Aging Airplane Safety

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21379]



[[Page 45089]]

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Part V





Department of Transportation





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Federal Aviation Administration



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14 CFR Parts 119, 121 et al.



Aging Airplane Safety; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 64. No. 159 / Wednesday, August 18, 1999 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 45090]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 119, 121, 129, 135, and 183

[Docket No. FAA-1999-5401; Notice No. 99-02]
RIN 2120-AE42


Aging Airplane Safety

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On April 2, 1999, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding aging aircraft safety and invited comments 
for a 120-day period. The comment period closed on August 2, 1999; 
however, the FAA is reopening the comment period for an additional 60 
days in response to a request from the National Air Transportation 
Association (NATA). Per NATA, the reopening of the comment period is 
needed to allow small businesses whose operations are especially busy 
during the spring and summer additional time to evaluate the extensive 
proposal.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 18, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed rulemaking should be mailed or 
delivered, in triplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation 
Dockets, Docket No. FAA-1999-5401, 400 Seventh St. SW., Room Plaza 401, 
Washington, DC 20590. Comments also may be submitted electronically to 
the following Internet address: [email protected] Comments may be 
filed and/or examined in Room Plaza 401, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 
p.m. weekdays except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Sobeck, Aircraft Maintenance 
Division (AFS-300), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
telephone (202) 267-7355.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they desire. Comments relating to the environmental, energy, 
federalism, or economic impact that might result from adopting the 
proposals in this notice also are invited. Substantive comments should 
be accompanied by cost estimates. Comments must identify the regulatory 
docket or notice number and be submitted in triplicate to the Rules 
Docket address specified above.
    All comments received, as well as a report summarizing each 
substantive public contact with FAA personnel on this rulemaking, will 
be filed in the docket. The docket is available for public inspection 
before and after the comment closing date.
    All comments received on or before the closing date will be 
considered by the Administrator before taking action on this proposed 
rulemaking. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent 
practicable. The proposals contained in this NPRM may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this NPRM must include a pre-addressed, 
stamped postcard with those comments on which the following statement 
is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-1999-5401.'' The postcard will be 
date stamped and mailed to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Using a modem and suitable communications software, an electronic 
copy of this document may be downloaded from the FAA regulations 
section of the FedWorld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 
(703) 321-3339), or the Federal Register's electronic bulletin board 
service (telephone: (202) 512-1661).
    Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov/
avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm or the Government Printing Office's webpage at 
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara for access to recently published 
rulemaking documents.
    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting 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. Communications must identify the notice number or docket 
number of this NPRM.
    Persons interested in being placed on the mailing list for future 
NPRMs should request from the above office a copy of Advisory Circular 
No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which 
describes the application procedure.

Background

    On March 19, 1999, the FAA issued NPRM 99-02 (63 FR 16298, April 2, 
1999). The NPRM proposed to require all airplanes operated under part 
121 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), all U.S.-
registered multiengine airplanes operated under 14 CFR part 129, and 
all multiengine airplanes used in scheduled operations under 14 CFR 
part 135 to undergo records reviews and inspections by the 
Administrator after their 14th year in service to ensure that the 
maintenance of all these airplanes' age-sensitive parts and components 
has been adequate and timely. The comment period closed August 2, 1999.
    By letter dated July 26, 1999, the NATA requested that the comment 
period be extended by an additional 60 days in order to give the 
companies of small businesses whose operations are especially busy 
during the spring and summer additional time to complete an economic 
analysis, audit the impact of this proposal on scheduled air carriers, 
evaluate the economic impact of this proposal on aviation businesses, 
and to develop meaningful comments to this proposal.
    The FAA finds that it is in the public interest to reopen the 
comment period for sixty (60) days.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 12, 1999.
L. Nicholas Lacey,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21379 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]
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