[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27489-27491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10343]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. FAA-4796]
Opportunity to Comment on the Draft Advisory Circular 150/5360-
14A, Access to Airports by Individuals With Disabilities
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the
availability of draft Advisory Circular, (AC) 150/5360-14A, Access to
Airports by Individuals with Disabilities, for public review. This AC
will provide guidance and recommendations for ensuring access to
airports by
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individuals with disabilities. The draft AC substantially revises and
incorporates regulatory updates and recommendations for Service Animal
Relief Areas (SARA) at airports. The draft AC was rewritten to improve
readability, and to simplify and clarify the regulations for airport
operators regarding airport access by individuals with disabilities.
Additionally, the FAA is interested in public input regarding the use
of wayfinding technologies and other technology innovations at
airports.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 6, 2016. The FAA
will also consider comments received after that date to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES: You may also submit comments identified by Docket Number
FAA-2016-4796 using any of following methods:
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Operations, U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Routing
Symbol M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Hand Delivery: To Docket Operations, Room W12-140 on the
ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
The FAA invites interested persons, airport operators,
guide dog trainers and handlers, consultants, industry representatives,
and all other interested parties to review and comment on the draft,
at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Miller, Program Analyst,
Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Airports, Airport
Engineering Division (AAS-100) 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington,
DC 20591; Telephone (202) 267-3367.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction and Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 47108(a) the Secretary may impose terms on the
grant offer that the Secretary considers necessary to carry out the
Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This provision includes uniform
design standards for airports, which are included in the FAA Advisory
Circulars.
FAA updated the Advisory Circular, Access to Airports by
Individuals with Disabilities (AC 150/5360-14) to assists airport
operators in complying with the laws and regulations regarding
individuals with disabilities by: (1) Identifying the relevant statutes
and regulations affecting airports; (2) presenting the main features of
each of the statutes and regulations; and (3) listing sources of
assistance or additional information. Draft AC 150/5360-14A was
rewritten to improve readability, and to simplify and clarify the
regulations for airport operators regarding airport access by
individuals with disabilities. Due to the new format, FAA recommends
readers review the document in its entirety.
Draft AC 150/5360-14A presents and reconciles the federal
accessibility regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (ADA); the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA); the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (RA); and the Architectural
Barriers Act of 1968, as amended (ABA). Additionally, the draft
provides guidance regarding service animal relief areas in airport
terminals.
Service Animal Relief Areas
On August 5, 2015, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
published a final rule addressing service animal relief areas amending
49 CFR 27.71(h). (See 80 FR 46508) Under that final rule, primary
airports must provide at least one service animal relief area in each
airport terminal. This service animal relief area, with limited
exceptions, must be located in the sterile area of each airport
terminal to ensure that individuals with service animals are able to
access service animal relief areas when traveling, particularly during
layovers.
DOT decided that it will not adopt specific requirements with
respect to dimensions, design, materials, and maintenance of SARAs.
However, the final rule requires airports to consult with service
animal training organizations regarding design and dimensions. DOT uses
airport terminals as the standard upon which airports must determine
the number of required SARA, rather than using the amount of time
required for an individual with a disability to reach a service animal
relief area from a particular gate. DOT recognizes that the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may prohibit an airport
from locating the SARA in the sterile area of a terminal for security
reasons. Therefore, the rule provides airports with an exception to the
final rule requirement to locate the SARA within the sterile area of
each airport terminal.
DOT also realizes that, based on an airport's configuration, a
relief area in the non-sterile area of an airport may be more desirable
to relief area users. As such, DOT gives airports the option of placing
a relief area in a location other than the sterile area of a terminal
if a service animal training organization, the airport, and carriers in
the terminal in which the relief area will be located agree that a
relief area would be better placed outside the terminal's sterile area
instead of inside the sterile area. For all these exceptions, the
airport must, however, document and retain a record of this agreement,
including when TSA prohibits location of the SARA in a sterile area.
To better understand the needs of SARA users, the FAA held a public
meeting on April 10, 2014, to receive input from airport operators,
service animal trainers, and service animal handlers on service animal
relief areas at airports. As a result of that meeting, the FAA included
service animal relief area standards and technical recommendations in
the AC addressing size and surface materials of the relief area,
maintenance methods, and time/distance between gates and relief areas.
Since the FAA is aware that service dog training schools do not offer
standardized training, the AC recommends that airport operators
consider installing two types of surfaces when designing relief areas.
The draft AC's recommendations for SARAs will generally apply to
primary airports with 10,000 or more enplanements and operated by
public entities, but will be helpful for all airport operators. The
draft AC will serve as a guide for airport operators in complying with
requirements regarding individuals with disabilities by identifying
relevant statutes and regulations affecting airports, and by listing
sources of assistance and additional information. Accordingly, the FAA
is seeking public input regarding SARAs. The FAA also recognizes that
relief areas must be accessible for people who use wheelchairs, that
some service animals will only relieve themselves when off leash and
others on leash, and that some service animals are trained to relieve
themselves only outdoors. For the SARA located outdoors, the AC
recommends fencing an area large enough to address safety, sanitation,
and maintenance considerations. For accessibility, the AC recommends
accessible doors/gates with accessible door opening/closing mechanisms,
or the removal of gates that may present obstacles for people who use
wheelchairs.
The SARA located outside the terminal may also present difficulties
for service animal handlers during
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severe weather conditions such as rain, snow, and extreme heat. The AC
therefore recommends that airport operators consider protecting the
outdoor SARA and the pathways to the SARA from the elements. For the
indoor SARA, the AC recommends natural lighting whenever possible.
The FAA is also aware that it may be difficult for people with
visual impairments to navigate within the SARA. To allow these people
to familiarize themselves with the SARA's layout before entering, the
AC recommends placing special signs, maps, and other orienting cues at
the entrance to the SARA. In addition, this AC defines the airport
terminal for the purpose of helping airports decide on the number and
locations of required SARA. To enhance SARAs, the FAA is seeking input
on new concept cleaning technology; like nano technology as a potential
for self-cleaning SARA.
Way-Finding Technologies
The FAA understands that way-finding is necessary for safe and
efficient mobility in a complex airport terminal. The FAA recognizes
that wayfinding in a complex airport terminal might be a challenge for
people who are blind or have vision impairments. Additionally, the FAA
recognizes escorting is time consuming and diminishes independence for
individuals with disabilities.
Accordingly, the FAA specifically seeks comments about:
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems for possible
use in wayfinding and mobility in the airport terminal for people with
visual impairments;
Audio-haptic systems designed for enhancing orientation
and mobility skills in people with visual impairments; and
Other technology innovations to enhance wayfinding is
interested in public input regarding the use of wayfinding technologies
and other technology innovations at airports.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2016.
Michael J. O'Donnell,
Director of Airport Safety and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2016-10343 Filed 5-5-16; 8:45 am]
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