[Federal Register: November 26, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 228)]
[Notices]
[Page 66524-66525]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no03-153]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Air Carrier Operations
Issues--New Task
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of a new task for the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory
Committee (ARAC).
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SUMMARY: Notice is given of new tasks assigned to and accepted by the
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). This notice tells the
public of the activities of ARAC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Abbott, Federal Aviation
Administration, Regulation and Certification, 800 Independence Ave.,
SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: 202-267-7192.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA established the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee to
provide advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator, through
the Associate Administrator for Regulation and Certification, on the
full range of the FAA's rulemaking activities about aviation-related
issues. This includes getting advice and recommendations on the FAA's
commitment to harmonize its Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and
practices with its trading partners in Europe and Canada.
One area ARAC deals with is air carrier operations issues. These
issues involve the operational requirements for air carriers, including
crewmember requirements, airplane operating performance and
limitations, and equipment requirements.
The Task
This notice is to tell the public the FAA has asked ARAC to provide
advice and recommendation on the following harmonization task:
Harmonize positions on issues related to low-visibility operations.
The ARAC Working Group will work on operational and airworthiness
issues that apply to air carrier operations in low visibility
conditions. The ARAC Working Group will identify harmonization issues
in the following areas and will work to reach and document consensus on
those issues: Maintenance of harmonization of all weather operations
criteria based on experience gained from recent certification programs
and operations; evolution of criteria to support Global Navigation
Satellite System Landing Systems (GLS); new technologies that are being
applied to low visibility operations, and complete harmonization of
operating minima criteria and implementation processes. The Group will
coordinate information with the FAA/Industry Terminal Area Operations
Aviation Rulemaking Committee (TAOARC), JAA All Weather Operations
Steering Group (AWOSG), and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for
consideration during its activities. This coordination will occur
before the All Weather Operations Harmonization Working Group (AWO HWG)
presents recommendations to ARAC. By March 2004, the Group will
complete and document in a technical report the activity underway to
harmonize low visibility operating minima between Europe and the United
States.
ARAC Acceptance of Task
ARAC has accepted the task and has chosen to assign the task to the
All Weather Operations Harmonization Working Group. Because a new task
is being assigned to the working group, membership will be reopened.
The working group will serve as staff to ARAC to aid ARAC in the
analysis of the assigned task. Working group recommendations must be
reviewed and approved by ARAC. If ARAC accepts the working group's
recommendations, it forwards them to the FAA as ARAC recommendations.
Working Group Activity
The All Weather Operations Harmonization Working Group is expected
to comply with the procedures adopted by ARAC. As part of the
[[Page 66525]]
procedures, the working group is expected to:
1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the tasks, including the
reason supporting such a plan. The work plan should be presented for
consideration at the first meeting of the ARAC on air carrier
operations issues held following publication of this notice.
2. Give a detailed presentation of the proposed recommendations,
before continuing with the work stated in item 3 below.
3. For each task, draft suitable documents with supporting
analyses. Draft any other related material or collateral documents the
working group determines to be suitable.
4. Provide a status report at each meeting of ARAC held to consider
air carrier operations issues.
Participation in the Working Group
The All Weather Operations Harmonization Working Group will be
composed of technical experts having an interest in the assigned task.
A working group member need not be a representative of a member of the
full committee.
An individual who has expertise in the subject matter and wishes to
become a member of the working group should write to the person listed
under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that
desire, describing his or her interest in the tasks, and stating the
expertise he or she would bring to the working group. All requests to
participate must be received by December 10, 2003. The assistant chair,
the assistant executive director, and the working group chair will
review the requests, and the individuals will be advised whether the
request can be granted.
Individuals chosen for membership on the working group will be
expected to represent their aviation community segment and participate
actively in the working group (for example, attend all meetings,
provide written comments when asked to do so, etc.). They also will be
expected to devote the resources necessary to ensure the ability of the
working group to meet any assigned deadline(s). Members are expected to
keep their management chain advised of working group activities and
decisions to ensure the agreed technical solutions do not conflict with
their sponsoring organization's position when the subject being
negotiated is presented to ARAC for a vote.
Once the working group has begun deliberations, members will not be
added or substituted without the approval of the assistant chair, the
assistant executive director, and the working group chair.
The Secretary of Transportation has determined the formation and
use of ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection with
the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
Meetings of ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the All
Weather Operations Harmonization Working Group will not be open to the
public, except to the extent those individuals with an interest and
expertise are selected to participate. No public announcement of
working group meetings will be made.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 17, 2003.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 03-29450 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P