### 71734 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 4, 2012 / Proposed Rules

777–54–0028, dated May 25, 2012, specifies a compliance time of ‘‘within 25 flight-cycles or 10 days, whichever occurs first,’’ this AD requires compliance within 25 flight cycles or 10 days after the most recent inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD,
whichever occurs first.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in the
Related Information section of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9–ANM– Seattle–ACO–AMOC–Requests@faa.gov.

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/ certificate holding district office.

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.

(j) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Kevin Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM–140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6501; fax: 425–917–6590;
email: kevin.nguyen@faa.gov.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P. O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; telephone 206– 544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766–5680;

Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 21, 2012.
Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 2012–29177 Filed 12–3–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION** 

**Federal Aviation Administration**

**14 CFR Part 71**

**Proposed Modification of the Miami, FL, Class B Airspace Area; and the Ft**  **Lauderdale, FL, Class C Airspace Area; Public Meetings** 

**AGENCY :**  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

**ACTION :**  Notice of meetings.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces three fact-finding informal airspace meetings to solicit information from airspace users and others, concerning a proposal to revise the Class B airspace at Miami, FL, and the Class C airspace at Ft Lauderdale, FL. The purpose of these meetings is to provide interested parties an opportunity to present views, recommendations, and comments on the proposal. All comments received will be considered prior to any issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking.

**DATES :**  The informal airspace meetings will be held on Monday, January 28, 2013; Tuesday, January 29, 2013; and Wednesday, January 30, 2013. One meeting session will be held on January 28, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Two sessions will be held on January 29 and January 30, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Comments must be received on or before March 4, 2013.

**ADDRESSES :**  (1) The meeting on Monday, January 28, 2013, will be held at the Wings Over Miami Air Museum, Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, 14710 SW 128th St., Miami, FL 33196 [Call 305–233–5197 for directions]; (2) The meeting on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, will be held at the Miami Dade College, 2460 NW 66th Avenue, Bldg. 701, Room 213, Miami, FL 33122 [Call 305–588–1959 for directions]; and (3) The meeting on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, will be held at the Miramar Town Center, 2050 Civic Center Place. Miramar, FL 33025 [Call 954–201–8084 for directions].

Comments: Comments on the proposal may be submitted by email to:7-ASO-ESC-OSG-AirspaceComments@faa.gov; or by mail to: Barry Knight, Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Area, Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, GA 30320.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Tony Russo, Support Manager, Miami ATCT/TRACON, 6400 NW. 22nd St., Miami, FL 33122; Telephone: 305–869–

5403.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Meeting Procedures

(a) The meetings will be open to all persons on a space-available basis. There will be no admission fee or other charge to attend and participate.

(b) The meetings will be informal in nature and will be conducted by one or more representatives of the FAA Eastern Service Area. Each participant will be given an opportunity to make a presentation, although a time limit may be imposed. Each person wishing to make a presentation to the FAA panel will be asked to sign in so those time frames can be established. The meetings may be adjourned at any time if all persons present have had an opportunity to speak.

(c) Position papers or other handout material relating to the substance of these meetings will be accepted. Participants submitting handout materials should present an original and two copies to the presiding officer. There should be an adequate number of copies for distribution to all participants.

(e) These meetings will not be formally recorded. However, a summary of comments made at the meetings will be filed in the docket.

Agenda for the Meetings

—Sign-in. —Presentation of Meeting Procedures. —Informal Presentation of the planned

Airspace Modifications.

—Public Presentations and Discussions. —Closing Comments.
There will be one session (beginning at 6:00 p.m.) on January 28 and two sessions (beginning at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.) on both January 29 and January 30. FAA presentations will begin at the times listed. Each presentation will be the same, so attendees need not be present for both sessions. Attendees may arrive at any time at their convenience, and will not need to remain until the end. Following each FAA presentation there will be time for questions and presentations by attendees. Written comments may be submitted at any time during the meeting or via mail or email by March
4, 2013.

Information gathered through these meetings will assist the FAA in drafting a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The public will be afforded the opportunity to comment on any NPRM published on this matter.


### 71735 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 4, 2012 / Proposed Rules

Issued in Washington, DC, on November
14, 2012. Gary A. Norek, Manager, Airspace Policy and ATC Procedures Group.

[FR Doc. 2012–28991 Filed 12–3–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–13–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**Federal Aviation Administration**

**14 CFR Parts 121, 125, 135**

**[Docket No.: FAA–2012–1059; Notice No. 12–08]** 

**RIN 2120–AK11**

**Minimum Altitudes for Use of Autopilots** 

**AGENCY :**  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

**ACTION :**  Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

**SUMMARY :**  The FAA proposes to amend and harmonize minimum altitudes for use of autopilots for transport category airplanes. The proposed rule would enable the operational use of advanced autopilot and navigation systems by incorporating the capabilities of new and future autopilots, flight guidance systems, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) guidance systems while protecting the continued use of legacy systems at current autopilot minimum use altitudes. The proposed rule wouldaccomplish this through a performancebased approach, using the certified capabilities of autopilot systems as established by the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) or as approved by the Administrator.

**DATES :**  Send comments on or before February 4, 2013.

**ADDRESSES :**  Send comments identified by docket number Docket No.: FAA– 2012–1059 using any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

• Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12–140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC

20590–0001.

• Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202–493–2251.

Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without change,

to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.

Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For technical questions concerning this action, contact Kel O. Christianson, FAA, Aviation Safety Inspector, Performance Based Flight Systems Branch (AFS–470), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone 202–385–4702; email Kel.christianson@faa.gov.

For legal questions concerning this action, contact Robert H. Frenzel, Manager, Operations Law Branch, Office of the Chief Counsel, Regulations Division (AGC–220), Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone 202–267–3073; email Robert.Frenzel@faa.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Authority for This Rulemaking

The FAA’s authority to issue rules on aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the United States Code. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 49 U.S.C. 44701(a)(5), which requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations and minimum standards for other practices, methods, and procedures necessary for safety in air commerce and national security. This amendment to the regulation is within the scope of that authority because it prescribes an accepted method for ensuring the safe operation of aircraft while using autopilot systems. I. Overview of Proposed Rule The FAA proposes to amend and harmonize minimum altitudes for use of autopilots for transport category airplanes in order to streamline and simplify these operational rules. The proposed rule would enable the operational use of advanced autopilot and navigation systems by incorporating the capabilities of new and future autopilots, flight guidance systems, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) guidance systems while protecting the continued use of legacy systems. This would allow the FAA to enable the benefits of Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) technologies and procedures (Optimized Profile Descents, Performance Based Navigation (PBN)) to enhance aviation safety in the National Airspace System (NAS). The rule would accomplish this through a performance-based approach, using the certified capabilities of autopilot systems as established by the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). The proposal would also give the FAA Administrator the authorization to require an altitude higher than the AFM if the Administrator believes it to be in the interest of public safety.

Currently, operators have a choice whether or not to update their aircraft with new autopilots as they are developed and certified by equipment manufacturers. This rule would not affect that decision-making process and would protect operators who choose to continue to operate as they do today. As a result, the proposed rule would not impose any additional costs on certificate holders that operate under parts 121, 125, or 135. Also, by setting new minimum altitudes for each phase of flight that certified equipment may operate to, the proposed rule would give manufacturers more certainty that new products could be used as they are developed.

In response to Executive Order 13563 issued by President Obama on January 18, 2011, the proposed rule was first identified for inclusion in the Department of Transportation Retrospective Regulatory Review (May 2011), noting that the current minimum altitudes for use of autopilots were unduly restrictive and would limit the ability to use new technologies. On May 10, 2012, President Obama signed Executive Order 13610, establishing the Retrospective Regulatory Review as an on-going obligation. The proposed rule would also be consistent with the requirement in Executive Order 13610 to modify or streamline regulations ‘‘in light of changed circumstances, including the rise of new technologies.’’