### DELT

A AIRLINE S EN

G 40 4 77 3 797 9 02/0 8 '1 0 14:2 6 N0.56 5 01/0 7 

# A DELTAS ) Crai g Amade o Genera l Manage r Engineerin g Standard s & Chie f Enginee r D*\t a Ai rLln»e . Inc . 177 5 Aviatio n 6lv d Atlanta , Ga . 3032 0 T . iO l 714-131 2 F . -KViTI-^lies a C . 40 4 S74-O70 6 Craig . Arradaoi^ddlT

a co m Januar y 29,201 0 U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Docke t Operation s Wes t Buildin g Groun dFloor , RoomW l 2-14 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S E Washington , D C 2059 0 Subject : Rul e FA A 2005-2024 5 Notic e No . 10-01 .

Petitio n fo

r Conditional Exemptio n o f ladependen t

CV RPowe r

Suppl y Requiremen t

o n Tw o Productio n Aircraf

t an dLimite dExeraption\Clarificatio n fo r Fleet s Undergoin g ACAR S base dCPDL C (FANS ) Activation s - Wlicre N o Ne w Communication s Hardwar e i s Require dt o Accomplis h th e Activation . Reference : Revision s t o Cockpi t Voic e Recorde r

an dDigital Fligh t

Dat aRecorde r

Regulations : 1 4 CF RAmendment s No . 23-58,25-124 , 27-43,29-50 , 91-300.121-338 . 125-54 , 129-45 . an d135-11 3 Dear Si r or Madam : I n accordanc e wit

h th e provision s o f

Titl e 14 . Cod e o f

Federal Regulation s (1 4 CFR ) § 11.6 3 an d§11.81 , Delt aAi r Line s petition s fo

r aconditional exemptio n fo r th e requiremen t

t o hav e an IP S fo

r th e CV Ro n 737-80 0 aircraf

t delivere dafter

Apri l 7 , 2010 . Ou r

aircraf t schedule dfo

r delivery afte

r Apri l 7 , 201 0 ar c no t i n jeopard y for

th e portio n o f

th e rul e relate dt o DFD Rsamplin g rate s o r CVRenhancements . There i s howeve r apotentia l fo

r th e independen t

power suppl y (IPS ) deadlin e t o b e a t risk. Thi s operato r

ha s bee n mad e awar e tha

t th e FA A ha s recentl y foundissu e wit h th e lithiu mbatterie s containe di n th e IPS . I f thes e issue s canno t

b e resolve db y Apri l 7 , 2010 , thi s operato r request s aconditiona l exemptio n o n acasc-by

cas e basi s tha

t allow s aircraf

t deliverie s t o continu e tinti l th e [P S i s certified . T o mee t th e inten t o f th e rul e i f thi s happens , withou t

questio n thi s operato r

wil l instaU . th e IPS , i n a n expedite dmanner , on . an y aircraf t delivere dafte

r Apri l 7 , 201 0 withou t

one . Thi s operato r

woul doffe

r t o d o s o withi n 2 0 day s o f both th e Servic e Bulleti n an dth e par t bein g i n ou r possession . Thi s i s offere dwit h the understandin g tha

t n o significant rewor k t o th e aircraf

t i s require dt o accomplish , th e post-productio n IP S installation . I n accordanc e wit h th e provision s o f Titl e 14 , Cod e o f

Federal Regulation s (1 4 CFR ) §11.6 3 an d§11,81 , Delt aAi r Line s petition s for

apennancn t

exemptio n for

th e datalin k

recordin g portio n o f

thi s rul e a s it applie s t o retro-fi t

activation s o f

FAN S CPDL C wher e n o ne w datalin k communication s management equipment

i s require dt o activat e thi s capability . Thi s reques t i s limite dt

o retro-fi t installation s o f ACAR S base dFAN S -CPDL C only . Th e reques t doe s not as k for exemptio n from aCPDL C retro-fi t tha t i s VDL-mod e 2 base dsuc h a s SESAR' s LJnk200 0 o r NcxtGCT' s DataComr aimplementations . Tlii s operato r fully intend s t o compl y wit h thi s rul e i n al l othe r

aspects . T o assur e FA A tha t thi s operato r

i s movin g forwar

di n th e spiri t

of th e rule , al l cxistto g 3 0 minut e tape-typ e CVR s and3 0 minut e solid-stat e CVR g wil l b e replace dwit

h 120 minut e DL-CVR s i n preparatio n for future VDL-mod e 2 CPDLC . N o CVR s withou t

datalin k capability wil l b e purchase dfor th e purpos e o f

con^lyin g wit h thi s rule .

### DELT

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G 40 4 77 3 797 9 02/0 8 '1 0 14:2 6 NO.56 5 02/0 7 Delt aAi r Lines , January 29 , 200 1 Pag e 2 o f 7 A . Contac t

information . Crai g Amade o Chie f Engineer Delt aAi r Line s 177 5 Aviatio n Blvd . Atlanta , G A 3035 4 Office ; 40 4 714-131 2 Email : Craig.Amadeofajdelta.co m B . Th e specifi c gectioa t

of 1 4 CF Rfro mybic h Delt aAi r Line s seek s e:teinptio n o r revisio n W e see k conditional exemptio n fro mo r revisio n t o th e 1 4 CFRsection s liste dbelow . 1 . 1 4 CFR25.145 7 equipmen t requirement s i n (d)(5) . O n o r afte r Apri l 7 , 2010 , airplane s mus t b e delivere dwit

h an independen t

CV Rpowe r

supply . 2 . 1 4 CFR121.359Ck

) citin g equipment

requirement s i n §25.1457(a)(6) . O n o r afte r Apri l 7 , 2010 , airplane s retrofitte dwith datalink , mus t includ e installatio n o f

datalin k recordin g equipment . C . Th e exten t

o f relie f sough t an dth e reaso n fo r

seekin g th e r»fig f It i s clea r tha t FA A i s unhapp y wit h th e respons e t o thi s rul e b y industry citin g delay s i n meetin g bot h technical challenge s an dequipag e schedules . I n man y examples , FA A acknowledge s tlia t NPRM commenter* s stresse dtha t significant

technical hurtle s existe di n meetin g th e tw o year schedule , with onl y on e commcnte r raisin g issu e wit

h th e schedul e itself

. FA A state s tha

t withou t concret e enoug h reaso n t o no t set th e tw o yea

r schedul e i t

move dforwardwit

h it . I t shoul db e note dthat

a t th e tim e thi s rul e chang e wa s bein g develope dth e industry wa s experiencin g a perio do f sever e economi c turmoil . Severa l operator s wer e i n bankruptc y whil e other s wer e a t th e brink . Simpl y stated , resource s normall y dedicate dt o assistin g i n thi s typ e o f

industr y activity wer e scarc e leadin g t o amis s rea do f th e wor k require di n regar dt o th e ver y aggressiv e schedul e proposed . Thi s i s state dno t a s excuse , rathe r

a s an unfortunat e fact

leadin g t o wher e w e ar c today . I . Dcfcriptio n o f

th e conditiona l relie f

sough t fo r th e CV RIndependen t

Powe r Suppl y Th e petitio n ask s fo

r temporary exemptio n fi^omth e requiremen t t o equip tw o 737-80 0 (YF44 1 & YF442 ) aircraf

t schedule dfor

delivery afte

r >^ri l 7 , 2010 . Delt aunderstand s that thes e tw o aircraf t may b e a

t ris k du e t o recen t

FA A concern s abou t

th e litliiu mbatterie s containe di n th e IPS . Thi s temporary exemptio n shoul dlas t unti l atim e whe n parts , p^crwor k an dth e aircraf

t ar e availabl e t o instal l th e IPS . It i s Delta' s intentio n t o accomplis h th e retro-fi t installation s i

n a n expedite dmanner .

### DELT

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G 40 4 77 3 797 9 02/0 8 '1 0 14:2 7 NO.56 5 03/0 7 Delt aAi r Lines , January 29 , 200 1 Pag e 3 of 7

a. ) Safety ImpUcadon s - Th e installatio n o f aCV Rindependen t

powe r suppl y (IPS ) ha s n o direc t affect o n th e saf

e operatio n o f

th e aircraft . Allowin g th e pos t Apri l 1 , 201 0 deliver y o f th e aircraf

t liste d-withou

t th e CVR-IP S provide s th e sam e leve l o f safet y fo r thes e aircraf

t a s i s wit h aircraf t delivere dprio r

t o Apri l 7 2010 . Recognizin g tha

t th e IP S i s avaluabl e too l for investigators , installin g th e IP S a ? soon a s practica l on al l aircraf

t delivere dafte

r Apri l 7 , 201 0 meet s th e inten t o f th e rul e albei t briefl y delayed . 2 . Descriptio n o f

th e conditiona l reliefVclarifilcatioi i sough t fo r Datalin k Recordin g of

Relro

Fi t DataLJn k

Installxtions . Th e statemen t

use dt o describ e th e trigge r poin t a t whic h datalin k

recordin g i s require do n retro fit installation s ha s bee n an issu e sinc e thi s rul e wa s adopted . Significant coniusio n ove r

thi s ha s prompte dth e FA A t o make presentation s a t several industry event s t o provid e clarification . Thi s NPRM give s opportunity t o pu t thi s t o rest . Fro mth e final rul e Discussio n Comment s para . M.4 . (Existin g PL C Capability ^ Th e requiremen t

fo r recordin g DL C i s determine dwhen th e DL C systemi s installe dan dcertified . I f

th e systemi s installe dan dcertifie dbefoi v Apri l 7 , 2010 , ther e i s n o requirem£nifo r thos e system s t o recor dmessages . I f th e DL C system i s installe dan dcertifie d(a t manufactur e o r

b y retrofit ) afte r

Apri l 7, 20/0 . (he DL C systemmus t h e examine dt o deter/nin e -whethe r it s messag e se t

installe da t

th e time mus t

b e recorded . Th

e message s tha t

mus t b e recorde dbecome th e approve dmessag e se t fo r tha t installation . I f

a provisiona l (inactive ) systemi s installe dan dcertificate dbefore Apri l 7 . 20JO . an drequire s n o furthe r certificatio n whe

n th e systemi s activated , then ther e i s n o recordin g requiremen t fo r that systemeve

n i f th e activatio n occur s afte r tw o years . However , achang e i n .suc h asystem, (especiall y achang e t

o th e messag e se t

bein g used ) ma

y trigge r th e requiremen t

t o recor da s thoug h th e whol e systemwere ane w installatio n unde r th e regtAlation . Excerp t Fro mTi mShaver' s presentation , a t ICN S Conferenc e Ma v 15.200 9 Decisio n -Majo r

Chang e t o Typ e Desig n • Alteration s requirin g a n ST C ' Servic e bulletin s tha t

ar e considere dama/o r

change . * Example s o f

majo r changes : -Ijistallatio n o f

FAN S o r AT! ^ CPDLC .

- Installatio n oflNMABSATSATCOMSystemtha t provide s CPDL C Service s * Exampl e o f

amino r change :

- Installatio n o f

A OC/AA C datalin k

message s i

n modifiabl e portio n o f CMUMTS U

- Al l provision s fo r

CPDL C hav e bee n installe do n th e aircraft , bu t ar e functiona.lly inactive . Tli

e servic e bulleti n only provide s fo r software activation .

### DELT

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G 40 4 77 3 797 9 02/0 8 '1 0 14:2 7 NO.56 5 04/0 7 Delt aAir Lines , January 29 . 200 1 Pag e 4 of 7 Th e ke y t o an y datalink

communication s installatio n i s no t th e VH Fradio s or

th e SatCo msyste m o r eve n th e FM S system . I t i s th e datalink

communication s managemen t hardware . Th e lis t

o f datalink communication s managemen t hardwar e include s th e ACAR S Managemen t Unit , th e Communication s Managemen t Uni t an dth e Ai r

Traffi c Servic e Unit . Thes e unit s hav e bee n i n servic e for

man y year s an dar e wel l suite dfor us e i n FAN S applications . The y d o no t however al l hav e outpu t

port s availabl e for

connectio n t o arecorder . FAN S message s ar e generate dan dreceive di n th e FM S system . Th e datalin k communication s managemen t

hardwar e sin^tl y route s th e m.essag e throug h a n availabl e channe l t o an dfromth e ground . Statement s i n th e rul e indicat e tha t th e FA A accept s th e activatio n o f aFAN S syste mi f th e equipment

exist s prio r

t o Apri l 7 , 201 0 b y statin g tha t thi s woul dno t

requir e recording . Thi s i s becaus e th e FAA . doe s no t wan t t o forc e additiona l cos t

i f ther e i s no t

already caus e t o incu r

an. expense . Thi s i s i n lin e wit h simila r FA A polic y t o no t

forc e equipage . Fro mth e final rul e Discussio n Comment s para . M. 4 th e followin g statemen t i s mad e b y th e NTSB , '^Tb

e NTS B faile dt o se e th e reaso n fo r tJt e delay whe

n th e insralk dcommunication s equipmen t

shoul dhav e th e capability ofoutputtin g th e require ddatalin k me.ysage s t o th e voic e recorde r a t th e time o f

installation . " Thi s statemen t demonstrate s tha

t th e NTS B simpl y desire s tha t installer s o f

ne w communication s equipmen t make us e o f

th e capability o f

tha t equipment

b y connectin g th e ne w equipmen t t o th e CVR . Th e statemen t doc s no t mean t o forc e additional expens e othe r

tha n t o connec t acapability mad e possibl e b y th e ne w installation . Thi s i s als o i n lin e wit h FA A polic y t o requir e tha t capabilitie s o f

equipmen t

b e utilize dt

o th e exter

n possibl e i n case s lik e this . Th e proble mi s aflawedassumptio n b y NTS B tha t th e installatio n o r

activatio n of

FAN S alway s require s ne w datalin k

communication s managemen t hardwar e t o b e installed . I n case s wher e existin g communication s managemen t hardwar e i s capabl e o f

handlin g FAN S messages , ne w equipmen t

i s no t required , Existin e datalin k communjcatio n managemen t hardware utili-7-a»

^ i n a retro-fi t FAN S installatio n mus t b e treate dth e sam e a s provisione dinstallatio n that i s newl y activate dan dno t

requir e recording . Doin g s o wil l follo w th e intent o f thi s rul e an dFA A polic y t o no t forc e equipag e an dexpense . Fo r thi s reason , th e wordin g i n 1 4 CFR121.35 9 (k ) shoul db e revise da s follows : Fro m (k ) Al l airplane s require d b ythi s part t o hav e a cockpi t voic e recorde ran d a fligh t dat a recorder , tha t Instal l datalin k oommunicatio n couipmen t o n o rafte rApri l 7 , 2010 , mus t recor d al l datalin k

message s a s require d b yth e certificatio n njl e applicabl e t o th e airplane . To : (k ) Al l airplane s require d b ythi s part t o hav e a cockpi t vote e recorde ran d a flight dat a recorder , tha t Instal l ne w datalin k communicatio n managemen t hardwar e o n o rafte r Apri l 7 , 2010 , mus t recor d al l datalin k message s a s require d b yth e certificatio n rul e applicabl e t o th e airplane . O r (k ) Al l airplane s require d b ythi s part t o hav e a cockpi t voic e recorde ran d a flight dat a recorder , tha t instal l datalin k communication s eouiomen t i n productio n o rinstal l ne w datalin k

communicatio n managemen t hardwar e i n retro-fi t o n o rafte rApri l 7 , 2010 , mus t recor d al l datalin k message s a s require d b yth e certrTicatlo n rul e applicat>l e t o th e airplane .

### DELTAAIRLINE S EN G 40 4 77 3 797 9 02/0 8 '1 0 14:2 7 N0.56 5 05/0 7 Delt aAi r Lines , Januar

y 29.200 1 Pag e 5 o f 7 Thi s chang e wil l provid e several favorabl e results . > It wil l clarif

y th e trigge r

poin t where datalink

recordin g wil l b e require dj n retro-fi t installations . B y focusin g o n th e piec e o f hardwar e responsibl e fo

r providin g th e actual datalin k function , yo u ar e als o pomtin g t o th e sourc e of th e recordabl e dat astream . It wil l tak e th e burden of

f th e certificatio n offic e fo r makin g decision s base do n messag e conten t whic h ma y lea dt o inconsistencie s i n thi s decision . I t provide s an unambiguou s pat h for operator s t o follo w whe n makin g decision s concernin g aCPDL C installation . Th e rul e already exempt s aircraf t wit h existin g (provisioned ) communication s managemen t

hardwar e possibl y equippe dwit h outpu t port s availabl e fo

r recording , i f

th e activatio n o f

th e CPDL C doe s no t

roqub x furthe

r certification . Thi s demonstrate s tlia t th e FA A doe s no t

inten dt o caus e operator s wh o ar e considerin g activatio n o f CPDL C provision s t o incu r

unnecessary expense , t o d o s o woul db e aself-defeatin g exercis e an d i s i n lin e with FAA polic y "t o d o n o harm" . > It allow s operator s t o procee dwith FAN S CPDL C implementations . Jf recordin g i s mandate do n aircraf

t wit h existin g hardwar e capabl e o f FAN S implementation s i t wil l caus e operator s t o sto p installations . Tli e additional $50 K require dt o replac e communication s managemen t hardwar e sirnpl y becaus e it doe s no t hav e arecordabl e outpu t ma y no t b e cos t justifie despeciall y o n olde r aircraft . I t

i s wel l know n that

FAN S CPDL C add s t o safet

y an dAT C conununication s capacity . A s a n industr y w c shoul d provid e incentiv e i n orde r t o promot e th e transitio n t o CPDIX . > I t insure s tha

t CPDL C associate dwit

h NextGen' s DataCom

mo r SESAR' s Link

200 0 program s will b e recorde do n retro-fi t installation s afte

r Apri l 7 , 2010 . Sinc e VD L inode 2 base dCPDL C message s ar e processe db y th e communication s management hardware , thi s equipment

wil l nee dt o b e replace da s afunctio n of meetin g th e requirement s o f thes e ne w programs . A

t tha t tim e th e hanlwar e wil l hav e port s availabl e t o feedth e DL-CVR . > EAS A ha s release dth e European rul e <^iang c fo r Lin k 2000 . I n thi s rule , F.AS A lia s exempte daircraf

t wit h FAN S CPDL C fromcomplyin g wit h th e Lin k

200 0 requirements . Man y operator s hav e purchase dFAN S capability an dar e i n th e proces s o f installin g i t

o n thei r international aircraft . Allowin g thi s chang e wil l allo w operator s t o receiv e th e valu e o f th e mone y spen t

fo r thi s capability an dn>ee

t tli e EAS A requuemcnt . FAN S CPDL C i s no t an optional capabilit

y lik e i t wa s i n 200S . D . Existin g Gronn dBase dRecordin g o f CPDL C Commapication s Mesaage s Mus t b e Leverage d A s anot e t o NTSB , it

mus t b e pointe dou t

her e tha t message s sent

ove r FAN S ar e alread y bein g recorde do n th e ground . ITii s feet ha s bee n largel y ignore di n th e pas t bu t mus t b e considered . SITA , ha s state dtha

t the y recor dal l datalink

messag e traffic . Th e recording s datin g bac k 9 0 day s ar e immediatel y available . Recordin g beyon d9 0 day s ar e backe du p on tape . Thes e recording s dat e bac k severa l year s an dca n b e retrieve dwithi n days . AIRINC , als o quote s simila r recordin g o f message s an davailability . With thi s i n mind , th e onl y messag e tha t woul dno t

b e availabl e o n th e groun drecorde r

i s amessag e that' s store di n th e aircraft' s messag e queu e tha t didn' t get sent prio r t o file aircraf

t crashing . Thi s woul db e ahighl y unlikel y occurrence , (becaus e yo u wer e i n "n o corom* * fo

r th e mediu mbein g used )

### DELT

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G 40 4 77 3 797 9 02/0 8 '1 0 14:2 8 NO.56 5 06/0 7 Delt aAi r Lmes , January 29,200 1 Pag e < 5 o f 7 Fro mTh e Fina l Rul e - Statemen t o f Problem , "Th e problem s encountere db y th e NTS B includ e th e limite dduratio n of

CV Rrecording s precedin g an incident , an dth e los s o f powe r l o both . CVR s an dDFDRs" . Th e paragrap h goe s o n t o lis t eight accident s an dincident s wher e th e NTS B experience dthes e difficulties . O f th e eigh t examples , on e inciden t

cite s CV Rrecordin g duratio n an dseve n incident s cit e alos s o f power t o th e CV R& DFD Ra s th e caus e of thei r difliicuUy . Tli e rul e goe s o o t

o star e tha t th e FA A agree s wit

h NTS B recommendation s A-96-89 , A-96-171 , A

99-16 , A-99-1 7 an dA99-1 8 an dha s initiate dthe NPRM i o respons e t o them . N o wher e i n thi s lis t o f NTS B recommendation s i s an y mentio n o f areques t

fo r airborn e recordin g o f

datalin k messages . N o wher e i s ther e a n exampl e wher e airborn e recordin g o f datalink message s woul d hav e aide di n a

n investigation . N o wher e i s ther e a n exampl e showin g groun drecording s o f datalink message s t o b e insufficient for inciden t investigations . Th e Rul e goe s on t o sa y tha t th e FAA believe s th e sam e issue s ar c o f interes t t o ICAO , anticipatin g that

th e propose dchange s wil l b e incorporate dint o ICA O standards , makin g the m applicabl e t o airplane s r^stere dworldwide . Thi s ha s bee n th e cas e fo r mos t o f thi s rule ; however , no t

s o whe n i t

come s t o airborn e datalin k recording . EASA , th e onl y regulato r with . a . rul e fo r VD L Mod e 2 base dCPDL C (Lin k 20(X)) , doe s no t

requir e airborn e datalink

recordin g fo

r retro-fi t aircraft . Thi s shoul db e seen a s significant . I n thi s case , th e equipmen t necessar y t o implemen t

th e functionalit

y o f Link . 2000 , especiall y o n olde r aircraft , wil l hav e th e outpu t por t necessary for

recordin g th e datalin k

messages . I t

mus t b e recognize dthat

thi s Regulato r

doc s no t perceiv e enoug h valu e i n airborn e datalin k recordin g t o requir e retro-fi t implementation . I n fact , th e ICA O documen t

propose s adatalink

recordin g requiremen t

for Januar y 1 . 2016 , on e yea

r afte r th e Lin k 200 0 deadlin e makin g it

amoo t point .

### DELT

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G 40 4 77 3 797 9 02/0 8 '1 0 14:2 8 N0.56 5 07/0 7 Delt aAi r Lines , Januar y 29,200 1 Pag e 7 of 7 E . Conclusio n Th e requirement

t o implement

retro-fi t airborn e datalink

recordin g wa s neve r

requeste db y th e NTSB

- Othe r

Regulator s d o no t

perceiv e enoug h valu e i

n airborn e datalink

recedin g t o require it . Ther e ar e quantitie s of

equipment

tha t ca n b e use dfor

ACAR S base dCPDL C whic h mus t b e utilize dt o encourag e activations . B y changin g th e wordin g i n 1 4 CFR121,35 9 (k ) t o th e provide d suggestio n all VD L Mod e 2 retro-fi t installation s wil l b e recorde dan dexistin g contusio n ove r tli e recordin g trigge r

poin t wil l b e eliminated . 1 4 CF R121.35 9 (k) tk ) Al t airplane s require d b ythi s part t o hav e a cockpi t voic e recorde ran d a flight dat a recorder , tha t Instal l ne w datalin k communicatio n managemen t hardwar e o n o rafte r Apri l 7 , 2010 , mus t recor d al l datalin k message s a s require d b yth e certificatio n njl e applicabl e t o th e airplane . O r (k ) Al l airplane s require d b ythi s part t o hav e a cockpi t voic e recorde ran d a fligh t dat a recorder , tha t instal l datalin k communication s equipmen t i n productio n o rInstal l ne w datalin k

communicatio n manaoemen t hardwar e I n retrO'fTt o ro rafte rApri l 7 , 2010 , mus t recor d al l datalin k message s a s require d b yth e certificatio n rul e appllcatji e t o th e airplane . Thank yo u i n advanc e for

you r attentio n t o ou r

request . I f

yo u hav e an y question s o r requir e an y additional informatio n o r

clarification , pleas e contac t me . Sinc-erely , Crai g Amade o General Manage r

- En^eerin g Standard s & C^ie f Enginee r Dept . 56 7