[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20530-20531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7739]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 117 and 121

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0358]


Notice of Procedures for Submitting Clarifying Questions 
Concerning the Flight, Duty, and Rest Requirements of Part 117

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of procedures for submitting clarifying questions.

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SUMMARY: The FAA published a final rule on January 4, 2012 that amends 
the existing flight, duty and rest regulations applicable to 
certificate holders and their flightcrew members. Since then, the FAA 
has received questions from stakeholders concerning the provisions of 
the final rule. In response to these questions, the FAA is issuing this 
document, which announces the procedures for submitting clarifying 
questions to the final rule.

DATES: You must submit your clarifying questions in writing using the 
procedures outlined below by June 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: See the ``Procedures for Submitting Clarifying Questions'' 
section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: See the ``Procedures for Submitting 
Clarifying Questions'' section of this document.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On January 4, 2012, the FAA published a final rule entitled, 
``Flightcrew Member Duty and Rest Requirements'' (77 FR 330). In that 
rule, the FAA created new part 117, which replaces the existing flight, 
duty, and rest regulations, contained in Subparts Q, R, and S, for part 
121 passenger operations. As part of this rulemaking, the FAA also 
applied the new part 117 to certain part 91 operations, and permitted 
all-cargo operations operating under part 121 to voluntarily opt into 
the part 117 flight, duty, and rest regulations.
    Since the rule was published, the FAA has received numerous 
questions concerning the provisions of the final rule. Even though the 
final rule's compliance date is January 4, 2014, the FAA concludes that 
responding to the questions and providing additional regulatory clarity 
will enable the stakeholders to better plan the changes that they will 
need to make in order to comply with the final rule. To the extent 
possible, the FAA also seeks to ensure consistency of interpretation by 
answering the stakeholders' questions in a single document instead of 
multiple different interpretations.
    Accordingly, the FAA requests that all clarifying questions be 
submitted to the docket no later than June 4, 2012. The FAA emphasizes 
that it is not reconsidering the provisions of the final rule or 
reopening the final rule to notice and comment. Rather, the FAA is 
simply soliciting questions about how the final rule works so that the 
FAA can

[[Page 20531]]

provide greater clarity to the stakeholders by answering those 
questions.

Procedures for Submitting Clarifying Questions

    If you wish to submit a request to the FAA for clarification of the 
Flightcrew Member Duty and Rest Requirements final rule, you must send 
your request using the below method by June 4, 2012.
    1. Post your request on the Federal eRulemaking Portal. To access 
this electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, enter Docket 
Number FAA-2012-0358, and follow the online instructions for sending 
your request electronically.
    2. In addition to sending your request to the electronic docket, 
send a copy via email to the subject matter expert as noted below.
    Technical Questions: Dale E. Roberts, Air Transportation Division, 
Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration; email 
dale.e.roberts@faa.gov.
    Legal Questions: Alex Zektser, Office of the Chief Counsel, 
Regulations Division, Federal Aviation Administration; email 
alex.zektser@faa.gov.
    The FAA will attempt to reply to the clarifying questions that are 
submitted by June 4, 2012.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2012.
Rebecca B. MacPherson,
Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations, AGC-200.
[FR Doc. 2012-7739 Filed 4-4-12; 8:45 am]
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