Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee-New Task, 4029-4032 [2015-01044]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 2015 / Notices
top and bottom of the cover page and
each succeeding page; and
(3) Must provide a non-confidential
summary of the information or advice.
Any comment containing confidential
information must be submitted by fax. A
non-confidential summary of the
confidential information must be
submitted to www.regulations.gov. The
non-confidential summary will be
placed in the docket and will be open
to public inspection.
Pursuant to section 127(e) of the
Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19
U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will maintain a
docket on this dispute settlement
proceeding, docket number USTR–
2015–0001, accessible to the public at
www.regulations.gov.
The public file will include nonconfidential comments received by
USTR from the public regarding the
dispute. If a dispute settlement panel is
convened, or in the event of an appeal
from such a panel, the following
documents will be made available to the
public at www.ustr.gov: The United
States’ submissions, any nonconfidential submissions received from
other participants in the dispute, and
any non-confidential summaries of
submissions received from other
participants in the dispute. In the event
that a dispute settlement panel is
convened, or in the event of an appeal
from such a panel, the report of the
panel, and, if applicable, the report of
the Appellate Body, will also be
available on the Web site of the World
Trade Organization, at www.wto.org.
Comments open to public inspection
may be viewed at www.regulations.gov.
Juan Millan,
Assistant United States Trade Representative
for Monitoring and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2015–01332 Filed 1–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290–F5–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No: FAA–2011–0786]
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Deadline for Notification of Intent To
Use the Airport Improvement Program
(AIP) Primary, Cargo, and Nonprimary
Entitlement Funds for Fiscal Year 2015
Federal Aviation
Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) announces May
1, 2015, as the deadline for each airport
sponsor to notify the FAA whether or
not it will use its fiscal year 2015
SUMMARY:
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entitlement funds available under
Section 47114 of Title 49, United States
Code, to accomplish Airport
Improvement Program (AIP)-eligible
projects that the sponsor previously
identified through the Airports Capital
Improvement Plan (ACIP) process
during the preceding year.
The sponsor’s notification must
address all entitlement funds
apportioned for fiscal year 2015, as well
as any entitlement funds not obligated
from prior years. After Thursday, July 2,
2015, the FAA will carry over all
remaining entitlement funds, and the
funds will not be available again until
at least the beginning of fiscal year 2016.
This notification requirement does not
apply to non-primary airports covered
by the block-grant program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Frank J. San Martin, Manager, Airports
Financial Assistance Division, APP–
500, on (202) 267–3831.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 49 of
the United States Code, section 47105(f),
provides that the sponsor of each airport
to which funds are apportioned shall
notify the Secretary by such time and in
a form as prescribed by the Secretary, of
the sponsor’s intent to apply for its
apportioned funds, also called
entitlement funds. Therefore, the FAA is
hereby notifying sponsors about steps
required to ensure that the FAA has
sufficient time to carryover and convert
remaining entitlement funds, due to
processes required under federal laws.
This notice applies only to those
airports that have had entitlement funds
apportioned to them, except those
nonprimary airports located in
designated Block Grant States. Sponsors
intending to apply for any of their
available entitlement funds, including
those unused from prior years, shall
submit by 12 p.m. prevailing local time
on Friday, May 1, 2015, a written
indication to the designated Airports
District Office (or Regional Office in
regions without Airports District
Offices) their intent to submit a grant
application no later than close of
business Thursday, July 2, 2015, to use
their fiscal year 2015 entitlement funds
available under Title 49 of the United
States Code, section 47114. This notice
must address all entitlement funds
apportioned for fiscal year 2015
including those entitlement funds not
obligated from prior years. By Friday,
June 5, 2015, airport sponsors that have
not yet submitted a final application to
the FAA, should notify the FAA of any
issues with meeting the final
application deadline of Thursday July 2,
2015. Absent notification from the
sponsor by the May 1 deadline and/or
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subsequent notification by the June 5
deadline of any issues with meeting the
application deadline, the FAA will
proceed after Thursday, July 2, 2015 to
take action to carry over all remaining
entitlement funds without further
notice. The funds will not be available
again until at least the beginning of
fiscal year 2016.
This notice is promulgated to
expedite and facilitate the grant-making
process.
The AIP grant program is operating
under the requirements of Public Law
112–91, the ‘‘FAA Modernization and
Reform Act of 2012,’’ enacted on
February 14, 2012, which authorizes the
FAA through September 30, 2015 and
the ‘‘Consolidated and Further
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015’’
which appropriates FY 2015 funds for
the AIP.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 20,
2015.
Elliott Black,
Director, Office of Airport Planning and
Programming.
[FR Doc. 2015–01318 Filed 1–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory
Committee—New Task
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of new task assignment
for the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory
Committee (ARAC).
AGENCY:
The FAA assigned the
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory
Committee (ARAC) a new task to
provide recommendations regarding
revision of the damage-tolerance and
fatigue requirements of Title 14, Code of
Federal Regulations (14 CFR), part 25,
including subparts C and E of 14 CFR
part 26, and development of associated
advisory material for metallic,
composite, and hybrid structures. Past
changes to the damage-tolerance and
fatigue airworthiness standards and
advisory material have been more
specific to transport airplanes
constructed predominantly of metal,
using skin-stringer-frame architecture.
Today, the trend in industry is to use
more composite and hybrid structures
(i.e., structure that includes a
combination of composite and metallic
parts and assemblies) to improve the
performance of transport airplanes. As a
result, the damage-tolerance and fatigue
airworthiness standards and advisory
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 2015 / Notices
material may not be adequate to address
this trend. This notice informs the
public of the new ARAC activity and
solicits membership for the new
Transport Airplane Metallic and
Composite Structures Working Group.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walt
Sippel, Federal Aviation
Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
Renton, WA 98057–3356, walter.sippel@
faa.gov, phone number 425–227–2774,
facsimile number 425–227–1232.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ARAC Acceptance of Task
As a result of the December 18, 2014,
ARAC meeting, the FAA has assigned
and ARAC has accepted this task
establishing the Transport Airplane
Metallic and Composite Structures
Working Group, under the Transport
Airplane and Engine (TAE)
Subcommittee. The working group will
serve as staff to the ARAC and provide
advice and recommendations on the
assigned task. The ARAC will review
and approve the recommendation report
and will submit it to the FAA.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Background
The FAA established the ARAC to
provide information, advice, and
recommendations on aviation related
issues that could result in rulemaking to
the FAA Administrator, through the
Associate Administrator of Aviation
Safety.
The Transport Airplane Metallic and
Composite Structures Working Group
will provide advice and
recommendations to the ARAC on the
damage-tolerance and fatigue
requirements of part 25 and any
associated advisory material for
metallic, composite, and hybrid
structures. This includes the
requirements of and regulatory guidance
material for subparts C and E of part 26
and any associated advisory material.
The requirements of § 25.571 apply
equally to structure constructed from
either metallic or nonmetallic materials.
Guidance material is contained in the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Advisory Circulars (AC) 25.571–1D and
20–107B for metallic and composite
structures, respectively. The changes to
§ 25.571 that the FAA has adopted over
the years have been more specific to the
technical issues primarily associated
with metallic structure. In Amendment
25–132 to § 25.571, the FAA added
requirements for applicants to establish
a limit of validity of the engineering
data that supports the structural
maintenance program (hereafter referred
to as LOV) and to demonstrate that
widespread fatigue damage (WFD) will
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not occur in the airplane prior to
reaching the LOV. The objective of this
change, along with the development of
the related guidance material, was
focused on addressing the normal
fatigue wear-out of metallic structure.
Among other things, § 25.571 requires
applicants to establish an LOV based on
WFD considerations, and identify in the
structural-maintenance program all
maintenance actions required to address
fatigue, environmental damage, and
accidental damage throughout the
operational life of the airplane. In a
similar way, subpart C requires certain
actions to prevent catastrophic failure
due to WFD throughout the operational
life of certain existing transport category
airplanes. The FAA also adopted
subpart E of part 26 to require holders
of design approvals to make available to
operators damage tolerance data for
repairs and alterations to fatigue critical
airplane structure. In addition to AC
25.571–1D, guidance material for
subparts C and E of part 26 are
contained in ACs 120–104 and 120–93,
respectively. Because the adoption of
those requirements and § 25.571 were
primarily focused on metallic structure,
the FAA needs to evaluate those rules
and advisory material to determine
whether further changes are required to
address composite structures.
Remaining Rulemaking
Recommendations
In 1995, the FAA tasked the ARAC to
recommend appropriate revisions for
harmonization of § 25.571, supporting
policy and guidance material, and
corresponding paragraph 25.571 of the
Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR),
which is now Certification Specification
(CS) 25.571 under the European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The
ARAC formed the General Structures
Harmonization Working Group
(GSHWG) to carry out that task. In 2003,
the GSHWG submitted the Working
Group Report on § 25.571 and JAR
25.571 [CS 25.571] to ARAC. That report
described proposed changes to
harmonize the rules and related
guidance material. The GSHWG
recommended revising or adding
requirements for inspection thresholds,
LOV, and structural damage capability.
Subpart C of part 26 and § 25.571,
Amendment 25–132, incorporated the
recommendation to add requirements
for establishing an LOV. The FAA has
not yet addressed the GSHWG
recommendations related to inspection
thresholds and structural damage
capability, and would request these be
considered in the context of this
rulemaking, which include:
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• Replacing the prescriptive
requirement of § 25.571(a)(3) for setting
damage-tolerance inspection thresholds
with a performance-based requirement.
• Adding a requirement for showing
structural capability in the presence of
damage, so that even if the structure
fails partially, there will still be enough
structure remaining to be safe.
Increased Use of Composites
Today, the trend in industry is to use
more composite structures than in the
past. The Small Airplane and Rotorcraft
Directorates addressed this trend by
creating separate rules for parts 23, 27
and 29 for composite structures
(§ 2X.573). This tasking will consider
the changes to those rules as part of the
evaluation of the damage-tolerance and
fatigue airworthiness standards and
associated advisory material.
In June of 2009, the FAA Transport
Airplane Directorate sought comments
through the Federal Register (74 FR
26919) on a need for future rulemaking
to address extensive use of composite
materials in transport category airplane
construction. Several candidate
technical areas were noted in the
request, including fire safety,
crashworthiness, lightning protection,
fuel tank safety and damage-tolerance.
The response by industry indicated that
each area needs improved guidance and
possible rulemaking. We believe the
damage-tolerance requirements would
require relatively small changes versus
some of the updates desired in other
areas.
Composite considerations the working
group will need to address include:
• Composite analyses and test
protocols as related to evolving industry
practices and the development of
regulatory standards.
• Composite damage threats (e.g.,
environmental and accidental damage)
and associated maintenance practices.
• Large-scale test demonstration of
repeated-load reliability and a need to
use load enhancement factors for
composite structure.
• Thermal stresses generated between
metal-composite interfaces, which are
difficult to replicate in structural
repeated-load testing but are required by
§ 25.571 to be considered.
Future Applicability
Any future change to § 25.571 should
be performance-based to the extent
possible, allowing application to not
only current aerospace materials and
material systems, but those yet to be
developed (i.e., emerging technology).
Guidance material, including changes to
AC 25.571–1D, or AC 20–107B, should
provide complete guidance for
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 2015 / Notices
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traditional metal structure, composite
structure, and hybrid structure (i.e.,
structures that include a combination of
composite and metallic parts and
assemblies).
There are other FAA initiatives in the
area of transport crashworthiness, fuel
tank lightning protection, and
composite flammability testing, which
will lead to further standardization of
requirements related to composite
airframes. These initiatives would not
affect § 25.571.
The Task
The Transport Airplane Metallic and
Composite Structures Working Group is
tasked to:
1. Evaluate § 25.571, subparts C and E
of part 26, and associated regulatory
guidance material (e.g., advisory
circulars and policy statements) to
determine whether any changes to the
airworthiness standards and/or
guidance material are required to
address transport airplanes being
constructed of metallic, composite, and
hybrid structures. The working group is
also tasked to evaluate whether any
changes to part 25 and the associated
regulatory guidance material are
required to provide consistency with the
damage-tolerance and fatigue
airworthiness standards and associated
guidance material for parts 23, 27, and
29. The working group is requested to
include in its evaluation a review of the
following advisory circulars (AC) and
policy statements (PS):
a. Advisory Circulars: AC 25.571–1,
Damage Tolerance and Fatigue
Evaluation of Structure; AC 20–107,
Composite Airframe Structure; AC 120–
93, Damage Tolerance Inspections for
Repairs and Alterations; AC 120–104,
Establishing and Implementing Limit of
Validity to Prevent Widespread Fatigue
Damage; AC 27–1, Certification of
Normal Category Rotorcraft
(specifically, Subpart C—Strength
Requirements); and AC 29–2,
Certification of Transport Category
Rotorcraft (specifically, Subpart C—
Strength Requirements).
b. Policy Statements: PS–ANM100–
1989–00048, Policy Regarding Impact of
Modifications and Repairs on the
Damage Tolerance Characteristics of
Transport Category Airplanes; PS–
ACE100–2001–006, Static Strength
Substantiation of Composite Airplane
Structure; PS–AIR–100–120–07,
Guidance for Component Contractor
Generated Composite Design Values for
Composite Structure; PS–ACE100–
2002–006, Material Qualification and
Equivalency for Polymer Matrix
Composite Material Systems; PS–ANM–
100–1991–00049, Policy Regarding
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18:48 Jan 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
Material Strength Properties and Design
Values, § 25.613; PS–ANM100–1993,
Compliance with § 25.571(e) Discrete
Source Damage (Uncontained Engine
Failure).
2. Advise and make written
recommendations on whether to change
14 CFR part 25, subparts C and E of 14
CFR part 26, and related regulatory
guidance material, such as ACs 25.571–
1, 20–107, 120–93, and 120–104, to
address the use of metallic, composite,
and hybrid structures in transport
airplanes. In developing the
recommendations, the working group is
requested to consider:
a. The threats associated with fatigue,
environmental exposure, and accidental
damage that must be addressed per
§ 25.571.
b. Applicability to emerging
technology materials.
c. The recommendations contained in
the 2003 General Structures
Harmonization Working Group
(GSHWG) report entitled, ‘‘Damage
Tolerance and Fatigue Evaluation of
Structures, FAR/JAR § 25.571.’’ You can
find the GSHWG report at https://
www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/
rulemaking/committees/documents/
index.cfm/document/information/
documentID/384. The working group
recommendations should include
whether it is appropriate to:
i. Require applicants to assume the
structure contains an initial flaw of the
maximum probable size that could exist
as a result of manufacturing or serviceinduced damage.
ii. Add a requirement for showing
structural capability in the presence of
damage, so that even if the structure
fails partially, there will still be enough
structure remaining to be safe.
d. The continued operational safety of
composite and hybrid structures as they
age, including any airworthiness
limitations in the structural
maintenance program.
e. The testing of hybrid structure,
including, but not limited to, addressing
thermal effects, test duration, load
enhancement factors, and crack-growth
retardation.
f. The bonding or bolting of repairs to
metallic, composite, and hybrid
structures.
g. The certification of large structural
modifications on transport airplanes
constructed of composite or hybrid
structures.
h. The EASA rulemaking activity on
aging aircraft for harmonization
purposes.
3. Provide recommendations on
appropriate performance-based
requirements to address the results of
the evaluations above, with
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4031
consideration of applicability not only
to metals and known composites, but
also other emerging technology
materials.
4. Provide recommendations on any
new guidance or changes to existing
guidance, including AC 25.571–1D, and
AC 20–107B to address the results of the
evaluations above.
5. Provide initial qualitative and
quantitative costs and benefits. Based on
the recommendations, perform the
following:
a. Estimate the costs to implement the
recommendations;
b. Estimate the benefits of the
recommendations in terms of potential
fatalities averted;
c. Estimate any other benefits (e.g.,
reduced administrative burden) that
would result from implementation of
the recommendations.
6. Develop a report containing
recommendations on the findings and
results of the tasks explained above.
a. The recommendation report should
document both majority and dissenting
positions on the findings and the
rationale for each position.
b. Any disagreements should be
documented, including the rationale for
each position and the reasons for the
disagreement.
7. The working group may be
reinstated to assist the ARAC by
responding to the FAA’s questions or
concerns after the recommendation
report has been submitted.
Schedule
The recommendation report must be
submitted to the FAA for review and
acceptance no later than 24 months after
publication of this notice.
Working Group Activity
The Transport Airplane Metallic and
Composite Structures Working Group
must comply with the procedures
adopted by the ARAC. As part of the
procedures, the working group must:
1. Conduct a review and analysis of
the assigned tasks and any other related
materials or documents.
2. Draft and submit a work plan for
completion of the task, including the
rationale supporting such a plan, for
consideration by the Transport Airplane
and Engine Subcommittee.
3. Provide a status report at each
Transport Airplane and Engine
Subcommittee meeting.
4. Draft and submit the
recommendation report based on the
review and analysis of the assigned
tasks.
5. Present the recommendation report
at the Transport Airplane and Engine
Subcommittee meeting.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 2015 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
6. Present the findings from the
additional tasks at the Transport
Airplane and Engine Subcommittee
meeting.
7. Present the findings in response to
the FAA’s questions or concerns about
the recommendation report at the
Transport Airplane and Engine
Subcommittee meeting.
Participation in the Working Group
The Transport Airplane Metallic and
Composite Structures Working Group
will be comprised of technical experts
having an interest in the assigned task.
A working group member need not be
a member representative of the ARAC.
The FAA would like a wide range of
members to ensure all aspects of the
tasks are considered in development of
the recommendations. The provisions of
the August 13, 2014, Office of
Management and Budget guidance,
‘‘Revised Guidance on Appointment of
Lobbyists to Federal Advisory
Committees, Boards, and Commissions’’
(79 FR 47482), continues the ban on
registered lobbyists participating on
Agency Boards and Commissions if
participating in their ‘‘individual
capacity.’’ The revised guidance now
allows registered lobbyists to participate
on Agency Boards and Commissions in
a ‘‘representative capacity’’ for the
‘‘express purpose of providing a
committee with the views of a
nongovernmental entity, a recognizable
group of persons or nongovernmental
entities (an industry, sector, labor
unions, or environmental groups, etc.)
or state or local government.’’ (For
further information see Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) as
amended, 2 U.S.C 1603, 1604, and
1605.)
If you wish to become a member of
the Transport Airplane Metallic and
Composite Structures Working Group,
write the person listed under the
caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT expressing that desire. Describe
your interest in the task and state the
expertise you would bring to the
working group. The FAA must receive
all requests by February 25, 2015. The
ARAC and the FAA will review the
requests and advise you whether or not
your request is approved.
If you are chosen for membership on
the working group, you must actively
participate in the working group by
attending all meetings, and providing
written comments when requested to do
so. You must devote the resources
necessary to support the working group
in meeting any assigned deadlines. You
must keep your management chain and
those you may represent advised of
working group activities and decisions
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Jkt 235001
to ensure the proposed technical
solutions do not conflict with the
position of those you represent. Once
the working group has begun
deliberations, members will not be
added or substituted without the
approval of the Transport Airplane and
Engine Subcommittee Chair, the FAA,
including the Designated Federal
Officer, and the Working Group Chair.
The Secretary of Transportation
determined the formation and use of the
ARAC is necessary and in the public
interest in connection with the
performance of duties imposed on the
FAA by law.
ARAC meetings are open to the
public. However, meetings of the
Transport Airplane Metallic and
Composite Structures Working Group
are not open to the public, except to the
extent individuals with an interest and
expertise are selected to participate. The
FAA will make no public
announcement of working group
meetings.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 16,
2015.
Lirio Liu,
Designated Federal Officer, Aviation
Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 2015–01044 Filed 1–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2015–0001]
Establishment of an Emergency Relief
Docket for Calendar Year 2015
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of establishment of
public docket.
AGENCY:
This Notice announces the
establishment of FRA’s Emergency
Relief Docket (ERD) for calendar year
2015. The designated ERD for calendar
year 2015 is Docket Number FRA–2015–
0001.
ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for further
information regarding submitting
petitions and/or comments to Docket
Number FRA–2015–0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May
19, 2009, FRA published a direct final
rule addressing the establishment of
ERDs and the procedures for handling
petitions for emergency waivers of
safety rules, regulations, or standards
during an emergency situation or event.
74 FR 23329. That direct final rule
SUMMARY:
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became effective on July 20, 2009, and
made minor modifications to Title 49
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
211.45 in FRA’s Rules of Practice
published at 49 CFR part 211. Paragraph
(b) of 49 CFR 211.45 provides that each
calendar year, FRA will establish an
ERD in the publicly accessible DOT
docket system (available on the internet
at https://www.regulations.gov).
Paragraph (b) of 49 CFR 211.45 further
provides that FRA will publish a notice
in the Federal Register identifying by
docket number the ERD for that year. As
noted in the rule, FRA’s purpose for
establishing the ERD and emergency
waiver procedures is to provide an
expedited process for FRA to address
the needs of the public and the railroad
industry during emergency situations or
events. This Notice announces that the
designated ERD for calendar year 2015
is Docket Number FRA–2015–0001.
As detailed in 49 CFR 211.45, if the
FRA Administrator determines that an
emergency event as defined in 49 CFR
211.45(a) has occurred, or that an
imminent threat of such an emergency
occurring exists, and public safety
would benefit from providing the
railroad industry with operational relief,
the emergency waiver procedures of 49
CFR 211.45 will go into effect. In such
an event, the FRA Administrator will
issue a statement in the ERD indicating
that the emergency waiver procedures
are in effect and FRA will make every
effort to post the statement on its Web
site at https://www.fra.dot.gov/. Any
party desiring relief from FRA
regulatory requirements as a result of
the emergency situation should submit
a petition for emergency waiver in
accordance with 49 CFR 211.45(e) and
(f). Specific instructions for filing
petitions for emergency waivers in
accordance with 49 CFR 211.45 are
found at 49 CFR 211.45(f). Specific
instructions for filing comments in
response to petitions for emergency
waivers are found at 49 CFR 211.45(h).
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of any written
communications and comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the document, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). In
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT
solicits comments from the public to
better inform its processes. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including
any personal information the
commenter provides, to
www.regulations.gov, as described in
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL–
14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy. See also https://
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4029-4032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01044]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee--New Task
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (ARAC).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee
(ARAC) a new task to provide recommendations regarding revision of the
damage-tolerance and fatigue requirements of Title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR), part 25, including subparts C and E of 14 CFR
part 26, and development of associated advisory material for metallic,
composite, and hybrid structures. Past changes to the damage-tolerance
and fatigue airworthiness standards and advisory material have been
more specific to transport airplanes constructed predominantly of
metal, using skin-stringer-frame architecture. Today, the trend in
industry is to use more composite and hybrid structures (i.e.,
structure that includes a combination of composite and metallic parts
and assemblies) to improve the performance of transport airplanes. As a
result, the damage-tolerance and fatigue airworthiness standards and
advisory
[[Page 4030]]
material may not be adequate to address this trend. This notice informs
the public of the new ARAC activity and solicits membership for the new
Transport Airplane Metallic and Composite Structures Working Group.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walt Sippel, Federal Aviation
Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356,
walter.sippel@faa.gov, phone number 425-227-2774, facsimile number 425-
227-1232.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ARAC Acceptance of Task
As a result of the December 18, 2014, ARAC meeting, the FAA has
assigned and ARAC has accepted this task establishing the Transport
Airplane Metallic and Composite Structures Working Group, under the
Transport Airplane and Engine (TAE) Subcommittee. The working group
will serve as staff to the ARAC and provide advice and recommendations
on the assigned task. The ARAC will review and approve the
recommendation report and will submit it to the FAA.
Background
The FAA established the ARAC to provide information, advice, and
recommendations on aviation related issues that could result in
rulemaking to the FAA Administrator, through the Associate
Administrator of Aviation Safety.
The Transport Airplane Metallic and Composite Structures Working
Group will provide advice and recommendations to the ARAC on the
damage-tolerance and fatigue requirements of part 25 and any associated
advisory material for metallic, composite, and hybrid structures. This
includes the requirements of and regulatory guidance material for
subparts C and E of part 26 and any associated advisory material.
The requirements of Sec. 25.571 apply equally to structure
constructed from either metallic or nonmetallic materials. Guidance
material is contained in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Advisory Circulars (AC) 25.571-1D and 20-107B for metallic and
composite structures, respectively. The changes to Sec. 25.571 that
the FAA has adopted over the years have been more specific to the
technical issues primarily associated with metallic structure. In
Amendment 25-132 to Sec. 25.571, the FAA added requirements for
applicants to establish a limit of validity of the engineering data
that supports the structural maintenance program (hereafter referred to
as LOV) and to demonstrate that widespread fatigue damage (WFD) will
not occur in the airplane prior to reaching the LOV. The objective of
this change, along with the development of the related guidance
material, was focused on addressing the normal fatigue wear-out of
metallic structure. Among other things, Sec. 25.571 requires
applicants to establish an LOV based on WFD considerations, and
identify in the structural-maintenance program all maintenance actions
required to address fatigue, environmental damage, and accidental
damage throughout the operational life of the airplane. In a similar
way, subpart C requires certain actions to prevent catastrophic failure
due to WFD throughout the operational life of certain existing
transport category airplanes. The FAA also adopted subpart E of part 26
to require holders of design approvals to make available to operators
damage tolerance data for repairs and alterations to fatigue critical
airplane structure. In addition to AC 25.571-1D, guidance material for
subparts C and E of part 26 are contained in ACs 120-104 and 120-93,
respectively. Because the adoption of those requirements and Sec.
25.571 were primarily focused on metallic structure, the FAA needs to
evaluate those rules and advisory material to determine whether further
changes are required to address composite structures.
Remaining Rulemaking Recommendations
In 1995, the FAA tasked the ARAC to recommend appropriate revisions
for harmonization of Sec. 25.571, supporting policy and guidance
material, and corresponding paragraph 25.571 of the Joint Aviation
Requirements (JAR), which is now Certification Specification (CS)
25.571 under the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The ARAC
formed the General Structures Harmonization Working Group (GSHWG) to
carry out that task. In 2003, the GSHWG submitted the Working Group
Report on Sec. 25.571 and JAR 25.571 [CS 25.571] to ARAC. That report
described proposed changes to harmonize the rules and related guidance
material. The GSHWG recommended revising or adding requirements for
inspection thresholds, LOV, and structural damage capability.
Subpart C of part 26 and Sec. 25.571, Amendment 25-132,
incorporated the recommendation to add requirements for establishing an
LOV. The FAA has not yet addressed the GSHWG recommendations related to
inspection thresholds and structural damage capability, and would
request these be considered in the context of this rulemaking, which
include:
Replacing the prescriptive requirement of Sec.
25.571(a)(3) for setting damage-tolerance inspection thresholds with a
performance-based requirement.
Adding a requirement for showing structural capability in
the presence of damage, so that even if the structure fails partially,
there will still be enough structure remaining to be safe.
Increased Use of Composites
Today, the trend in industry is to use more composite structures
than in the past. The Small Airplane and Rotorcraft Directorates
addressed this trend by creating separate rules for parts 23, 27 and 29
for composite structures (Sec. 2X.573). This tasking will consider the
changes to those rules as part of the evaluation of the damage-
tolerance and fatigue airworthiness standards and associated advisory
material.
In June of 2009, the FAA Transport Airplane Directorate sought
comments through the Federal Register (74 FR 26919) on a need for
future rulemaking to address extensive use of composite materials in
transport category airplane construction. Several candidate technical
areas were noted in the request, including fire safety,
crashworthiness, lightning protection, fuel tank safety and damage-
tolerance. The response by industry indicated that each area needs
improved guidance and possible rulemaking. We believe the damage-
tolerance requirements would require relatively small changes versus
some of the updates desired in other areas.
Composite considerations the working group will need to address
include:
Composite analyses and test protocols as related to
evolving industry practices and the development of regulatory
standards.
Composite damage threats (e.g., environmental and
accidental damage) and associated maintenance practices.
Large-scale test demonstration of repeated-load
reliability and a need to use load enhancement factors for composite
structure.
Thermal stresses generated between metal-composite
interfaces, which are difficult to replicate in structural repeated-
load testing but are required by Sec. 25.571 to be considered.
Future Applicability
Any future change to Sec. 25.571 should be performance-based to
the extent possible, allowing application to not only current aerospace
materials and material systems, but those yet to be developed (i.e.,
emerging technology). Guidance material, including changes to AC
25.571-1D, or AC 20-107B, should provide complete guidance for
[[Page 4031]]
traditional metal structure, composite structure, and hybrid structure
(i.e., structures that include a combination of composite and metallic
parts and assemblies).
There are other FAA initiatives in the area of transport
crashworthiness, fuel tank lightning protection, and composite
flammability testing, which will lead to further standardization of
requirements related to composite airframes. These initiatives would
not affect Sec. 25.571.
The Task
The Transport Airplane Metallic and Composite Structures Working
Group is tasked to:
1. Evaluate Sec. 25.571, subparts C and E of part 26, and
associated regulatory guidance material (e.g., advisory circulars and
policy statements) to determine whether any changes to the
airworthiness standards and/or guidance material are required to
address transport airplanes being constructed of metallic, composite,
and hybrid structures. The working group is also tasked to evaluate
whether any changes to part 25 and the associated regulatory guidance
material are required to provide consistency with the damage-tolerance
and fatigue airworthiness standards and associated guidance material
for parts 23, 27, and 29. The working group is requested to include in
its evaluation a review of the following advisory circulars (AC) and
policy statements (PS):
a. Advisory Circulars: AC 25.571-1, Damage Tolerance and Fatigue
Evaluation of Structure; AC 20-107, Composite Airframe Structure; AC
120-93, Damage Tolerance Inspections for Repairs and Alterations; AC
120-104, Establishing and Implementing Limit of Validity to Prevent
Widespread Fatigue Damage; AC 27-1, Certification of Normal Category
Rotorcraft (specifically, Subpart C--Strength Requirements); and AC 29-
2, Certification of Transport Category Rotorcraft (specifically,
Subpart C--Strength Requirements).
b. Policy Statements: PS-ANM100-1989-00048, Policy Regarding Impact
of Modifications and Repairs on the Damage Tolerance Characteristics of
Transport Category Airplanes; PS-ACE100-2001-006, Static Strength
Substantiation of Composite Airplane Structure; PS-AIR-100-120-07,
Guidance for Component Contractor Generated Composite Design Values for
Composite Structure; PS-ACE100-2002-006, Material Qualification and
Equivalency for Polymer Matrix Composite Material Systems; PS-ANM-100-
1991-00049, Policy Regarding Material Strength Properties and Design
Values, Sec. 25.613; PS-ANM100-1993, Compliance with Sec. 25.571(e)
Discrete Source Damage (Uncontained Engine Failure).
2. Advise and make written recommendations on whether to change 14
CFR part 25, subparts C and E of 14 CFR part 26, and related regulatory
guidance material, such as ACs 25.571-1, 20-107, 120-93, and 120-104,
to address the use of metallic, composite, and hybrid structures in
transport airplanes. In developing the recommendations, the working
group is requested to consider:
a. The threats associated with fatigue, environmental exposure, and
accidental damage that must be addressed per Sec. 25.571.
b. Applicability to emerging technology materials.
c. The recommendations contained in the 2003 General Structures
Harmonization Working Group (GSHWG) report entitled, ``Damage Tolerance
and Fatigue Evaluation of Structures, FAR/JAR Sec. 25.571.'' You can
find the GSHWG report at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/committees/documents/index.cfm/document/information/documentID/384. The working group recommendations should include
whether it is appropriate to:
i. Require applicants to assume the structure contains an initial
flaw of the maximum probable size that could exist as a result of
manufacturing or service-induced damage.
ii. Add a requirement for showing structural capability in the
presence of damage, so that even if the structure fails partially,
there will still be enough structure remaining to be safe.
d. The continued operational safety of composite and hybrid
structures as they age, including any airworthiness limitations in the
structural maintenance program.
e. The testing of hybrid structure, including, but not limited to,
addressing thermal effects, test duration, load enhancement factors,
and crack-growth retardation.
f. The bonding or bolting of repairs to metallic, composite, and
hybrid structures.
g. The certification of large structural modifications on transport
airplanes constructed of composite or hybrid structures.
h. The EASA rulemaking activity on aging aircraft for harmonization
purposes.
3. Provide recommendations on appropriate performance-based
requirements to address the results of the evaluations above, with
consideration of applicability not only to metals and known composites,
but also other emerging technology materials.
4. Provide recommendations on any new guidance or changes to
existing guidance, including AC 25.571-1D, and AC 20-107B to address
the results of the evaluations above.
5. Provide initial qualitative and quantitative costs and benefits.
Based on the recommendations, perform the following:
a. Estimate the costs to implement the recommendations;
b. Estimate the benefits of the recommendations in terms of
potential fatalities averted;
c. Estimate any other benefits (e.g., reduced administrative
burden) that would result from implementation of the recommendations.
6. Develop a report containing recommendations on the findings and
results of the tasks explained above.
a. The recommendation report should document both majority and
dissenting positions on the findings and the rationale for each
position.
b. Any disagreements should be documented, including the rationale
for each position and the reasons for the disagreement.
7. The working group may be reinstated to assist the ARAC by
responding to the FAA's questions or concerns after the recommendation
report has been submitted.
Schedule
The recommendation report must be submitted to the FAA for review
and acceptance no later than 24 months after publication of this
notice.
Working Group Activity
The Transport Airplane Metallic and Composite Structures Working
Group must comply with the procedures adopted by the ARAC. As part of
the procedures, the working group must:
1. Conduct a review and analysis of the assigned tasks and any
other related materials or documents.
2. Draft and submit a work plan for completion of the task,
including the rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration by
the Transport Airplane and Engine Subcommittee.
3. Provide a status report at each Transport Airplane and Engine
Subcommittee meeting.
4. Draft and submit the recommendation report based on the review
and analysis of the assigned tasks.
5. Present the recommendation report at the Transport Airplane and
Engine Subcommittee meeting.
[[Page 4032]]
6. Present the findings from the additional tasks at the Transport
Airplane and Engine Subcommittee meeting.
7. Present the findings in response to the FAA's questions or
concerns about the recommendation report at the Transport Airplane and
Engine Subcommittee meeting.
Participation in the Working Group
The Transport Airplane Metallic and Composite Structures Working
Group will be comprised of technical experts having an interest in the
assigned task. A working group member need not be a member
representative of the ARAC. The FAA would like a wide range of members
to ensure all aspects of the tasks are considered in development of the
recommendations. The provisions of the August 13, 2014, Office of
Management and Budget guidance, ``Revised Guidance on Appointment of
Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions'' (79
FR 47482), continues the ban on registered lobbyists participating on
Agency Boards and Commissions if participating in their ``individual
capacity.'' The revised guidance now allows registered lobbyists to
participate on Agency Boards and Commissions in a ``representative
capacity'' for the ``express purpose of providing a committee with the
views of a nongovernmental entity, a recognizable group of persons or
nongovernmental entities (an industry, sector, labor unions, or
environmental groups, etc.) or state or local government.'' (For
further information see Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) as
amended, 2 U.S.C 1603, 1604, and 1605.)
If you wish to become a member of the Transport Airplane Metallic
and Composite Structures Working Group, write the person listed under
the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that desire.
Describe your interest in the task and state the expertise you would
bring to the working group. The FAA must receive all requests by
February 25, 2015. The ARAC and the FAA will review the requests and
advise you whether or not your request is approved.
If you are chosen for membership on the working group, you must
actively participate in the working group by attending all meetings,
and providing written comments when requested to do so. You must devote
the resources necessary to support the working group in meeting any
assigned deadlines. You must keep your management chain and those you
may represent advised of working group activities and decisions to
ensure the proposed technical solutions do not conflict with the
position of those you represent. Once the working group has begun
deliberations, members will not be added or substituted without the
approval of the Transport Airplane and Engine Subcommittee Chair, the
FAA, including the Designated Federal Officer, and the Working Group
Chair.
The Secretary of Transportation determined the formation and use of
the ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the
performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
ARAC meetings are open to the public. However, meetings of the
Transport Airplane Metallic and Composite Structures Working Group are
not open to the public, except to the extent individuals with an
interest and expertise are selected to participate. The FAA will make
no public announcement of working group meetings.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2015.
Lirio Liu,
Designated Federal Officer, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 2015-01044 Filed 1-23-15; 8:45 am]
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