81 FR 33437 - Proposed Inlet Barrier Filter for Rotorcraft Policy Statement

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 102 (May 26, 2016)

The FAA is announcing a public meeting to gather additional technical input on the subject of installing an engine inlet barrier filter (IBF) on rotorcraft. Input gathered will aid in developing FAA guidance for evaluating engine IBFs installed on rotorcraft. Prior to the public meeting, the FAA previously sought public comments regarding the guidance online.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33437-33438]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12526]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 27 and 29

[Docket No. FAA-2016-6691]


Proposed Inlet Barrier Filter for Rotorcraft Policy Statement

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing a public meeting to gather additional 
technical input on the subject of installing an engine inlet barrier 
filter (IBF) on rotorcraft. Input gathered will aid in developing FAA 
guidance for evaluating engine IBFs installed on rotorcraft. Prior to 
the public meeting, the FAA previously sought public comments regarding 
the guidance online.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on the following date. (Note 
that the meeting may be adjourned early if scheduled speakers complete 
their presentations early.)
    July 7, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. (The deadline to 
submit a request to make an oral statement is June 29, 2016.)
    Written comments regarding the policy must be received by July 7, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 
Fort Worth Alliance Airport, 2600 Westport Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 
76177. Due to limited space, attendees are requested to please reply 
(RSVP) to Michael Hughlett, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and 
Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 
Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5889; email 
[email protected]. If computer access is not possible, please 
RSVP via mail, fax or hand delivery via the methods listed directly 
below:
     Mail or Hand Delivery: RSVP to Regulations and Policy 
Group, ASW-111, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
     Fax: RSVP to ASW-111, ATTN: IBF Policy Meeting (RSVP) at 
(817) 222-5961.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests to present a statement at the 
public meeting and questions regarding the logistics of the meeting 
should be directed to Michael Hughlett, Regulations and Policy Group, 
ASW-111, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort 
Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5889, facsimile (817) 222-5961, or 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On January 25, 2016, we invited public comments when we posted on 
the FAA's Web site a draft policy statement regarding the certification 
of IBF installations on rotorcraft. The draft policy statement 
identified items that should be considered in IBF installations, 
including two unique aspects associated with an IBF: (1) Determining 
the power available with IBF blockage at the impending bypass level; 
and (2) evaluating the bypass system. The draft policy also sought to 
clarify the applicability of existing airworthiness standards and 
guidance to engine IBF installations. The draft policy statement is 
intended to ensure safe and standardized installations of engine IBFs 
on rotorcraft.
    Because of significant public interest, we extended the initial 
comment period regarding the policy by 30 days. At the end of the 
comment period, we had received comments from over 35 interested 
parties.

Purpose of the Public Meetings

    The purpose of the public meeting is for the FAA to hear the 
public's views and obtain information relevant to the policy under 
consideration. The FAA will consider comments made at the public 
meeting (as well as comments submitted to the docket) before making a 
final decision on issuance of the policy.
    Persons wishing to attend this one-time meeting are requested to 
register in advance. Your registration must detail whether you wish to 
make a statement during the public meeting. If you do wish to make a 
statement, your registration must indicate which topic you wish to 
speak about and what organization you represent. Due to limited space, 
attendees are requested to please reply (RSVP) to Michael Hughlett via 
the methods listed above in the ADDRESSES section.

[[Page 33438]]

Participation at the Public Meetings

    Commenters who wish to present oral statements at the July 7, 2016, 
public meeting should submit requests to the FAA no later than June 29, 
2016. Requests should be submitted as described in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document and should include a 
written summary of oral remarks to be presented and an estimate of time 
needed for the presentation. Preferably, please submit requests via 
email to: [email protected]. Requests received after the dates 
specified above will be scheduled if there is time available during the 
meeting; however, the speakers' names may not appear on the written 
agenda. To accommodate as many speakers as possible, the amount of time 
allocated to each speaker may be less than the amount of time requested 
to ensure various views can be heard. See ``Public Meeting Procedures'' 
below.
    The FAA may have available a projector and a computer capable of 
accommodating Word and PowerPoint presentations. Persons requiring any 
other kind of audiovisual equipment should notify the FAA when 
requesting to be placed on the agenda.
    The FAA will make every effort to accommodate all persons wishing 
to attend. Sign and oral interpretation can be made available at the 
meeting, as well as an assistive listening device, if requested 10 
calendar days before the meeting.

Public Meeting Procedures

    A panel of representatives from the FAA will be present to 
facilitate the meeting in accordance with the following procedures:
    (1) The meeting is designed to facilitate the public comment 
process. The meeting will be informal and non-adversarial. No 
individual will be subject to cross-examination by any other 
participant. Government representatives on the panel may ask questions 
to clarify statements and to ensure an accurate record. Any statement 
made during the meetings by a panel member should not be construed as 
an official position of the government.
    (2) There will be no admission fees or other charges to attend or 
to participate in the public meeting. The meeting will be open to all 
persons, subject to availability of space in the meeting room. The FAA 
asks that participants sign in between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. on the day of 
the meeting. The FAA will try to accommodate all speakers; however if 
available time does not allow this, speakers who have contacted the FAA 
in advance will be allowed to speak first, others will be scheduled on 
a first-come-first-served basis. The FAA reserves the right to exclude 
some speakers, if necessary, to obtain balanced viewpoints. The meeting 
may adjourn early if scheduled speakers complete their statements in 
less time than is scheduled for the meeting.
    (3) The FAA will prepare agendas of speakers and presenters and 
make the agendas available at the meeting.
    (4) Speaker time slots may be limited to 3-minute statements. If 
possible, the FAA will notify speakers if additional time is available.
    (5) The FAA will review and consider all material presented by 
participants at the public meeting. Position papers or materials 
presenting views or information related to the draft policy may be 
accepted at the discretion of the presiding officer and will be 
subsequently placed in the public docket. The FAA requests that 
presenters at the meeting provide at least 10 copies of all materials 
for distribution to the panel members. Presenters may provide other 
copies to the audience at their discretion.
    (6) We ask each person presenting comments to provide the technical 
basis to support the comments. The most helpful comments reference a 
specific portion of the policy statement and explain the reason for any 
recommended change.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 18, 2016.
Jorge R. Castillo,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12526 Filed 5-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P