[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54790-54791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21698]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 1, 23, 25, 27, 29, 61, 91, 121, 125, and 135
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0485; Notice No. 1209]
RIN 2120-AJ94
Revisions to Operational Requirements for the Use of Enhanced
Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) and to Pilot Compartment View Requirements
for Vision Systems; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was
published on June 11, 2013. In that document, the FAA proposed to
permit operators to use an EFVS in lieu of natural vision to continue
descending from 100 feet height above runway touchdown zone elevation
and land on certain straight-in instrument approach procedures under
instrument flight rules. This rule would also permit certain operators
using EFVS-equipped aircraft to dispatch, release, or takeoff under
instrument flight rules (IFR), and to initiate and continue an
approach, when the destination airport weather is below authorized
visibility minimums for the runway of intended landing. Pilot training,
recent flight experience, and proficiency would be required for
operators who use EFVS in lieu of natural vision to descend below
decision altitude, decision height, or minimum descent altitude. EFVS-
equipped aircraft conducting operations to touchdown and rollout would
be required to meet additional airworthiness requirements. This rule
would also revise pilot compartment view certification requirements for
all vision systems. Given the technical complexity of the NPRM,
Dassault-Aviation has requested that the FAA extend the comment period
to October 15, 2013 to allow time to adequately analyze the NPRM and
provide meaningful comments.
DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published on June 11, 2013, was
scheduled to close on September 9, 2013, and is extended until October
15, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may 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: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.
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 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: Ida Klepper, ARM-100, Office of
Rulemaking, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20591,
[[Page 54791]]
telephone (202) 267-9688; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the ``Additional Information'' section
for information on how to comment on this proposal and how the FAA will
handle comments received. The ``Additional Information'' section also
contains related information about the docket. In addition, there is
information on obtaining copies of related rulemaking documents.
Background
On June 11, 2013, the FAA issued Notice No. 1209, entitled
``Revisions to Operational Requirements for the Use of Enhanced Flight
Vision Systems (EFVS) and to Pilot Compartment View Requirements for
Vision Systems'' (78 FR 34935). Comments to that document were to be
received on or before September 9, 2013.
Dassault-Aviation submitted an electronic request for an extension
of the comment period from September 9, 2013 to October 15, 2013. The
petitioner requested this extension to allow adequate time to evaluate
and prepare comments for the NPRM and two draft Advisory Circulars
(ACs) which are directly related to the NPRM. On August 13, 2013, the
FAA published a Notice of Availability (78 FR 49318) making draft 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, available for public comment. The comment period for both
ACs closes on October 15, 2013. The petitioner asserted that comments
to the NPRM should be linked with comments to both draft ACs, and that
the comment period for the NPRM should therefore be extended to October
15, 2013 to match the comment period closing date for the draft ACs.
The petitioner further asserted that doing so would provide them with
adequate additional time to evaluate and provide comments for all three
documents. The FAA agrees with the petitioner's position and is
granting an extension of the comment period to October 15, 2013.
Extension of Comment Period
In accordance with Sec. 11.47(c) of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petition made by Dassault-
Aviation for extension of the comment period to the NPRM. This
petitioner has shown a substantive interest in the proposed rule and
good cause for the extension. The FAA has determined that extension of
the comment period is consistent with the public interest, and that
good cause exists for taking this action.
Accordingly, the comment period for the NPRM Notice No. 1209 is
extended until October 15, 2013.
Additional Information
A. Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. The agency
also invites comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy,
or federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion
of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should
submit only one time.
The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without
incurring expense or delay. The agency may change this proposal in
light of the comments it receives.
B. Availability of Rulemaking Documents
An electronic copy of rulemaking documents may be obtained from the
Internet by--
1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov);
2. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies Web page at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies or
3. Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/.
Copies may also be obtained by sending a request to the Federal
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9680.
Commenters must identify the docket or notice number of this
rulemaking.
All documents the FAA considered in developing this proposed rule,
including economic analyses and technical reports, may be accessed from
the Internet through the Federal eRulemaking Portal referenced in item
(1) above.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2013.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2013-21698 Filed 9-5-13; 8:45 am]
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