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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88313-88314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29319]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Notice to Manufacturers of Airports In-Pavement Stationary Runway 
Weather Information Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for information.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is considering issuing waivers to foreign manufactures 
of Active and/or Passive In-Pavement Stationary Runway Weather 
Information Systems that meet the requirements of FAA Advisory Circular 
(AC) 15015220-30, Airport Winter Safety and Operations. This notice 
requests information from manufactures of systems meeting the technical 
requirements to determine whether a waiver to the Buy American 
Preferences should be issued. Projects funded under the Airport 
Improvement Program (AIP) must meet the requirements of Buy American 
Preferences.

DATES: The information must be received by January 23, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carlos N. Fields, Airports 
Financial Assistance, APP 520, Rooms 619, FAA, 800 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267-8826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
manages a Federal grant program for airports called the Airports 
Improvement Program (AIP). AIP grant recipients must follow 49 U.S.C. 
50101, Buy American Preferences.
    Under 49 U.S.C 50101(b)(3), the Secretary of Transportation may 
waive the Buy American Preference requirement if the goods are not 
produced in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or are not of 
a satisfactory quality.
    The purpose of this notice is to request manufactures of both 
passive and active in-pavement runway surface condition sensor systems, 
both domestic and foreign, to advise FAA of the system that they 
manufacture and whether it can meet the FAA Advisory Circular technical 
requirements. To respond to this notice, manufactures are to submit a 
written statement confirming that they currently manufacture passive 
and/or active in-pavement runway weather information systems on their 
business letterhead and signed by an authorized designee. The FAA wants 
to determine if there is sufficient quantity of domestic manufactures 
capable of meeting the FAA technical requirements. If the FAA cannot 
find that there are enough U.S. manufactures, it may issue a nationwide 
waiver to the foreign manufacturers identified as being capable of 
meeting the technical requirements.
    Technical Requirements: FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5220-30, 
Airport Winter Safety and Operations recommend that in-pavements runway 
sensor systems comply with the performances and installations 
requirements of SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice 5533, Stationary 
Runway Weather Information System (In-pavement). The SAE specification 
is available for purchases at http://www.sae.org. Because the guidance 
and specification s in an Advisory Circular are mandatory for airport 
project using AIP grant funds, as in-pavement runway surface condition 
sensor system project that included any AIP grant funding must meet the 
requirements of SAE ARP5533.
    After review, the FAA may issue a nationwide waiver to Buy American 
Preferences for foreign manufactures or United States manufactures that 
meet the Buy American preference requirements. Waivers would not be

[[Page 88314]]

issued for manufacturers that do not fully meet the technical 
requirements. This ``nationwide waiver'' would allow equipment to be 
used on airport projects without having to receive separate project 
waivers. Having a nationwide waiver allows projects to start quickly 
without have to wait for the Buyer American analysis to be completed 
for every project.
    Items that have been granted a ``nationwide waiver'' can be found 
on the FAA Web site at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/buy_american/.

    Issued in Washington, DC, December 1, 2016.
Frank J. San Martin,
Manager, Airports Financial Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-29319 Filed 12-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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