18164 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 68 / Monday, April 10, 1995 / Notices

Federal Aviation Administration

Civil Tiltrotor Development Advisory

Committee Infrastructure

Subcommittee

Pursuant to Section 10(A)(2) of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act Public

Law (72–362); 5 U.S.C. (App. I), notice

is hereby given of a meeting of the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

sponsored Civil Tiltrotor Development

Advisory Committee (CTRDAC)

Infrastructure Subcommittee that will be

held on April 27–28, 1995 at the

headquarters of the Airport Council

International located at 1775 K Street

NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20006.

The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on

the 27th and conclude by 1:00 p.m. on

the 28th.

The agenda for the Infrastructure

Subcommittee meeting will include the

following:

(1) Briefings on assumptions and

results of the CTRDAC economic

analysis.

(2) Review and discussion of the

Subcommittee draft executive summary.

(3) Review the Infrastructure

Subcommittee work plans, schedule and

assumptions.

Persons who plan to attend the

meeting should notify Ms. Karen

Braxton on 202–267–9451. Attendance

is open to the interested public, but

limited to space available. With the

approval of the Chairperson, members

of the public may present oral

statements at the meeting.

Members of the public may provide a

written statement to the Subcommittee

at any time.

Persons with a disability requiring

special services, such as an interpreter

for the hearing impaired, should contact

Ms. Karen Braxton at least three days

prior to the meeting. Issued in

Washington, D.C., April 3, 1995.

Richard A. Weiss,

Designated Federal Official, Civil Tiltrotor

Development Advisory Committee.

[FR Doc. 95–8766 Filed 4–7–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

Civil Tiltrotor Development Advisory

Committee Economics Subcommittee

Pursuant to Section 10(A)(2) of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act Public

Law (72–362); 5 U.S.C. (App. I), notice

is hereby given of a meeting of the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

sponsored Civil Tiltrotor Development

Advisory Committee (CTRDAC)

Economics Subcommittee that will be

held on April 17, 1995 in Cambridge,

MA, at the Volpe National

Transportation Systems Center

(VNTSC), 55 Broadway, Kendall Square,

in the Executive Conference Center,

12th Floor.

The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m.

and conclude by 3:00 p.m.

The Agenda for the third Economics

Subcommittee meeting will include the

following:

(1) Review and discussion on the draft

executive summary of the economics

report.

(2) Review of assumptions.

(3) Review of schedule and work

plans.

Persons who plan to attend the

meeting should notify Ms. Karen

Braxton on 202–267–9451 by April 13.

Attendance is open to the interested

public, but limited to space available.

With the approval of the Chairperson,

members of the public may present oral

statements at the meeting.

Members of the public may provide a

written statement to the Subcommittee

at any time.

Persons with a disability requiring

special services, such as an interpreter

for the hearing impaired, should contact

Ms. Karen Braxton at least three days

prior to the meeting. Issued in

Washington, DC., April 4, 1995.

Richard A. Weiss,

Designated Federal Official, Civil Tiltrotor

Development Advisory Committee.

[FR Doc. 95–8768 Filed 4–7–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory

Committee Meeting on Aircraft

Certification Procedures Issues

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice

to advise the public of a meeting of the

Federal Aviation Administration’s

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory

Committee to discuss aircraft

certification procedures issues.

DATES: The meeting will be held on

April 28, 1995, at 9:00 a.m. Arrange for

oral presentations by April 20, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the General Aviation Manufacturers

Association, Suite 801, 1400 K Street,

NW, Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Kathy Ball, Aircraft Certification

Service (AIR–1), 800 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591,

telephone (202) 267–8235.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant

to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal

Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–

463; 5 U.S.C. App. II), notice is hereby

given of a meeting of the Aviation

Rulemaking advisory committee to be

held on April 28, 1995, at the General

Aviation Manufactures Association,

Suite 801, 1400 K Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20005. The agenda for

the meeting will include:

• Opening Remarks

• Working Group Reports

Delegation System—A special

presentation on Delegation Options

ELT

Parts

Production Certification

ICPTF

• Review of Action Items

• New Business

Attendance is open to the interested

public, but will be limited to the space

available. The public must make

arrangements by April 20, 1995, to

present oral statements at the meeting.

The public may present written

statements to the committee at any time

by providing 25 copies to the Assistant

Executive Director for Aircraft

Certification Procedures or by bringing

the copies to him at the meeting.

Arrangements may be made by

contacting the person listed under the

heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT.

Sign and oral interpretation can be

made available at the meeting, as well

as an assistive listening device, if

requested 10 calendar days before the

meeting.

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 3,

1995.

Daniel P. Salvano,

Assistant Executive Director for ARAC

Aircraft Certification Procedures.

[FR Doc. 95–8769 Filed 4–7–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

Petition for Exemption From the

Vehicle Theft Protection Standard;

Volkswagen of America, Inc.

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Grant of petition for exemption.

SUMMARY: This notice grants in full the

petition of Volkswagen of America, Inc.

(VW) for an exemption from the partsmarking requirements of the vehicle

theft protection standard for a high-theft

car line whose nameplate and effective

model year is confidential. This petition

is granted because the agency has

determined that the antitheft device to

be placed on the car line as standard
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 68 / Monday, April 10, 1995 / Notices 18165

equipment is likely to be as effective in

reducing and deterring motor vehicle

theft as compliance with the partsmarking requirements.

DATES: The exemption granted by this

notice is effective beginning with

(confidential) model year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Barbara A. Gray, Office of Market

Incentives, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street,

SW, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Gray’s

telephone number is (202) 366–1740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

December 13, 1994, the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA) received a petition dated

December 7, 1994, from Volkswagen of

America, Inc. (VW) requesting an

exemption from the theft protection

standard for a car line for the

(confidential) model year. The

nameplate of the car line is confidential.

The petition was submitted pursuant to

49 CFR part 543, Exemption From

Vehicle Theft Protection Standard, and

requested an exemption from parts

marking based on the installation of a

theft deterrent device as standard

equipment for the car line. The petition

filed by VW is complete, as required by

49 CFR 543.7, in that it met the general

requirements contained in § 543.5 and

the specific content requirements of

§ 543.6. In a letter dated January 12,

1995, NHTSA granted the petitioner’s

request for confidential treatment of

certain information, including the

identity of the nameplate of the car line.

In its petition, VW provided a

detailed description of the identity,

design and location of the components

of the antitheft device for the car line,

including diagrams of the components

and their location in the vehicle. VW

stated that the system incorporates an

alarm system that is comparable to other

alarm systems for which NHTSA has

granted exemptions. The system

protects the hood, the trunk lid and all

doors of the vehicle, and the radio. In

addition, it includes an engine starter

interrupt feature. VW stated that its

antitheft system is similar to the one

used as standard equipment on Toyota,

Lexus, Nissan and Mazda car lines.

The device is designed to facilitate or

encourage its activation by motorists.

The antitheft device control unit is

activated by turning the key in either of

the front door locks to the lock position

and holding the key in the lock position

for at least one-half second.

The activated condition is indicated

by a short ‘‘beep’’ signal from the alarm

system horn. The device will be armed

0.2 seconds after activation if the hood,

the vehicle doors and the trunk are

properly closed. If a door, hood, or the

trunk is left open when the door key is

turned to the lock position, the starter

interrupt feature is activated, but the

alarm system will only be armed, and

the short ‘‘beep’’ on the alarm horn will

only sound, when the door, hood or

trunk that had been left open is closed.

If an opened door, hood or trunk is not

closed within one minute after the key

is turned in either of the front door

locks, the system will arm to protect all

of the closed areas; and if the open area

is subsequently closed, it will be

protected as well.

This line is equipped with a power

door locking system. All the doors and

the trunk lock will be locked

automatically when the key is turned to

the lock position in either front door.

Once the vehicle antitheft system has

been activated, entry into the vehicle is

accomplished by turning the key in

either front door lock to the springloaded open position once and releasing

it. This will deactivate the alarm system

and will unlock only the door being

operated. Turning the key in either front

door lock to the open position a second

time within four seconds of the first

turn will deactivate the alarm system

and will unlock all the doors and the

trunk. When the trunk ‘‘unlocks’’ the lid

does not open until the lock cylinder is

pressed.

If any violation of protected areas

occurs once the system has been

activated, the alarm horn (mounted in

the front hood area) will sound and the

hazard warning flashers will actuate.

Also, the starter interrupt feature will

prevent the vehicle from starting.

The sounding of the horn and the

actuation of the hazard warning flashers

continues for a duration of 165 seconds.

A subsequent attempt will reactivate the

system for another 165 seconds. The

antitheft device sensors are located in

the trunk key cylinder. Once the key has

been inserted the antitheft device is

deactivated. However, closing the trunk

lid reactivates the system.

The control module for the antitheft

system is located in the instrument

panel assembly and is accessible only

from inside the vehicle after removal of

the instrument panel components. The

alarm system horn is located in the

plenum area under the hood and is

difficult to reach unless the plenum

cover is removed. The vehicle hood

latch may be released only from inside

the vehicle. The door, trunk and engine

hood contact switches are all

inaccessible unless the door panels are

removed or the hood or the trunk are

opened.

The power circuit to the starter motor

is interrupted when the alarm system is

armed. If the antitheft device is

activated from any of the protected areas

or if the ignition switch is turned on in

an unauthorized effort to start the

vehicle, the system will prevent the

engine from being started.

The doors are protected through the

interior light door contact switch.

Should an attempt be made to enter the

vehicle through one of the doors, the

antitheft device is activated. The engine

hood and trunk lid are protected

through sensors located in the contact

switch. Should these components be

violated, the alarm will be activated. For

VW-installed radios, the alarm is

activated if an attempt is made to

separate the radio from the instrument

panel while the alarm is activated.

The starter interrupt is also activated

when one of the protected areas is

breached. Should a thief attempt to start

the vehicle by any means other than a

key, the engine will be immobilized.

VW addressed the reliability and

durability of the antitheft system by

providing information on the tests that

were conducted on the device. The

system has been tested prior to

production release for specifications

which require compliance with VW

standards for electrical and electronic

assembly operating requirements, for

durability, thermal and mechanical

shock resistance and electromagnetic

capability. The applicable test

procedures are: VW 801 01—Electrical

and Electronic Assemblies in Motor

Vehicles, Standardized General Test

Conditions; VW 820 66—

Electromagnetic Compatibility of

Electronic Components; and VW 821

66—Electromagnetic Compatibility of

Electronic Components in Vehicles,

Externally Radiated Interferences.

In discussing why it believes that the

antitheft device will be effective in

reducing and deterring motor vehicle

theft, VW noted that its antitheft device

is comparable to that used on the Mazda

RX–7, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan 300ZX,

and Toyota Cressida and Supra. It stated

that all of these lines have experienced

reduced theft rates since installing the

system, and provided an analysis of the

theft rates for these vehicles based on

theft data published by NHTSA. That

analysis showed that the Mazda RX–7

experienced a 74 per cent decrease in its

theft rate from 1984 to 1989 and the

Mitsubishi Galant experienced a 50 per

cent decrease for the same period. It also

showed a 53 per cent decrease for the

Nissan 300ZX from 1983 to 1989, and a

10 per cent decrease for the Toyota

Cressida and a 74 per cent decrease for

the Toyota Supra for that time period.

The agency’s review of the theft data

for these vehicle lines shows results

consistent with VW’s analysis. The car
18166 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 68 / Monday, April 10, 1995 / Notices

lines listed above have experienced an

overall 63 per cent decline in theft rate

from MY 1987 to MY 1992.

NHTSA believes that there is

substantial evidence that the antitheft

device that will be installed on the car

line that is the subject of this notice will

likely be as effective in reducing motor

vehicle theft as compliance with the

theft prevention standard (49 CFR part

541). The VW system will provide all of

the five types of performance listed in

Section 543.6(a)(3): promoting

activation; attracting attention to the

efforts of an unauthorized person to

enter or move a vehicle by means other

than a key; preventing defeat or

circumventing of the device by

unauthorized persons; preventing

operation of the vehicle by

unauthorized entrants; and ensuring the

reliability and durability of the device.

As required by 49 U.S.C. section

33106(c)(2) and 49 CFR 543.6(a)(4), the

agency also finds that Volkswagen has

provided adequate reasons for its belief

that the antitheft device will reduce and

deter theft. This conclusion is based on

the information VW provided about its

device. This information included a

description of reliability and functional

tests conducted by VW for the antitheft

device and its components.

For the foregoing reasons, the agency

hereby exempts the car line that is the

subject of this notice in whole from the

requirements of 49 CFR part 541.

If VW decides not to use the

exemption for this car line, it should

formally notify the agency. If such a

decision is made, the car line must be

fully marked according to the

requirements of 49 CFR 541.5 and 541.6

(marking of major components and

replacement parts).

The agency notes that the limited and

apparently conflicting data on the

effectiveness of the pre-standard parts

marking programs continue to make it

difficult to compare the effectiveness of

an antitheft device with the

effectiveness of the theft prevention

standard. The statute clearly invites

such a comparison, which the agency

has made on the basis of the limited

data available. With implementation of

the requirements of the ‘‘Anti Car Theft

Act of 1992,’’ NHTSA anticipates more

probative data upon which comparisons

may be made.

NHTSA notes that if VW wishes in

the future to modify the device on

which this exemption is based, the

company may have to submit a petition

to modify the exemption. Section

543.7(d) states that a part 543 exemption

applies only to vehicles that belong to

a line exempted under this part and

equipped with the antitheft device upon

which that lines exemption is based.

Further, § 543.9(c)(2) provides for the

submission of petitions ‘‘[t]o modify an

exemption to permit the use of an

antitheft device similar to but differing

from the one specified in that

exemption.’’

The agency wishes to minimize the

administrative burden which

§ 543.9(c)(2) could place on exempted

vehicle manufacturers and itself. The

agency did not intend in drafting part

543 to require the submission of a

petition for every change to the

components or design of an antitheft

device. The significance of many such

changes could be de minimis. Therefore,

NHTSA suggests that if the

manufacturer contemplates making any

changes the effects of which might be

characterized as de minimis, it should

consult the agency before preparing and

submitting a petition to modify.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33106; delegation of

authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

Dated: April 4, 1995.

Howard M. Smolkin,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc. 95–8763 Filed 4–7–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

Petition for Exemption From the

Vehicle Theft Protection Standard;

Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, Department of

Transportation (NHTSA) DOT.

ACTION: Grant of petition for exemption.

SUMMARY: This notice grants in full the

petition of Mercedes-Benz of North

America, Inc. (‘‘Mercedes’’) for

exemption of its MY 1996 202 (‘‘CClass’’) car line from the parts marking

requirements of the vehicle theft

protection standard. This petition is

granted because the agency has

determined that the antitheft device to

be placed on the car line as standard

equipment, is likely to be as effective in

reducing and deterring motor vehicle

theft as compliance with the parts

marking requirement.

DATES: The exemption granted by this

notice is effective beginning with the

1996 model year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Barbara A. Gray, Office of Market

Incentives, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street,

SW, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Gray’s

telephone number is (202) 366–1740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

November 29, 1994, Mercedes-Benz of

North America, Inc. (Mercedes)

submitted a petition for exemption from

the theft prevention standard for its

model year (MY) 1996 202 car line (CClass) pursuant to 49 CFR Part 543,

Exemption From Vehicle Theft

Prevention Standard, (59 FR 10756).

The petition submitted by Mercedes

meets the general requirements for a

petition contained in 49 CFR 543.5, and

the specific content requirements

of§ 543.6. Therefore, the petition is

complete as required by § 543.7.

In its petition, Mercedes provided a

detailed description of the identity,

design and location of the components

of the antitheft device for the car line,

including diagrams of the components

and their location in each vehicle. The

system consists of a central locking

system and an engine starter-interrupt

function.

Mercedes states that a microprocessor

antitheft system featuring an electronic

engine immobilizer will be installed as

standard equipment on all cars in the CClass car line beginning in December

1994. The antitheft system will be

phased in during MY 1995. The

exemption is requested to begin with

MY 1996 since the C-Class line will

then have this antitheft system as

standard equipment. The planned

beginning of production for the MY

1996 C-Class line is mid-September

1995.

Mercedes states that the system is

automatically activated either by using

the infrared remote control unit or by

locking the vehicle with the standard

door/ignition key at either of the front

door locks or at the trunk lock. The

system is deactivated by the remote

control or through the normal vehicle

unlocking procedure, when the standard

door/ignition key is turned in either of

the front door locks or the trunk lock.

An LED lamp on the radio flashes to call

attention to the antitheft system and

radio code functions.

The antitheft system of the C-Class

line for which Mercedes seeks this

exemption does not include a visual or

an audible alarm feature as standard

equipment. An enhanced antitheft

system with an additional audible/

visual alarm is available as an option.

Mercedes stated that approximately 51

percent of MY 1994 C-Class car line

customers ordered the enhanced version

of the antitheft system. Mercedes also

pointed out that NHTSA recently

granted full exemptions to two General

Motors car lines (based on theft rates)

which had installed as standard

equipment the ‘‘PASS-KEY’’ system

which also does not have a visual or

audible alarm function.

All the components of the new system

(immobilizer, battery, wiring, wiring

connections and switches) are located in

areas inaccessible from underneath the