[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47489-47490]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17300]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments;
Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Operations
Specifications, Part 129 Application

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA
invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information
collection. The FAA assesses the information collected and issues
operations specifications to foreign air carriers. These operations
specifications assure the foreign air carrier's ability to navigate and
communicate safely within the U.S. National Airspace System.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by August 22, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be
addressed to the attention of the Desk Officer, Department of
Transportation/FAA, and sent via electronic mail to
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or faxed to<PHONE_NUMBER>, or mailed to
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management
and Budget, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronda Thompson at<PHONE_NUMBER>, or
by email at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of
this information collection, including (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for FAA's performance; (b) the
accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for FAA to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (d)
ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of
the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include
your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information
collection.
    OMB Control Number: 2120-0749.
    Title: Operations Specifications, Part 129 Application.
    Form Numbers: There are no FAA forms associated with this
collection.
    Type of Review: Renewal of an information collection.
    Background: The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on the following collection of information
was published on May 3, 2016 (81 FR 26610). There were no comments. The
final rule published in 2013, clarified and standardized the rules for
applications by foreign air carriers and foreign persons for operations
specifications issued under 14 CFR part 129 and established standards
for amendment, suspension and termination of those operations
specifications. The final rule also applied to foreign air carriers and
foreign persons operating U.S.-registered aircraft in common carriage
solely outside the United States. This action was necessary to update
the process for issuing operations

specifications, and it established a regulatory basis for current
practices, such as amending, terminating, and suspending operations
specifications.
    Respondents: Approximately 25 new applicants annually.
    Frequency: Information is collected on occasion.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 75 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 13, 2016.
Ronda Thompson,
FAA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Performance, Policy &
Records Management Branch, ASP-110.
[FR Doc. 2016-17300 Filed 7-20-16; 8:45 am]
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 172 (Thursday, September 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50484-50485]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19355]

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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 172 / Thursday, September 9, 2021 /
Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0255; Project Identifier AD-2020-01282-T]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would
have applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-
10 airplanes. The NPRM was prompted by reports that very high frequency
(VHF) radio frequencies transfer between the active and standby windows
of the tuning control panel (TCP) without flightcrew input. The NPRM
would have required updating the TCP operational software (OPS) and
performing a software configuration check. Since issuance of the NPRM,
the FAA determined that the TCP OPS version specified in the NPRM does
not correct the unsafe condition. The FAA intends to propose new
rulemaking to require updated software. Accordingly, the NPRM is
withdrawn.

DATES: The FAA is withdrawing the proposed rule published on April 7,
2021 (86 FR 17993) as of September 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0255; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this AD action, any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Carreras, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>; email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued an NPRM that proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by
adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-
8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on April 7, 2021 (86 FR 17993). The NPRM was prompted by
reports that very high frequency (VHF) radio frequencies transfer
between the active and standby windows of the tuning control panel
(TCP) without flightcrew input.
    The NPRM proposed to require updating the TCP OPS and performing a
software configuration check. The proposed actions were intended to
address uncommanded frequency changes, which could result in missed air
traffic control communications such as amended clearances and critical
instructions for changes to flight path, and consequent loss of safe
separation between aircraft, collision, or runway incursion.

Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued

    Since issuance of the NPRM the FAA determined that the TCP OPS
version specified in the NPRM does not correct the unsafe condition.
The manufacturer is developing a new version of the software which will
better address the unsafe condition. Required development and testing
of the new software results in scheduled availability of the revised
service information by June 2022. In light of these changes, the FAA
intends to propose further rulemaking.
    Withdrawal of the NPRM constitutes only such action. The withdrawal
does not preclude the FAA from further rulemaking on this issue or
commit the FAA to any course of action in the future.

Comments

    The FAA received comments on the NPRM from three commenters. The
following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's
response to the comment.
    Boeing asked that the FAA delay issuance of the final rule until
the next TCP OPS revision. Boeing stated that based on additional fleet
reports, it has concluded that the OPS version specified in Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB230041-00 RB, Issue 002, dated
September 14, 2020, and specified in the NPRM, does not adequately
address the ``TCP VHF Uncommanded Frequency Change'' issue. Boeing is
continuing to evaluate fleet reports and is will address the cause of
the additional findings in the next TCP OPS revision. The FAA agrees
that the NPRM will not address the unsafe condition. When appropriate
service information is developed, approved, and available, the FAA
intends to propose new rulemaking to require the updated software.
    American Airlines requested that the FAA revise paragraph (g) of
the proposed AD to allow later FAA-approved software. The FAA agrees
with the request, but because the FAA is withdrawing the NPRM, the
request is no longer necessary.
    The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) supported the NPRM.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that the NPRM
does not adequately address the identified unsafe condition.
Accordingly, the FAA is withdrawing the NPRM.

Regulatory Findings

    Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed
nor a final rule. This action therefore is not covered under Executive
Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

The Withdrawal

0
Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (Docket No. FAA-
2021-0255), which was published in the

Federal Register on April 7, 2021 (86 FR 17993), is withdrawn.

    Issued on August 31, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-19355 Filed 9-8-21; 8:45 am]
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