[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29203-29205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13438]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aging Transport Systems Rulemaking Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of new taskings for the Aging Transport Systems 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Notice is given of the new taskings assigned to and accepted 
by the Aging Transport Systems Rulemaking Advisory Committee. This 
notice informs the public of the activities of the Committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Huber, Manager, Program 
Management Branch, ANM-114, Executive Director of ATSRAC, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW, Renton, WA 98055; 
telephone (425) 227-2589 or fax (425) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In response to the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and 
Security, the FAA formed the Aging Non-Structural Systems Study Team, 
which developed the FAA's approach to improving the management of aging 
wire systems. To assist in fulfilling the actions specified in the 
Aging Non-Structural Systems Plan, we have established an Aging 
Transport Systems Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ATSRAC) to provide 
advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator, through the 
Associate Administrator for Regulation and Certification, on airplane 
system safety issues like aging wire systems. The ATSRAC was initially 
tasked in 1998 with five tasks, which encompassed collecting data on 
aging wiring systems through airplane inspections, reviewing airplane 
manufacturer's service information, reviewing operators maintenance 
programs, and providing the FAA with recommendations to enhance the 
safety of these systems.
    It should be noted that the results and recommendations from the 
initial taskings indicate that problems associated with systems on 
aging airplanes are not completely related to the degradation over time 
of wire systems. Inadequate installation and maintenance practices can 
lead to what is commonly referred to as an ``aging system'' problem. As 
such, the scope of the Committee is not limited solely to age-related 
issues, but includes improving the continued airworthiness of airplane 
systems, and in particular wire systems.
    This notice informs the public of four new tasks assigned to and 
accepted by ATSRAC. These new tasks are intended to facilitate 
implementation of earlier recommendations of ATSRAC. The ATSRAC has 
chosen to establish harmonization working groups (HWG) to provide 
technical support in developing its recommendations to the Federal 
Aviation Administration. The HWG's will establish working methods to 
ensure coordination among the four groups and coordination with working 
groups established by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee. This 
coordination is required to ensure efficient use of resources, 
continuity in related decisions, and to reduce duplication of efforts. 
The new tasks and harmonization working groups follow:

I. Wire System Certification Requirements Harmonization Working Group

    This group should be comprised of representatives and experts from 
type certificate and supplemental type certificate holders, operators, 
and regulatory authorities.
    <bullet> Review all 14 CFR part 25 and JAR 25 requirements and 
ATSRAC and

[[Page 29204]]

ARAC recommendations related to wiring systems.
    <bullet> Submit recommendations consolidating existing paragraphs 
and creating a new section dedicated to wire system requirements.
    <bullet> Identify design and certification requirements for a new 
wire system rule that would account for aging effects.
    <bullet> Identify requirements to conduct wire system safety 
assessments. Review Sec. 25.1309, AC 25.1309-1A (or latest revision), 
corresponding JAR-25 material, and related ARAC recommendations and 
recommend, if appropriate, particular methods of compliance with 
Sec. 25.1309 that should be mandated in a new wire system rule.
    <bullet> Review existing FAA and JAA guidance, related ATSRAC and 
ARAC recommendations, and industry documentation and guidance for wire 
separation requirements.
    <bullet> Recommend, if appropriate, a comprehensive wire separation 
regulation (in addition to 25.1353).
    <bullet> Recommend requirements for special identification of wire 
and/or wire bundles based on the airplane level of effect of failures 
of systems contained in a wire bundle.
    <bullet> Review and revise, as appropriate, existing advisory 
material, guidance and policies and related ARAC recommendations on 
design and installation of wiring systems, in consideration of aging 
effects on wiring noted in previous recommendations submitted by 
ATSRAC.

II. Standard Wire Practice Manual (SWPM) Harmonization Working Group

    The composition of this working group should include technical 
representatives from the Air Transport Association, operators [specify 
type, i.e. repair station, air carrier, etc.], aircraft and component 
manufacturers, and regulatory authorities.
    <bullet> Define the standard format and content of an SWPM in 
consideration of ATSRAC recommendations on the SWPM.
    <bullet> Recommend, as appropriate, changes to existing SWPM's 
required by airline and repair station programs.

III. Enhanced Training Program for Wire Systems Harmonization Working 
Group

    The composition of this working group should include technical 
expertise from air carrier operators, repair stations, other operators 
of transport category aircraft, regulatory authorities. Specific 
expertise is needed in the areas of training program development, 
wiring, and avionics maintenance.
    <bullet> Develop and recommend a wire system training program that 
could be incorporated into an FAA advisory circular and JAA advisory 
material. The recommendation must consider training requirements that 
address all specific issues contained in ATSRAC's recommendation 
concerning Enhanced Maintenance Criteria for Systems.
    <bullet> Identify and recommend SWPM minimum recurrent training 
requirements for maintenance technicians with particular focus on aging 
and degradation of wiring systems.

IV. Enhanced Maintenance Criteria for Systems Harmonization Working 
Group

    The composition of this working group should include technical 
expertise in wiring/avionics maintenance, maintenance program 
development, and use of Instructions for Continued Airworthiness.
    <bullet> Develop recommendations for enhanced maintenance criteria 
for systems in consideration of the elements of previous 
recommendations in the ATSRAC, including the enhanced zonal analysis 
program. The recommended program must consider related conclusions and 
recommendations from ATSRAC's Intrusive Inspection Report. The 
recommendations will form the basis for an FAA advisory circular and 
JAA Advisory Circular Joint (ACJ) directed toward part 25 transport 
category aircraft currently being used in part(s) 91, 121, 125, and 129 
operations.
    <bullet> Review recommendations from ATSRAC's report concerning 
Maintenance Practices, particularly the ``zonal analysis procedure'' 
methodology.
    <bullet> Provide certain information that will allow development of 
regulatory text for a Special Federal Aviation regulation (SFAR) for 
Performance of the Enhanced Zonal Analysis Procedure (EZAP) applicable 
to type certificate holders and supplemental type certificate holders 
who install wire bundles or significantly affect the installation of 
existing wiring. Recommendations should include timelines for aircraft 
type design holders to complete their application for the EZAP logic 
for each aircraft.
    <bullet> Recommend wire system data for inclusion in Appendix H to 
part 25, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness.

ATSRAC Acceptance of Taskings

    ATSRAC has accepted these four taskings and has agreed to provide 
the FAA with its final recommendations by August 2002. The tasking 
statements in this notice are a summary of the four taskings that 
ATSRAC accepted at the April 25, 2001 ATSRAC meeting in Washington, DC. 
The Committee has chosen to assign the tasks to four separate 
harmonization working groups. These working groups will serve as staff 
to the ATSRAC to assist the Committee in writing technical reports that 
will allow the FAA to complete its development of associated rulemaking 
language and advisory material. Working group documents will be 
reviewed, deliberated, and approved by ATSRAC. If ATSRAC accepts the 
working groups' documents, they will be forwarded to the FAA as ATSRAC 
recommendations.
    The working groups should coordinate with other working groups, 
organizations, and specialists as appropriate. The working groups will 
identify to ATSRAC the need for additional new working groups when 
existing groups do not have the appropriate expertise to address 
certain tasks.

Working Group Activity

    The working groups are expected to comply with the procedures 
adopted by ATSRAC. As part of the procedures, each working group is 
expected to:
    1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including the 
rationale supporting such a plan, for consideration by the ATSRAC 
following the establishment and selection of the working group.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of proposed 
recommendations prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. Draft a report and/or any other collateral documents the working 
group determines to be appropriate and submit them to the ATSRAC for 
review and approval by July 2002.
    4. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ATSRAC.

Participation in the Working Group

    Each of the working groups will be composed of experts having an 
interest in the assigned task. Participants of the working groups 
should be prepared to devote a significant portion of their time to the 
ATSRAC task through August 2002. A working group member need not be a 
representative or a member of the ATSRAC.
    An individual who has expertise in the subject matter and wishes to 
become a member of one of the working groups should contact: Charles 
Huber (see For Further Information Contact section), expressing that 
desire, describing his or her interest in the tasks, and stating the 
expertise he or she would bring to the working group. All requests to

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participate must be received no later than June 28, 2001. The requests 
will be reviewed by the ATSRAC Chair, the Executive Director, and the 
working group Chair, and the individuals will be advised whether or not 
requests can be accommodated.
    The Secretary of Transportation has determined that the formation 
and use of ATSRAC are necessary and in the public interest in 
connection with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
    Meetings of the ATSRAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the 
individual working groups will not be open to the public, except to the 
extent that individuals with an interest and expertise are selected to 
participate. No public announcement of working group meetings will be 
made.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2001.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 01-13438 Filed 5-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M