38798 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 129 / Tuesday, July 7, 2015 / Notices 

Access Control System (VACS–D) 

database. Please see the Security 

Records System of Records Notice 

(State–36) at http://www.state.gov/

documents/organization/103419.pdf for 

additional information. 

For additional information, contact 

Melike Yetken, Office of Economic 

Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy, 

Bureau of Economic and Business 

Affairs, at (202) 647–2744, or 

YetkenMA@state.gov 

Dated: June 29, 2015. 

Melike A. Yetken, 

Designated Federal Official, U.S. Department 

of State. 

[FR Doc. 2015–16616 Filed 7–6–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–08–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Emergency Locator Transmitters 

(ELTs) 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final notice recommending 

voluntary change to securing existing 

ELTs as specified in Technical Standard 

Order (TSO)–C126b, 406MHz 

Emergency Locator Transmitter. 

SUMMARY: This notice summarizes the 

inadequacies of hook and loop fasteners 

as a means for securing automatic fixed 

(AF) and automatic potable (AP) ELTs, 

and avoids placing an undue burden on 

aircraft owners while acknowledging 

the voluntary efforts of ELT 

manufacturers to improve designs. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Charisse R. Green, AIR–131, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 470 L’Enfant 

Plaza, Suite 4102, Washington, DC 

20024. Telephone (202) 267–8551, fax 

(202) 267–8589, email to: 

Charisse.Green@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On March 10, 2015, the Federal 

Aviation Administration (FAA) 

published in the Federal Register, (80 

FR 12697 (2015)), a Notice announcing 

the recommendation of voluntary 

change to a metal strap type restraint 

method for securing ELTs. The FAA 

recommends voluntary changes to 

existing ELTs installed with hook and 

loop fasteners because of their tendency 

to become dislodged from their 

mounting trays on impact. The 

separation of those ELTs from their 

mounting trays caused their antenna 

connection to sever, thus rendering the 

ELTs to be ineffective and unable to 

perform their intended function. The 

FAA also evaluated the retention tests 

specified by TSO–C91a, TSO–C126, and 

TSO–C126a and determined these 

standards did not adequately address 

the use of hook and loop fasteners. Hook 

and loop fasteners were not an 

acceptable means of compliance to meet 

the mounting and retention 

requirements of the ELT TSOs. While 

the evaluation of installation approval 

using hook and loop fasteners may meet 

the TSO requirements for retention 

forces in laboratory conditions, accident 

investigations found these fasteners did 

not perform their intended function. 

Technical Standard Order TSO–C126b, 

406 MHz Emergency Locator 

Transmitters, already excludes hook and 

loop fasteners as the primary method of 

ELT attachment. 

FAA Concerns 

The agency identified the following 

concerns after completing its evaluation 

of the use of hook and loop fasteners: 

(1) Hook and loop fasteners fail to 

retain the ELT when insufficient tension 

is applied to close the fastener. There is 

no repeatable method for installation 

and no method to evaluate the tension 

of the hook and loop fastener. The 

allowance for pilots to secure ELTs to 

the aircraft when changing ELT batteries 

further increases the potential for 

inconsistent and unsatisfactory 

installations. 

(2) Hook and loop fasteners closed 

with proper tension may stretch or 

loosen over time due to wear, fluids, 

vibration, and repeated use, leading to 

insufficient tension to retain the ELT. 

(3) Hook and loop fasteners closed 

with proper tension do not provide 

stated retention capability due to debris 

which can contaminate the hooks and 

loops of the fastener. 

(4) Hook and loop fasteners closed 

with proper tension degrade due to 

environmental factors such as repeated 

heating and cooling cycles, temperature 

extremes, and contamination resulting 

from location in equipment areas. 

Comments 

The FAA received one comment in 

response to the March 10, 2015, Federal 

Register Notice. The comment, by 

ELTA, stated that there is some 

potential confusion as to which ELTs 

were applicable under the FAA’s 

proposed voluntary change from the use 

of hook and loop fasteners to metallic 

straps. Some customers could assume 

the Federal Register notice is applicable 

to all types of ELTs, including the 

survival type ELT. 

The FAA acknowledges this 

comment. This final Federal Register 

notice clarifies the FAA recommends 

voluntary changes to the securing 

mechanisms for automatic fixed and 

automatic portable ELTs. Additionally, 

the requirements section of TSO–C126b 

specifies the use of hook and loop 

fasteners is not an acceptable means of 

attachment when showing compliance 

with the Crash Safety requirements of 

RTCA/DO–204A, section 2.2.5. Section 

2.2.5 of this RTCA document applies 

only to AF and AP ELTs. 

Conclusion 

The FAA evaluated the mounting 

requirements and retention test and 

determined the standards do not 

adequately address the use of hook and 

loop fasteners. Upon completion of the 

evaluation, the FAA identified 

numerous concerns with the use of hook 

and loop fasteners and continues to 

recommend voluntary changes of 

securing mechanisms for existing ELTs 

which utilize hook and loop fasteners. 

The FAA also asks aircraft owners/

operators with ELTs secured with hook 

and loop fasteners in their aircraft to 

voluntarily switch to a metal strap type 

restraint method. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 30, 

2015. 

Susan J.M. Cabler, 

Acting Manager, Design, Manufacturing, & 

Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–16557 Filed 7–6–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Alaska: Fixed Wing Aircraft External 

Loads as a Restricted Category 

Special Purpose Flight Operation 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of availability and 

request for public comments. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

availability of and request comments on 

the proposed authorization of Alaska 

Fixed Wing External Loads (FWEL) as a 

new restricted category special purpose 

operation, pursuant to Title 14 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 

21.25(b)(7), for operations within the 

State of Alaska. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before August 6, 2015. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Federal Aviation Administration, 

Design Manufacturing and 


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