[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 6416-6417] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-3136] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Proposed Advisory Circular 25.803-1A, Emergency Evacuation Demonstrations
Agency
Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
Action
Notice of availability of proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 25.803-1A and request for comments; reopening of comment period.
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Summary
This notice announces the reopening of the comment period for Notice of availability of proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 25.803-1A, and request for comments, which was published in the Federal Register on October 20, 1998 (63 FR 56059), and closed on December 21, 1998. In that notice, the FAA invited public comment on a proposed AC which provides guidance on a means, but not the only means, of compliance with the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) concerning (1) conduct of full-scale emergency evacuation demonstrations, and (2) use of analysis and tests in lieu of conducting an actual demonstration. This reopening of the comment period is necessary to give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on the proposed AC.
Dates
Comments must be received on or before May 7, 1999.
Addresses
Send all comments on proposed AC to: Federal Aviation Administration, Attention: Terry Rees, Airframe and Cabin Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, WA 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at the above address between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays.
For Further Information Contact
Katherine Burks, Transport Standards Staff, at the address above, telephone (206) 227-2114.
Supplementary Information
Comments Invited
A copy of the draft AC may be obtained by contacting the person named above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Interested
persons are invited to comment on the proposed AC by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Commenters should identify AC 25.803-1A and submit comments, in duplicate, to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered by the Transport Standards Staff before issuing the final AC.
Background
On October 20, 1998, the FAA published a Notice of availability of proposed AC 25.803-1A, and request for comments. In that notice, the FAA invited public comment on a proposed advisory circular (AC) which provides guidance on a means, but not the only means, of compliance with the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) concerning (1) conduct of full-scale emergency evacuation demonstrations, and (2) use of analysis and tests in lieu of conducting an actual demonstration. Section 25.803(c) requires that for airplanes with a passenger seating capacity of more than 44 passengers, it must be shown that the passengers and required crewmembers can be evacuated to the ground in 90 seconds under simulated emergency conditions. Compliance can be shown by conducting a full-scale emergency evacuation demonstration under the test conditions specified in Appendix J of part 25 or a combination of analysis and testing found acceptable by the FAA. Advisory Circular 25.803-1, issued on November 13, 1989, provided guidance on how to conduct a full-scale emergency evacuation demonstration and the use of analysis and testing in lieu of conducting a full-scale demonstration. This proposed revision to the AC provides additional guidance on how to conduct a full-scale demonstration, including information on the test start signal, briefing of test participants, obtaining informed consent, and flight attendant training. In addition, the proposed revision expands the discussion on the determination on whether a combination of analysis and testing may be used in lieu of the full-scale demonstration, including the types of testing which may be necessary to support an analysis. Finally, additional guidance is provided on what and how information and test data should be provided in an analysis. Since publication of that notice, the FAA has received a request that the comment period for the notice be extended past its original closing date of December 21, 1998, to allow more time in which to study the proposal and to prepare comments on this very important issue.
Reopening of Comment Period
The FAA has reviewed the request for consideration of an additional amount of time to comment on proposed AC 25.803-1A, and has determined that reopening the comment period would be in the public interest and that good cause exists for taking this action. Accordingly, the comment period of Notice of availability of proposed AC 25.803-1A, and request for comments, is reopened until May 7, 1999.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 1, 1999. John J. Hickey, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, ANM-100. [FR Doc. 99-3136 Filed 2-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-M