Document ID: FAA-2016-6144-0004
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Airbus Airplanes; Extension of Comment Period
Posted Date: 2016-06-15T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38980-38981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14115]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-6144; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-088-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: This document announces an extension of the comment period for 
the above-referenced NPRM, which proposed the adoption of a new 
airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, and 
A320 series airplanes; Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, and -300 series 
airplanes; and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. 
That NPRM invited comments concerning the proposed requirement to 
modify the fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS) to prevent 
development of an ignition source inside the center fuel tank due to 
electrical fault conditions. This extension of the comment period is 
necessary to provide all interested persons an opportunity to present 
their views on the proposed requirements of that NPRM.

DATES: We must receive comments on the NPRM by September 19, 2016.

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 http://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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
6144; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains the proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2125; 
fax 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-6144; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-028-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that 
would apply to certain Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series 
airplanes; Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, and -300 series airplanes; 
and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on May 3, 2016 (81 FR 26487) (``the 
NPRM''). The NPRM proposed to require modifying the fuel quantity 
indicating system (FQIS) to prevent development of an ignition source 
inside the center fuel tank due to electrical fault conditions.
    The NPRM invited comments on regulatory, economic, environmental, 
and energy aspects of the proposal.
    The NPRM was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. The actions specified by the NPRM are intended to prevent 
ignition sources inside the center fuel tank, which, in combination 
with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

Related Rulemaking

    At the time we issued the NPRM, we issued five other NPRMs that 
also proposed to require modification of the FQIS:
     Docket No. FAA-2016-6139, Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-
061-AD, for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -
800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes.
     Docket No. FAA-2016-6140, Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-
059-AD, for certain The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes.
     Docket No. FAA-2016-6141, Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-
048-AD, for certain The Boeing Company Model 767 airplanes.
     Docket No. FAA-2016-6143, Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-
028-AD, for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series 
airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively 
called Model A300-600 series airplanes), and Model A310 series 
airplanes.
     Docket No. FAA-2016-6145, Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-
056-AD, for certain The Boeing Company Model 747 airplanes.

Actions Since Previous NPRM Was Issued

    Since we issued the NPRM, we have received a request from Airlines 
for America (A4A) to extend the comment period. A4A stated that the 
NPRMs are controversial and could drive substantial costs, especially 
for cargo

[[Page 38981]]

airlines. To be able to prepare informed and meaningful comments with 
coordinated consensus among its members, A4A requested a longer comment 
period to understand a number of factors, including related service 
information, data and safety analysis of the unsafe condition, and 
potential costs.
    We agree with the request, and have determined that it is 
appropriate to extend the comment period for the NPRM to give all 
interested persons additional time to examine the proposed requirements 
and submit comments. We have determined that extending the comment 
period until September 19, 2016, will not compromise the safety of the 
affected airplanes.
    The comment period for Docket No. FAA-2016-6144 closes September 
19, 2016.
    Because no other portion of the proposal or other regulatory 
information has been changed, the entire proposal is not being 
republished.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 8, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-14115 Filed 6-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P