[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49318-49319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19478]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No FAA-2013-0485]
Availability of Draft Advisory Circular (AC) 90-106A and AC 20-
167A
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Availability for Comment
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of draft Advisory
Circular (AC) 90-106A, Enhanced Flight Vision Systems and draft AC 20-
167A, Airworthiness Approval of Enhanced Vision System, Synthetic
Vision System, Combined Vision System, and Enhanced Flight Vision
System Equipment documents that were developed by the FAA. These
documents are available for public review, download, and comment.
DATES: Send comments on or before October 15, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2013-0485
using any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket
Operations in Room W12-140 of the 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.
Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without
change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all
comments received into any FAA dockets, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140
of the 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
draft AC 90-106A, contact Terry King, Flight Technologies and
Procedures Division, AFS-400, Flight Standards Service, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20591; telephone (202) 385-4586; email [email protected]. For
technical questions concerning draft AC 20-167A, contact Trent Prange,
Aircraft Engineering Division, AIR-100, Aircraft Certification Service,
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 385-4866; email
[email protected]. For legal questions concerning this action
contact Paul G. Greer, Office of the Chief Counsel, Regulations
Division, AGC-200, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3073; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 11, 2013, the FAA published a Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register titled Revisions
to Operational Requirements for the Use of Enhanced Flight Vision
Systems (EFVS)
[[Page 49319]]
and to Pilot Compartment View Requirements for Vision Systems (78 FR
34935-34958) (Docket No.: FAA-2013-0485; Notice No. 1209). AC 90-106A,
Enhanced Flight Vision Systems, and AC 20-167A, Airworthiness Approval
of Enhanced Vision System, Synthetic Vision System, Combined Vision
System, and Enhanced Flight Vision System Equipment, have been revised
to incorporate the operational and airworthiness proposals contained in
the NPRM.
AC 90-106A provides information about the operating rules
pertaining to EFVS operations and explains how to obtain authorization
to conduct EFVS operations. AC 20-167A provides guidance on
airworthiness approvals of EFVS, Enhanced Vision System (EVS),
Synthetic Vision System (SVS), and Combined Vision System (CVS)
equipment installation.
AC 90-106A is for persons operating aircraft under Title 14 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, 121, 125, 129, or 135 who
seek approval to use an EFVS in lieu of natural vision to either
descend below decision altitude/decision height (DA/DH) or minimum
descent altitude (MDA) to 100 feet height above touchdown zone
elevation (HAT) from a straight-in Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP),
or descend below DA/DH to touchdown and rollout from a straight-in
precision IAP or a straight-in IAP with approved (published) vertical
guidance.
AC 90-106A applies to all EFVS operations that are conducted to 100
feet HAT and all EFVS operations that would be conducted to touchdown
and rollout under proposed Sec. Sec. 91.176, 121.651, 125.381, 129,
and 135.225. AC 90-106A also applies to the proposed EFVS provisions of
Sec. Sec. 121.613, 121.615, 125.361, 125.363, and 135.219 for
dispatch, flight release, and takeoff under IFR when the reported or
forecast visibility at the destination airport is below authorized
minimums. In addition, AC 90-106A applies to the proposed EFVS
provisions of Sec. Sec. 121.651, 125.325, 125.381, and 135.225 for
initiating or continuing an approach when the destination airport
weather is below authorized visibility minimums for the runway of
intended landing. This AC also contains information about the proposed
requirements for pilot training under Sec. 61.31 and the proposed
recent flight experience and proficiency requirements under Sec.
61.57.
AC 90-106A provides information on the regulatory background of
EFVS operations, the levels of EFVS operations which can be currently
approved, the concept of operation associated with each level of EFVS
operation, and how to obtain operational approval to conduct EFVS
operations. AC 90-106A also provides information on the regulatory
requirements for conducting EFVS operations, including operating,
equipment, training, recent flight experience, proficiency, dispatch
and flight release, and maintenance requirements.
Public comments on draft AC 90-106A should be submitted on the
comment form titled Comment Form for Advisory Circular (AC) 90-106A,
Enhanced Flight Vision Systems. An electronic copy of this form can be
downloaded from the docket.
AC 20-167A is for airplane and rotorcraft manufacturers, modifiers,
and type certification engineers seeking certification or installation
guidance for their visual display system. Sections 23.773, 25.773
27.773 and 29.773 address vision systems using a transparent display
surface located in the pilot's outside view, such as a head-up-display,
head-mounted display, or other equivalent display. Such ``vision
systems'' include any EVS, EFVS, SVS, or CVS.
AC 20-167A applies to all applicants for a new type certificate
(TC), an amended type certificate (ATC), or a supplemental type
certificate (STC) who install vision systems and equipment. The method
of compliance described in AC 20-167A can be used to obtain a TC, STC,
or ATC for an airplane or rotorcraft equipped with EVS, EFVS, SVS, or
CVS equipment.
AC 20-167A describes system performance, provides methods,
procedures, and practices acceptable to the FAA for complying with
regulations, and addresses specific installation guidance for vision
systems on an airplane or on rotorcraft. This AC also provides EFVS
safety standards and sample flight test considerations for EFVS
operations conducted to 100 feet HAT and for EFVS operations conducted
to touchdown and rollout.
Public comments on the available drafts should be submitted on the
forms provided. Electronic copies of these forms can be downloaded from
the docket: FAA-2013-0485.
Both ACs provide methods, procedures, and practices acceptable to
the FAA for complying with regulations. They are a means, but not the
only means, of obtaining approval to conduct EFVS operations and to
install and obtain airworthiness approval for vision systems. These ACs
do not alter regulatory requirements.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 7, 2013.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2013-19478 Filed 8-12-13; 8:45 am]
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