This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

42106 

Vol. 87, No. 134 

Thursday, July 14, 2022 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0875; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2022–00640–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

(AHD) Model MBB–BK 117 C–2 

helicopters. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports of excessively 

worn bolts that connect the cardan-pivot 

joint with the piston rod of the tail rotor 

actuator (TRA) assembly. This proposed 

AD would require repetitively 

inspecting certain TRA assemblies, and 

depending on the results, replacing or 

repairing parts, or accomplishing 

additional inspections. This proposed 

AD would also prohibit installing an 

affected TRA assembly unless it passes 

required inspections. Lastly, this 

proposed AD would provide 

terminating actions for certain 

inspections, as specified in a European 

Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

AD, which is proposed for incorporation 

by reference (IBR). The FAA is 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD August 29, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For EASA material that is proposed 

for IBR in this NPRM, contact EASA, 

Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 

8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may 

find the EASA material on the EASA 

website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. 

For Airbus Helicopters service 

information identified in this NPRM, 

contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 North 

Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 

telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232– 

0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or at https:// 

www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/ 

technical-support.html. You may view 

this material at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (817) 222–5110. The EASA 

material is also available at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2022– 

0875. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0875; or in person at Docket 

Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this 

NPRM, the EASA AD, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations is 

listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal 

Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, Operational 

Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza N SW, Washington, DC 

20024; telephone (202) 267–9167; email 

hal.jensen@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments about this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0875; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2022–00640–R’’ at the beginning 

of your comments. The most helpful 

comments reference a specific portion of 

the proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. The FAA will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this proposal 

because of those comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. The 

agency will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact received about this NPRM. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this NPRM 

contain commercial or financial 

information that is customarily treated 

as private, that you actually treat as 

private, and that is relevant or 

responsive to this NPRM, it is important 

that you clearly designate the submitted 

comments as CBI. Please mark each 

page of your submission containing CBI 

as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such 

marked submissions as confidential 

under the FOIA, and they will not be 

placed in the public docket of this 

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Hal Jensen, Aerospace 

Engineer, Operational Safety Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

FAA, 950 L’Enfant Plaza N SW, 

Washington, DC 20024; telephone (202) 

267–9167; email hal.jensen@faa.gov. 

Any commentary that the FAA receives 

that is not specifically designated as CBI 

will be placed in the public docket for 

this rulemaking. 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued a series of EASA ADs, 

with the most recent being EASA AD 

2022–0086, dated May 13, 2022 (EASA 

AD 2022–0086), to correct an unsafe 

condition for Airbus Helicopters 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 134 / Thursday, July 14, 2022 / Proposed Rules 42107 

Deutschland GmbH (AHD), formerly 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH; and 

Airbus Helicopters Inc., formerly 

American Eurocopter LLC, Model MBB– 

BK117 C–2 helicopters. EASA issued 

EASA AD 2022–0086 to supersede 

EASA AD 2019–0313, dated December 

20, 2019. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

reports of excessively worn bolts that 

connect the cardan-pivot joint with the 

piston rod of the TRA assembly. 

According to Airbus Helicopters, 

manufacturer investigations of affected 

TRAs have revealed improperly 

assembled cardan-pivot joints as the 

main cause of the excessively worn 

bolts. Additionally, incorrect washers as 

well as improperly shimmed laminated 

washers contribute to axial play and 

increased wear of the bolt. The FAA is 

proposing this AD to detect and prevent 

worn bolts. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in helicopter 

oscillations on the yaw axis during 

flight, failure of a bolt resulting in loss 

of control of the tail rotor, and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. See EASA AD 2022–0086 for 

additional background information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2022–0086 requires, for 

certain TRAs with a steel or aluminum 

cardan-pivot joint, repetitively 

measuring the minimum diameter of the 

cardan-pivot joint assembly bolt. 

Depending on the results, EASA AD 

2022–0086 requires replacing the bolt 

and laminated washers of the affected 

TRA or repetitively measuring the 

minimum diameter of the cardan-pivot 

joint assembly bolt at a reduced 

compliance time; or contacting AHD for 

approved repair instructions and 

compliance time or measuring the 

maximum diameter of the TRA piston 

rod bore hole. Depending on the results 

of measuring the maximum diameter of 

the TRA piston rod bore hole, EASA AD 

2022–0086 requires replacing the bolt 

and laminated washers of the affected 

TRA; or contacting AHD for approved 

repair instructions and compliance time 

or repetitively measuring the maximum 

diameter of the TRA piston rod bore 

hole at a reduced compliance time. 

EASA AD 2022–0086 also prohibits 

installing an affected TRA assembly 

unless it passes its required inspections. 

Lastly, EASA AD 2022–0086 specifies 

certain terminating actions for 

repetitively measuring the minimum 

diameter of the cardan-pivot joint 

assembly bolt. 

This material is reasonably available 

because the interested parties have 

access to it through their normal course 

of business or by the means identified 

in the ADDRESSES section. 

Other Related Service Information 

The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters 

Alert Service Bulletin MBB–BK117 C– 

2–67A–027, Revision 2, dated December 

15, 2021. This service information 

specifies, for TRAs with a steel or 

aluminum cardan-pivot joint, 

procedures for measuring the minimum 

diameter of the cardan-pivot joint 

assembly bolt, measuring the maximum 

diameter of the TRA piston rod bore 

hole, replacing the bolt and laminated 

washers, and reassembling the TRA. 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by EASA and are approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

FAA’s bilateral agreement with the 

European Union, EASA has notified the 

FAA about the unsafe condition 

described in its AD. The FAA is 

proposing this AD after evaluating all 

known relevant information and 

determining that the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop on other helicopters of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

EASA AD 2022–0086, described 

previously, as incorporated by 

reference, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD and 

except as discussed under ‘‘Differences 

Between this Proposed AD and the 

EASA AD.’’ 

Explanation of Required Compliance 

Information 

In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to 

improve the efficiency of the AD 

process, the FAA developed a process to 

use some civil aviation authority (CAA) 

ADs as the primary source of 

information for compliance with 

requirements for corresponding FAA 

ADs. The FAA has been coordinating 

this process with manufacturers and 

CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to 

incorporate EASA AD 2022–0086 by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2022–0086 

in its entirety through that 

incorporation, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD. 

Using common terms that are the same 

as the heading of a particular section in 

EASA AD 2022–0086 does not mean 

that operators need comply only with 

that section. For example, where the AD 

requirement refers to ‘‘all required 

actions and compliance times,’’ 

compliance with this AD requirement is 

not limited to the section titled 

‘‘Required Action(s) and Compliance 

Time(s)’’ in EASA AD 2022–0086. 

Service information referenced in EASA 

AD 2022–0086 for compliance will be 

available at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0875 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

EASA AD 2022–0086 requires 

discarding certain parts, whereas this 

proposed AD would require removing 

those parts from service instead. EASA 

AD 2022–0086 requires maintaining a 

removed bolt for possible investigation 

purposes for four weeks, whereas this 

proposed AD would not require that 

action. EASA AD 2022–0086 requires 

contacting AHD for approved repair 

instructions and accomplishing those 

instructions within the compliance time 

specified therein, whereas this proposed 

AD would require accomplishing a 

repair in accordance with certain 

approved methods before further flight. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 142 

helicopters of U.S. Registry. Labor rates 

are estimated at $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these numbers, the FAA 

estimates the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD. 

Measuring the cardan-pivot joint 

assembly bolt would take about 2 workhours and have a nominal parts cost for 

an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter 

and $24,140 for the U.S. fleet, per 

inspection cycle. If required, measuring 

the TRA piston rod bore hole following 

the cardan-pivot joint assembly bolt 

inspection would take about an 

additional 0.5 work-hour for an 

estimated cost of $43 per helicopter, per 

inspection cycle. Replacing a bolt and 

the laminated washers following an 

inspection would take about an 

additional 0.25 work-hour and parts 

would cost about $586 for an estimated 

cost of $607 per replacement. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 


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42108 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 134 / Thursday, July 14, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking 

under the authority described in 

Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 

44701: General requirements. Under 

that section, Congress charges the FAA 

with promoting safe flight of civil 

aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 

regulations for practices, methods, and 

procedures the Administrator finds 

necessary for safety in air commerce. 

This regulation is within the scope of 

that authority because it addresses an 

unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 

develop on products identified in this 

rulemaking action. 

Regulatory Findings 

The FAA determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This proposed AD would not 

have a substantial direct effect on the 

States, on the relationship between the 

national Government and the States, or 

on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Would not affect intrastate 

aviation in Alaska, and 

(3) Would not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

(AHD): Docket No. FAA–2022–0875; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2022–00640–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by August 29, 

2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB–BK 

117 C–2 helicopters, certificated in any 

category. 

Note 1 to paragraph (c): Helicopters with 

an MBB–BK 117 C–2(e) designation are 

Model MBB–BK 117 C–2 helicopters. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6720, Tail Rotor Control System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

excessively worn bolts that connect the 

cardan-pivot joint with the piston rod of the 

tail rotor actuator assembly. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to detect and prevent worn 

bolts. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 

could result in helicopter oscillations on the 

yaw axis during flight, failure of a bolt 

resulting in loss of control of the tail rotor, 

and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and 

(i) of this AD: Comply with all required 

actions and compliance times specified in, 

and in accordance with, European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022– 

0086, dated May 13, 2022 (EASA AD 2022– 

0086). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022–0086 

(1) Where EASA AD 2022–0086 requires 

compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD 

requires using hours time-in-service (TIS). 

(2) Where EASA AD 2022–0086 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(3) Where Note 1 of EASA AD 2022–0086 

allows a non-cumulative tolerance of 10% to 

the repetitive inspection intervals specified 

in its paragraphs (1), (2.2), and (5.2), this AD 

requires the repetitive inspection intervals 

specified in paragraphs (h)(3)(i) through (iii) 

of this AD. 

(i) For the repetitive inspection interval 

specified in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2022– 

0086, within intervals not to exceed 330 

hours TIS. 

(ii) For the repetitive inspection interval 

specified in paragraph (2.2) of EASA AD 

2022–0086, within intervals not to exceed 

165 hours TIS. 

(iii) For the repetitive inspection interval 

specified in paragraph (5.2) of EASA AD 

2022–0086, within intervals not to exceed 55 

hours TIS. 

(4) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2022–0086 specifies 

discarding parts, this AD requires removing 

those parts from service. 

(5) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2022–0086 specifies 

maintaining a removed bolt for possible 

investigation purposes for four weeks, this 

AD does not require that action. 

(6) Where paragraphs (3.1) and (5.1) of 

EASA AD 2022–0086 specify contacting AHD 

for approved repair instructions and 

accomplishing those instructions within the 

compliance time specified therein, this AD 

requires, before further flight, repair done in 

accordance with a method approved by the 

Manager, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 

Section, International Validation Branch, 

FAA; EASA; or Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(7) This AD does not mandate compliance 

with the ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2022–0086. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2022–0086 specifies 

to submit certain information to the 

manufacturer, this AD does not include that 

requirement. 

(j) Special Flight Permit 

A special flight permit may be issued in 

accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199, 

provided that there are no passengers 

onboard. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In 

accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the International Validation 

Branch, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (l)(2) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2022–0086, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find the 

EASA material on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this 

material at the FAA, Office of the Regional 

Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood 

Pkwy., Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. 

For information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

This material may be found in the AD docket 

at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2022–0875. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 950 L’Enfant 

Plaza N SW, Washington, DC 20024; 

telephone (202) 267–9167; email hal.jensen@

faa.gov. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 134 / Thursday, July 14, 2022 / Proposed Rules 42109 

1Other regulations, such as 14 CFR 91.9, contain 

language that does not preclude referring to or 

carrying manuals that exist in an electronic format. 

This proposed rule does not address such 

regulations. 

Issued on July 8, 2022. 

Christina Underwood, 

Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–15024 Filed 7–13–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Parts 91, 121, 125, and 135 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0912; Notice No. 22– 

04] 

RIN 2120–AL36 

Updating Manual Requirements To 

Accommodate Technology 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to update 

its manual requirements to reflect 

industry use of electronic and paper 

manuals. The amendments would apply 

to fractional ownership operations; 

domestic, flag, and supplemental 

operations; rules governing the 

operations of U.S.-registered civil 

airplanes which have a seating 

configuration of 20 or more passengers 

or a maximum payload capacity of 6,000 

pounds or more when common carriage 

is not involved; and commuter and ondemand operations. The proposed 

action would require manuals accessed 

in paper format to display the date of 

last revision on each page, and require 

manuals accessed in electronic format to 

display the date of last revision in a 

manner in which a person can 

immediately ascertain it. This action 

would also revise the requirement for 

program managers or certificate holders 

to carry appropriate parts of the manual 

aboard airplanes during operations. This 

proposed rule would instead require 

program managers or certificate holders 

ensure the appropriate parts of the 

manual are accessible to flight, ground, 

and maintenance personnel when such 

personnel are performing their assigned 

duties. Lastly, the proposed rule would 

update outdated language that refers to 

accessing information in manuals kept 

in microfiche. The FAA proposes to 

remove this outdated language and 

simply require that all manual 

information and instructions be 

displayed clearly and be retrievable in 

the English language. 

DATES: Send comments on or before 

September 12, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by docket number FAA–2022–0912 

using any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and follow 

the online instructions for sending your 

comments electronically. 

• Mail: Send comments to Docket 

Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of 

Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West 

Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 

20590–0001. 

• Hand Delivery or Courier: Take 

comments to Docket Operations in 

Room W12–140 of the West Building 

Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

• Fax: Fax comments to Docket 

Operations at (202) 493–2251. 

Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 

553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 

public to better inform its rulemaking 

process. DOT posts these comments, 

without edit, including any personal 

information the commenter provides, to 

www.regulations.gov, as described in 

the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 

14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 

www.dot.gov/privacy. 

Docket: Background documents or 

comments received may be read at 

https://www.regulations.gov at any time. 

Follow the online instructions for 

accessing the docket or go to the Docket 

Operations in Room W12–140 of the 

West Building Ground Floor at 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sandra Ray, Voluntary Programs and 

Rulemaking Section, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, 

telephone (412) 329–3088; email 

sandra.ray@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Executive Summary 

This rulemaking proposes several 

amendments in title 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR), parts 91 subpart 

K (part 91K), 121, 125, and 135 that 

would remove certain prescriptive 

manual requirements for certificate 

holders. First, this proposed rulemaking 

would amend §§ 91.1025, 121.135, 

125.73, and 135.23 to remove the 

requirement to have the date of last 

revision on each page concerned as it 

applies to operators using electronic 

manuals. Further, this proposed rule 

would add a separate requirement to 

allow certificate holders using 

electronic manuals flexibility in 

displaying the date of last revision, 

while maintaining the existing 

requirement for certificate holders with 

paper manuals. 

In addition, this rulemaking proposes 

clarifying in §§ 91.1023, 121.139, and 

135.21 that appropriate parts of the 

manual must be accessible on each 

aircraft when away from their principal 

base of operations, in lieu of indicating 

that manuals must exist in any 

particular format. This rulemaking 

would provide certificate holders 

flexibility regarding how their flight, 

ground, and maintenance personnel 

access electronic manuals, and to obtain 

information in a manner that reflects 

current technological capabilities.1

Lastly, this rulemaking proposes 

amendments in §§ 91.1023, 121.139, 

125.71, and 135.21 to update language 

that requires certificate holders 

accessing manuals in ‘‘other than 

printed form,’’ ensure there is a 

‘‘compatible reading device available to 

those persons that provides a legible 

image’’ or ‘‘a system that is able to 

retrieve the maintenance information 

and instructions in the English 

language.’’ The FAA proposes to replace 

this outdated language with a 

requirement that all manual information 

and instructions be displayed clearly 

and be retrievable in the English 

language. 

II. Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules on 

aviation safety is found in title 49 of the 

United States Code (U.S.C.). Subtitle I, 

section 106 describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Section 106(f) 

vests final authority in the 

Administrator for carrying out all 

functions, powers, and duties of the 

Administrator relating to the 

promulgation of regulations and rules. 

Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 

describes in detail the scope of the 

Agency’s authority. Section 44701(a)(5) 

requires the Administrator to 

promulgate regulations and minimum 

standards for other practices, methods, 

and procedures necessary for safety in 

air commerce and national security. In 

addition, 49 U.S.C. 44701(d)(1)(A) 

specifically states the Administrator, 

when prescribing safety regulations, 

must consider the duty of an air carrier 

to provide service with the highest 

possible degree of safety in the public 

interest. Such authority applies to the 

oversight the FAA exercises to ensure 

safety of aviation operations, including 


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