Document ID: FAA-2012-0187-0015
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: The Boeing Company Airplanes
Posted Date: 2012-06-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33129-33130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13556]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0187; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-094-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces a reopening of the comment period for 
the above-referenced NPRM, which proposed the adoption of a new 
airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757 
airplanes. That NPRM invites comments concerning the proposed 
requirement to modify the fuel quantity indication system (FQIS) wiring 
or fuel tank systems to prevent development of an ignition source 
inside the center fuel tank. This reopening 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 August 6, 2012.

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: 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; 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 this 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: Rebel Nichols, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-
917-6509; fax: 425-917-6590; email: rebel.nichols@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0187; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-094-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 to include an AD that 
would apply to certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. That 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2012 (77 FR 12506). 
That NPRM proposed to require modifying the fuel quantity indication 
system wiring or fuel tank systems to prevent development of an 
ignition source inside the center fuel tank.
    That action (77 FR 12506, March 1, 2012) invites comments on 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the 
proposal.
    That action (77 FR 12506, March 1, 2012) 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

[[Page 33130]]

combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank 
explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

Actions Since NPRM (77 FR 12506, March 1, 2012) Was Issued

    Since we issued the NPRM (77 FR 12506, March 1, 2012), we have 
received a request from Airlines for America (A4A), and James Hurd on 
behalf of the Families of TWA Flight 800, to extend the comment period. 
A4A requested a 60-day extension because of the extensive scope and 
significant potential impact of the NPRM, the lack of associated 
service information, and the need for proper review of the results of 
prototype efforts. A4A stated that this extension would provide 
operators additional time to develop estimates of technical methods of 
compliance with the NPRM, to develop estimates of the potential impact 
of those methods, and to prepare comments for the rules docket.
    We have considered the commenters' request. We find it appropriate 
to extend the comment period to give all interested persons additional 
time to examine the proposed requirements and submit comments. We have 
determined that extending the comment period by 60 days will not 
compromise the safety of the affected airplanes.
    The comment period for Docket No. FAA-2012-0187 closes August 6, 
2012.
    Because no other portion of the proposal or other regulatory 
information has been changed, the entire proposal (77 FR 12506, March 
1, 2012) is not being republished.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 24, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13556 Filed 6-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P