Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/04/28/2014-09337/proposal-to-consider-the-impact-of-one-engine-inoperative-procedures-in-obstruction-evaluation
Timestamp: 2015-11-26 06:56:10
Document Index: 106393905

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 25', 'art 77', 'art 77', 'art 77', '§ 77', 'art 77']

Federal Register | Proposal To Consider the Impact of One Engine Inoperative Procedures in Obstruction Evaluation Aeronautical Studies
Dates: Send your comments on or before June 27, 2014.
Comments Close: 06/27/2014
Action: Notice of proposed policy; request for comment.
-23303 (4 pages)
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-09337 Regulations.gov Docket Info
Policy Regarding Airport Rates and Charges 4 actions from February 3rd, 1995 to April 1996
Policy Statement: Comments Due 5/4/95
SNPP: Comment Period End 10/23/95
Notice: Comments Due 11/07/95
Authority for This Proceeding Back to Top
Proposed Policy Statement Back to Top
Navigable airspace is being encroached around the country with the net effect of decreasing access for aviation operations. Structures as diverse as microwave towers to office buildings and wind turbines are being built in ever-increasing numbers near many airports. While developers may erect these structures, the FAA must consider the impact of the structures on the safe operation of flight and their impact on the safe, efficient use and preservation of the navigable airspace and airport capacity and efficiency. Additionally, aircraft operators must plan for the potential of an engine failure (one engine inoperative, or OEI) during take-off in accordance with 14 CFR parts 25, 121, and 135. An engine failure could prevent the aircraft from climbing at the normal climb rate and structures near an airport could, under such circumstances, create a safety risk. Thus, the agency interest in studying the potential impact of these structures is not limited solely to whether aircraft could avoid the proposed structures under normal circumstances. The agency should also consider the impact of OEI.
The potential impact of a structure is particularly significant at airports where existing development or other factors effectively limit operator options in an OEI situation. At these airports, increasing encroachment of the airspace may effectively reduce the amount of usable runway because of OEI procedures.
The FAA is tasked with multiple mandates. Assuring aviation safety is the FAA's primary mission, including safety of navigable airspace, aircraft safety and airport safety, and responsibility for assuring that safety is shared by the agency's air traffic organization and aviation safety organization. Additionally, the Office of Airports is tasked with assuring the safety and the continued viability of public airports, and with maintaining and expanding aviation capacity at those airports. To that end, the FAA routinely supports significant investments at these airports to increase airport capacity and efficiency through the approval of new runways and extension of existing runways. This proposed policy statement addresses the different mandates of the FAA, while recognizing the right of developers to erect structures near airports and air navigation facilities.
Consideration of the dedicated OEI surfaces would extend to the full scope of existing Part 77 requirements. The FAA does not need to amend Part 77 to implement this change. Accordingly, while the FAA is willing to consider the impact of the proposed structure, it would not require notification of structures solely for the purpose to study for possible impact to an OEI surface. If a structure does not require filing under Part 77 or does not exceed an obstruction standard under § 77.17, then it will not be studied for possible impact to an OEI surface. While aircraft operators can choose to develop an OEI procedure that is outside of the areas covered by Part 77 notice criteria, the FAA would not consider those procedures when evaluating the potential impact of the proposed structure on the safety and capacity of the navigable airspace or airport. Under this proposed policy, if notice of a proposed structure is filed with the FAA and the structure would exceed an obstruction standard, the structure would be a hazard to air navigation if it exceed the OEI surface for that runway and it was not shielded in accordance with paragraph 6-3-13 of FAA Order 7400.2,
Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. The FAA invites comment on whether additional exceptions are warranted to this finding of a hazard determination for these obstructions.
1. Indeed, the increased concentration of structures could significantly impact the ability of the FAA to mitigate the risk to safety and capacity for any reason. Title 49 U.S.C. 44718 specifically requires the FAA to consider the cumulative impact resulting from the proposed construction or alteration of a structure when combined with the impact of other existing or proposed structures.
2. Existing structures within the OEI surface would be grandfathered and not subject to this proposed policy; however, this proposal would apply to modifications to such structures.