Document ID: FAA-2011-0181-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Launch Safety: Lightning Criteria for Expendable Launch Vehicles
Posted Date: 2011-07-22T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43825-43826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18586]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 417

[Docket No.: FAA-2011-0181; Amendment No. 417-2]
RIN 2120-AJ84

Launch Safety: Lightning Criteria for Expendable Launch Vehicles

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; Confirmation of effective date.

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

SUMMARY: This action confirms the effective date of July 25, 2011, for 
the direct final rule issued June 8, 2011. No comments were received on 
this final rule.
    This action amends flight criteria for mitigating against naturally 
occurring lightning and lightning triggered by the flight of an 
expendable launch vehicle through or near an electrified environment in 
or near a cloud. These changes also increase launch availability and 
implement changes already adopted by the United States Air Force.

DATES: The direct final rule published June 8, 2011 (76 FR 33139) is 
effective on July 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The complete docket for the direct final rule, Docket No. 
FAA-2011-0181, may be examined at http://www.regulations.gov at any 
time or go to Docket operations in Room W12-140 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 rule contact Karen Shelton-Mur, Office of Commercial Space 
Transportation, AST-300, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-
7985; facsimile (202) 267-5463, e-mail Karen.Shelton-Mur@faa.gov.
    For legal questions concerning this rule contact Laura Montgomery, 
Senior Attorney for Commercial Space Transportation, Office of the 
Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3150; facsimile 
(202) 267-7971, e-mail laura.montgomery@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipated that this regulation would not result in 
adverse or negative comment and therefore is issued as a direct final 
rulemaking. Because the changes to the lightning commit criteria will 
increase launch availability and are already for U.S. Government 
launchs at Air Force launch ranges, the public interest is well served 
by this rulemaking.
    The comment period closed July 8, 2011, and the FAA received no 
comments.

Conclusion

    In light of the fact that no comments were submitted in response to 
the direct final rule, the FAA has determined that no further 
rulemaking action is necessary. Therefore, Amendment No. 417-2 takes 
effect as of July 25, 2011.

[[Page 43826]]

    Issued in Washington, DC on July 18, 2011.
Dennis R. Pratte,
Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2011-18586 Filed 7-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P