Document ID: FAA-2022-1544-0022
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: System Safety Assessments
Posted Date: 2023-03-02T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13071-13072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04265]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No.: FAA-2022-1544; Notice No. 23-04]
RIN 2120-AJ99

System Safety Assessments

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for the NPRM titled 
``System Safety Assessments,'' that was published on December 8, 2022. 
In that document, the FAA proposed to amend certain airworthiness 
regulations to standardize the criteria for conducting safety 
assessments for systems, including flight controls and powerplants, 
installed on transport category airplanes. With this action, the FAA 
seeks to reduce risk associated with airplane accidents and incidents 
that have occurred in service, and reduce risk associated with new 
technology in flight control systems. The intended effect of this 
proposed action is to improve aviation safety by making system safety 
assessment (SSA) certification requirements more comprehensive and 
consistent. The FAA is extending the comment period closing date to 
allow commenters additional time to analyze the proposed rule and 
prepare a response.

DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published on December 8, 2022, 
at 87 FR 75424, and scheduled to close on March 8, 2023, is extended 
until April 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2022-1544 
using any of the following methods:

[[Page 13072]]

     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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 you can review at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
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: For technical questions concerning 
this action, contact Suzanne Masterson, Strategic Policy Transport 
Section, AIR-614, Strategic Policy Management Branch, Policy and 
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 
telephone and fax (206) 231-3211; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. The agency 
also invites comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, 
or federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in 
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion 
of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain 
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written 
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should 
submit only one time.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The agency may change this proposal in 
light of the comments it receives.

B. Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of rulemaking documents may be obtained from the 
internet by--
    1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov;
    2. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies web page at 
www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/; or
    3. Accessing the Government Printing Office's web page at 
www.GovInfo.com.
    Copies may also be obtained by sending a request to the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9677. 
Commenters must identify the docket or notice number of this 
rulemaking.
    All documents the FAA considered in developing this proposed rule, 
including economic analyses and technical reports, may be accessed from 
the internet through the Federal eRulemaking Portal referenced in item 
(1) above.

Background

    On December 8, 2023, the FAA published an NPRM titled ``System 
Safety Assessments,'' in the Federal Register (87 FR 75424; Notice No. 
23-04). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to amend certain airworthiness 
regulations to standardize the criteria for conducting safety 
assessments for systems, including flight controls and powerplants, 
installed on transport category airplanes. With this action, the FAA 
seeks to reduce risk associated with airplane accidents and incidents 
that have occurred in service, and reduce risk associated with new 
technology in flight control systems. The intended effect of this 
proposed action is to improve aviation safety by making system safety 
assessment (SSA) certification requirements more comprehensive and 
consistent. Commenters were instructed to provide comments on or before 
March 8, 2023 (i.e., 90 days from the date of publication of the NPRM).
    Since publication, the FAA has received several requests to extend 
the comment period by an additional ninety (90) days. The commenters 
generally requested more time to review the proposed rule and 
associated guidance documents, and to develop comments and 
recommendations.

Extension of Comment Period

    The FAA partially grants the petitioners' requests for an extension 
of the comment period. The FAA recognizes the complex and technical 
nature of the proposed rule, and finds that an extension would help 
commenters craft complete and helpful responses. However, under the 
circumstances, the FAA finds that an additional forty-five (45) days 
will provide sufficient opportunity for the public to comment. 
Therefore, the comment period for Notice No. 23-04 is extended until 
April 24, 2023.
    The FAA does not plan to grant any additional requests to further 
extend the comment period for this rulemaking.

    Issued under authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 44701(a), 
and 44703 in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2023.
Brandon Roberts,
Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking, Federal Aviation 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-04265 Filed 3-1-23; 8:45 am]
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