[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64008-64009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5654]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29335; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-045-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-
81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for the above-
referenced NPRM, which proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that applies to all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-
81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 
airplanes. The NPRM would require repetitive inspections for cracking 
of the overwing frames from stations 845 to 905 (MD-87 stations 731 to 
791), left and right sides, and corrective actions if necessary. The 
NPRM results from reports of cracked overwing frames. This extension of 
the comment period is necessary to ensure that all interested persons 
have ample opportunity to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding the NPRM.

DATES: We must receive comments on this NPRM by December 3, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

[[Page 64009]]

    For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, 
Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service Management, 
Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Durbin, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; 
telephone (562) 627-5233; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for an AD (the ``original NPRM'') 
for all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-
83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes. The original NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2007 (72 FR 55111). 
The original NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections for 
cracking of the overwing frames from stations 845 to 905 (MD-87 
stations 731 to 791), left and right sides, and corrective actions if 
necessary. The original NPRM also invites comments on its overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects.

Events Leading to Extension of Comment Period

    Since we issued the NPRM, the DOT's Docket Management System (DMS) 
was replaced by the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS). FDMS is a 
government-wide, electronic docket management system, which contains 
the public dockets and is the method used for submitting comments on 
the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of 
proposed rulemaking actions. However, due to the service disruption 
caused by the transition from DOT's DMS to the FDMS, the docket 
material was not posted on the FDMS until November 1, 2007. Therefore, 
we have determined that the public was not provided adequate 
opportunity to submit comments on the NPRM. As a result, we have 
decided to extend the comment period for this NPRM until December 3, 
2007, to receive additional comments.

FAA's Determination

    We have considered this issue and find it appropriate to extend the 
comment period to give all interested persons additional time to 
examine the proposed requirements of the original NPRM and submit 
comments. After evaluating the circumstances stated previously, we have 
determined that extending the comment period until December 3, 2007, 
will not compromise the safety of these airplanes.

Extension of Comment Period

    The comment period for Docket No. FAA-2007-29335; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-NM-045-AD; has been revised. The comment period now 
closes December 3, 2007.
    No other part of the regulatory information has been changed; 
therefore, the original NPRM is not republished in the Federal 
Register.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 7, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 07-5654 Filed 11-9-07; 10:10 am]
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