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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27489-27491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10343]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-4796]

Opportunity to Comment on the Draft Advisory Circular 150/5360-
14A, Access to Airports by Individuals With Disabilities

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the 
availability of draft Advisory Circular, (AC) 150/5360-14A, Access to 
Airports by Individuals with Disabilities, for public review. This AC 
will provide guidance and recommendations for ensuring access to 
airports by

[[Page 27490]]

individuals with disabilities. The draft AC substantially revises and 
incorporates regulatory updates and recommendations for Service Animal 
Relief Areas (SARA) at airports. The draft AC was rewritten to improve 
readability, and to simplify and clarify the regulations for airport 
operators regarding airport access by individuals with disabilities. 
Additionally, the FAA is interested in public input regarding the use 
of wayfinding technologies and other technology innovations at 
airports.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 6, 2016. The FAA 
will also consider comments received after that date to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may also submit comments identified by Docket Number 
FAA-2016-4796 using any of following methods:
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Operations, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Routing 
Symbol M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: To Docket Operations, Room W12-140 on the 
ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
     The FAA invites interested persons, airport operators, 
guide dog trainers and handlers, consultants, industry representatives, 
and all other interested parties to review and comment on the draft, 
at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Miller, Program Analyst, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Airports, Airport 
Engineering Division (AAS-100) 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 
DC 20591; Telephone (202) 267-3367.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction and Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 47108(a) the Secretary may impose terms on the 
grant offer that the Secretary considers necessary to carry out the 
Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This provision includes uniform 
design standards for airports, which are included in the FAA Advisory 
Circulars.
    FAA updated the Advisory Circular, Access to Airports by 
Individuals with Disabilities (AC 150/5360-14) to assists airport 
operators in complying with the laws and regulations regarding 
individuals with disabilities by: (1) Identifying the relevant statutes 
and regulations affecting airports; (2) presenting the main features of 
each of the statutes and regulations; and (3) listing sources of 
assistance or additional information. Draft AC 150/5360-14A was 
rewritten to improve readability, and to simplify and clarify the 
regulations for airport operators regarding airport access by 
individuals with disabilities. Due to the new format, FAA recommends 
readers review the document in its entirety.
    Draft AC 150/5360-14A presents and reconciles the federal 
accessibility regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (ADA); the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA); the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (RA); and the Architectural 
Barriers Act of 1968, as amended (ABA). Additionally, the draft 
provides guidance regarding service animal relief areas in airport 
terminals.

Service Animal Relief Areas

    On August 5, 2015, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) 
published a final rule addressing service animal relief areas amending 
49 CFR 27.71(h). (See 80 FR 46508) Under that final rule, primary 
airports must provide at least one service animal relief area in each 
airport terminal. This service animal relief area, with limited 
exceptions, must be located in the sterile area of each airport 
terminal to ensure that individuals with service animals are able to 
access service animal relief areas when traveling, particularly during 
layovers.
    DOT decided that it will not adopt specific requirements with 
respect to dimensions, design, materials, and maintenance of SARAs. 
However, the final rule requires airports to consult with service 
animal training organizations regarding design and dimensions. DOT uses 
airport terminals as the standard upon which airports must determine 
the number of required SARA, rather than using the amount of time 
required for an individual with a disability to reach a service animal 
relief area from a particular gate. DOT recognizes that the 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may prohibit an airport 
from locating the SARA in the sterile area of a terminal for security 
reasons. Therefore, the rule provides airports with an exception to the 
final rule requirement to locate the SARA within the sterile area of 
each airport terminal.
    DOT also realizes that, based on an airport's configuration, a 
relief area in the non-sterile area of an airport may be more desirable 
to relief area users. As such, DOT gives airports the option of placing 
a relief area in a location other than the sterile area of a terminal 
if a service animal training organization, the airport, and carriers in 
the terminal in which the relief area will be located agree that a 
relief area would be better placed outside the terminal's sterile area 
instead of inside the sterile area. For all these exceptions, the 
airport must, however, document and retain a record of this agreement, 
including when TSA prohibits location of the SARA in a sterile area.
    To better understand the needs of SARA users, the FAA held a public 
meeting on April 10, 2014, to receive input from airport operators, 
service animal trainers, and service animal handlers on service animal 
relief areas at airports. As a result of that meeting, the FAA included 
service animal relief area standards and technical recommendations in 
the AC addressing size and surface materials of the relief area, 
maintenance methods, and time/distance between gates and relief areas. 
Since the FAA is aware that service dog training schools do not offer 
standardized training, the AC recommends that airport operators 
consider installing two types of surfaces when designing relief areas.
    The draft AC's recommendations for SARAs will generally apply to 
primary airports with 10,000 or more enplanements and operated by 
public entities, but will be helpful for all airport operators. The 
draft AC will serve as a guide for airport operators in complying with 
requirements regarding individuals with disabilities by identifying 
relevant statutes and regulations affecting airports, and by listing 
sources of assistance and additional information. Accordingly, the FAA 
is seeking public input regarding SARAs. The FAA also recognizes that 
relief areas must be accessible for people who use wheelchairs, that 
some service animals will only relieve themselves when off leash and 
others on leash, and that some service animals are trained to relieve 
themselves only outdoors. For the SARA located outdoors, the AC 
recommends fencing an area large enough to address safety, sanitation, 
and maintenance considerations. For accessibility, the AC recommends 
accessible doors/gates with accessible door opening/closing mechanisms, 
or the removal of gates that may present obstacles for people who use 
wheelchairs.
    The SARA located outside the terminal may also present difficulties 
for service animal handlers during

[[Page 27491]]

severe weather conditions such as rain, snow, and extreme heat. The AC 
therefore recommends that airport operators consider protecting the 
outdoor SARA and the pathways to the SARA from the elements. For the 
indoor SARA, the AC recommends natural lighting whenever possible.
    The FAA is also aware that it may be difficult for people with 
visual impairments to navigate within the SARA. To allow these people 
to familiarize themselves with the SARA's layout before entering, the 
AC recommends placing special signs, maps, and other orienting cues at 
the entrance to the SARA. In addition, this AC defines the airport 
terminal for the purpose of helping airports decide on the number and 
locations of required SARA. To enhance SARAs, the FAA is seeking input 
on new concept cleaning technology; like nano technology as a potential 
for self-cleaning SARA.

Way-Finding Technologies

    The FAA understands that way-finding is necessary for safe and 
efficient mobility in a complex airport terminal. The FAA recognizes 
that wayfinding in a complex airport terminal might be a challenge for 
people who are blind or have vision impairments. Additionally, the FAA 
recognizes escorting is time consuming and diminishes independence for 
individuals with disabilities.
    Accordingly, the FAA specifically seeks comments about:
     RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems for possible 
use in wayfinding and mobility in the airport terminal for people with 
visual impairments;
     Audio-haptic systems designed for enhancing orientation 
and mobility skills in people with visual impairments; and
     Other technology innovations to enhance wayfinding is 
interested in public input regarding the use of wayfinding technologies 
and other technology innovations at airports.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2016.
Michael J. O'Donnell,
Director of Airport Safety and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2016-10343 Filed 5-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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