[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2000)] [Notices] [Pages 1652-1653] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 00-580] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Proposed Advisory Circular 25-XX, Transport Airplane Propulsion Engine and Auxiliary Power Unit Installation Certification Handbook-- The Propulsion Mega AC AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Withdrawal of notice of availability of proposed advisory circular. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This action withdraws a previously-issued notice of availability of proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 25-XX, ``Transport Airplane Propulsion Engine and Auxiliary Power Unit Installation Certification Handbook--The Propulsion Mega AC.'' The FAA previously announced the availability of and requested public comments on that proposed AC. The intent of the AC was to provide one consolidated source of guidance on methods acceptable to the Administrator for showing compliance with the type certification requirements for propulsion systems and auxiliary power unit (APU) installations as they apply to transport category airplanes. The FAA is withdrawing the proposal at this time to allow the majority of the affected public time to concentrate their resources towards concluding the harmonization of international aviation standards, which the FAA considers a higher priority. The FAA intends to re-issue the notice at a later time. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Steve Happenny, Propulsion/Mechanical Systems Branch, ANM-112, Transport Airplane Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill DeMarco, Program Management Branch, ANM-114, Transport Airplane Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-1313; fax (425) 227-1320. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Discussion of Original Proposal On September 23, 1999, the FAA issued a notice of availability and request for comments on proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 25-XX, ``Transport Airplane Propulsion Engine and Auxiliary Power Unit Installation Certification Handbook--The Propulsion Mega AC.'' The notice was published in the Federal Register on September 30, 1999 (64 FR 52819). The FAA initiated the proposed AC in response to requests by the affected aviation industry that the FAA provide one comprehensive source of FAA policy and guidance on various methods acceptable to the FAA Administrator for showing compliance with the type certification requirements for propulsion systems and auxiliary power unit (APU) installations on transport category airplanes. The public was provided until December 29, 1999, to submit comments on the proposed document. Requests from the Affected Public Since issuance of the notice, the FAA has received numerous requests from representatives of the affected industry and non-U.S. civil aviation authorities, asking that the FAA withhold further action on the proposed Propulsion Mega AC. These representatives have stated that many in industry who will be most affected by the AC are members of Working Groups under the aegis of the FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). Currently, these ARAC Working Groups will be focusing their resources on expediting the final harmonization of 14 CFR part 25 rules and the European Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR)-25. The FAA has encouraged ARAC to give this final harmonization effort its highest priority, thus increasing the workload of the same parties that normally would be reviewing the proposed Propulsion Mega AC. This will leave little time or resources for those parties to provide an adequate, thorough review of the proposed AC before the comment deadline. Additionally, these representatives indicate that new recommendations to the FAA may come out of ARAC as a result of the activities of these Working Groups, and those recommendations (and subsequent rulemaking) may affect the form and content of part of the proposed AC. Withdrawal of the Notice The FAA has reviewed and considered these requests from the affected public, and has determined that a temporary withdrawal of the notice of proposed advisory circular and suspension of the public comment period is appropriate at this time. The FAA has placed high priority on completing the regulatory harmonization effort in a timely manner, and expects the affected industry's resources (via ARAC) to be directed primarily towards that goal. Once the harmonization effort has concluded, however, the FAA plans to re-issue the notice and re-open the period for public comment. When formally re-issued, the draft AC likely will not be substantially changed from its current form. In fact, approximately 99% of the draft AC is comprised of the text of current regulations, historical background, advisory circular material, and long-standing accepted FAA policy. (The remaining 1% is new policy and advisory material not previously released formally to the public.) All of that currently-existing material can be found in other documents that have been:Available to the public for some time, and Used by applicants in demonstrating compliance with the pertinent regulations, and Used by the FAA in finding compliance with regulations. Those documents remain valid in their current form. Note: The FAA will continue to provide resources to further modify the draft AC and subsequent draft versions will be available on the Internet at http://www.faa.gov/avr/air/airhome.htm, at the link titled ``Draft AC's'' under the ``Available Documents'' drop- down menu. The public can continue to refer to this draft document as a consolidated source reference for currently-existing material. [[Page 1653]] Because the proposed AC likely will not change significantly before it is re-issued, and because of the time already allotted to the public for review of the proposal, the FAA intends to provide a shortened period for public comment when the notice is re-issued. Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 5, 2000. Donald L. Riggin, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 00-580 Filed 1-10-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-U