c) Procedures necessary for safe operation of the airframe ice
protection system must be established and documented in:
(1) The Airplane Flight Manual for airplanes that comply with Sec.
121.321(a)(1) or (2), or
(2) The Airplane Flight Manual or in the manual required by Sec.
121.133 for airplanes that comply with Sec. 121.321(a)(3).
(d) Procedures for operation of the airframe ice protection system
must include initial activation, operation after initial activation,
and deactivation. Procedures for operation after initial activation of
the ice protection system must address--
(1) Continuous operation,
(2) Automatic cycling,
(3) Manual cycling if the airplane is equipped with an ice
detection system that alerts the flightcrew each time the ice
protection system must be cycled, or
(4) Manual cycling based on a time interval if the airplane type is
not equipped with features necessary to implement (d)(i)-(iii) of this
section.
(e) System installations used to comply with Sec. 121.321(a)(1) or
(2) must be approved through an amended or supplemental type
certificate in accordance with part 21 of this chapter.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 11, 2011.
J. Randolph Babbitt,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-21247 Filed 8-19-11; 8:45 am]
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