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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11844-11845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4761]

[[Page 11844]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issue Area--Phase 2 of Low Speed Alerting Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC).

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SUMMARY: The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee 
(ARAC) a new task to identify and develop recommendations on additional 
requirements for low speed alerting. Phase 1 of the task addresses new 
standards for transport category airplanes. Phase 2 of the task 
addresses possible retrofit standards for existing transport category 
airplanes. This notice is to inform the public that the ARAC working 
group has completed activity for Phase 1 of the task and will begin 
activity for Phase 2.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Jacobsen, Airplane & Flight Crew 
Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Ave, SW., Renton, Washington 98057; 
telephone (425) 227-2011, facsimile (425) 227-1149; e-mail 
joe.jacobsen@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The FAA established ARAC to provide advice and recommendations to 
the FAA Administrator on the FAA's rulemaking activities with respect 
to aviation-related issues. With respect to low speed alerting, the FAA 
previously revised regulations in the area of flight guidance 
(autopilot) and performance and handling qualities in icing conditions 
to improve transport airplane standards for low speed protection (in 
the case of icing, stall warning standards were enhanced). However, as 
a result of several recent loss-of-control accidents and incidents, the 
FAA has identified a need for additional low speed safeguards, in 
addition to the regulatory actions that have already been taken. The 
committee addressed the Phase 1 task--new part 25 standards under the 
existing Avionics System Harmonization Working Group within the 
Transport Airplane and Engine Issues Group. (The FAA published a notice 
of Phase 1 task assignment in the Federal Register (75 FR 16902) on 
April 2, 2010.) The committee will also address the Phase 2 task--parts 
25/121/129 retrofit standards under the existing Avionics Systems 
Harmonization Working Group within the Transport Airplane and Engine 
Issues Group.

The Task

    ARAC was initially tasked with providing information that will be 
used to develop standards and guidance material for low speed alerting 
systems. This information may result in standards that complement 
existing stall warning requirements. The working group provided a 
report that addressed several low speed alerting technical questions, 
relative to new aircraft designs (Phase 1 task--new part 25 standards), 
and provided the rationale for their responses.
    Since the Phase 1 task is complete, ARAC is now tasked with 
providing information that will be used to develop possible retrofit 
standards and guidance material for low speed alerting systems. This 
information may result in standards that complement existing stall 
warning requirements. The working group will also be expected to 
provide a report that addresses the following low speed alerting 
technical questions, relative to existing aircraft designs (Phase 2 
task--part 25/121/129 retrofit standards), and provide the rationale 
for their responses. If the recommendation for retrofit is the same as 
for new designs, the working group should state the rationale and not 
repeat the information previously reported. If there is disagreement 
within the working group, those items should be documented, including 
the rationale from each party and the reasons for the disagreement.
     How timely is the airplane in alerting the crew of flight 
below the intended operating speed?
     How timely relative to stall warning?
     Is alerting instantly recognizable, clear, and unambiguous 
to the flightcrew?
     How are nuisance alerts minimized?
     Does the alerting operate under all operating conditions, 
configurations, and phases of flight, including icing conditions?
     Does the alerting operate during manual and autoflight?
     After reviewing airworthiness, safety, cost, benefit, and 
other relevant factors, including recent certification and fleet 
experience, are there any additional considerations that should be 
taken into account?
     Is coordination necessary with other harmonization working 
groups (e.g., Human Factors, Flight Test)? (If yes, coordinate and 
report on that coordination.)
     If improvements are needed for low speed alerting in the 
existing fleet, should the FAA adopt a design approval holder (part 26) 
requirement to mandate development of design changes, or would an 
operational rule be sufficient? In responding, the working group should 
address the factors set forth in ``FAA Policy Statement: Safety--A 
Shared Responsibility--New Direction for Addressing Airworthiness 
Issues for Transport Airplanes'' (70 FR 40166, July 12, 2005). The ARAC 
working group should provide information that could lead to standards 
for low speed alerting that can be satisfied with practical design 
approaches.

Schedule

    The required completion date for Phase 2 of the task is 15 months 
after the FAA publishes this notice in the Federal Register.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC accepted the task and assigned it to the existing Avionics 
Systems Harmonization Working Group in the Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issue Area. The working group serves as support to ARAC and 
assists in the analysis of assigned tasks. ARAC must review and approve 
the working group's recommendations. If ARAC accepts the working 
group's recommendations, it will forward them to the FAA.

Working Group Activity

    The Avionics Systems Harmonization Working Group must comply with 
the procedures adopted by ARAC. As part of the procedures, the working 
group must:
    1. Prepare a work plan on how to complete the task, including the 
rationale for this plan. Present the plan for consideration to the 
Transport Airplane and Engine Issues Group following publication of 
this notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendations prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. Draft the appropriate documents and required analyses and/or any 
other related materials or documents.
    4. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ARAC held to 
consider Transport Airplane and Engine Issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Avionics Systems Harmonization Working Group is composed of 
technical experts having an interest in the assigned task. We recommend 
the existing working group be expanded to include individuals involved 
in current fleet operations so there is appropriate representation for 
the Phase 2 task. A

[[Page 11845]]

working group member need not be a representative or a member of the 
full committee.
    If you have expertise in the subject matter and wish to become a 
member of the working group, write to the person listed under the 
caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that desire. 
Describe your interest in the task and state the expertise you would 
bring to the working group. We must receive all requests by March 17, 
2011 for the meeting scheduled to start from March 15 to 17, 2011, 
located at the Cessna Conference Center, 6711 West 31st Street South, 
Wichita, Kansas 67215. The assistant chair, the assistant executive 
director, and the working group co-chairs will review the requests and 
advise you whether or not your request is approved.
    If you are chosen for membership on the working group, you must 
represent your aviation community segment and actively participate in 
the working group by attending all meetings and providing written 
comments when requested to do so. You must devote the resources 
necessary to support the working group in meeting any assigned 
deadlines. You must keep your management chain and those you may 
represent advised of working group activities and decisions to ensure 
that the proposed technical solutions do not conflict with your 
sponsoring organization's position when the subject being negotiated is 
presented to ARAC for approval. Once the working group has begun 
deliberations, members will not be added or substituted without the 
approval of the assistant chair, the assistant executive director, and 
the working group co-chairs.
    The Secretary of Transportation determined that the formation and 
use of the ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection 
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law. Meetings of 
the ARAC are open to the public. Meetings of the Avionics Systems 
Harmonization Working Group will not be open to the public, except to 
the extent individuals with an interest and expertise are selected to 
participate. The FAA will make no public announcement of working group 
meetings.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2011.
Pamela Hamilton-Powell,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 2011-4761 Filed 3-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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