Operations & Safety

Regulatory Outlook

The following is the outlook for significant rulemaking and related activities applicable to airline engineering, maintenance, or materiel operations. The information is taken from a Department of Transportation report on significant rulemaking, the FAA, and other sources.

 

Airworthiness Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Activity

-Airworthiness Assurance Working Group: Structures Task Groups (STGs) will help develop guidance for Damage Tolerance and Widespread Fatigue Damage (DT/WFD) efforts.

-Airplane-level Safety Analysis ARAC Working Group: Nominations submitted April 25, 2006. Selectees have been notified.

 

Anticipated Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs)

-Security in the Design and Operation of Transport Aircraft: new initiative, December 2006

-Filtered Digital Flight Data: new initiative, time to be determined

 

NPRMs Published for Comments

-Boeing 737 Digital Flight Data Recorders: supplemental NPRM, comments due Dec. 4, 2006

 

Comments Submitted, Final Rules Pending

-Widespread Fatigue Damage: comments submitted Sept. 18, 2006

-Damage Tolerance Data for Repairs and Alterations: comments submitted Sept. 18, 2006

-AN-26 Insulation Airworthiness Directives: comments submitted Feb. 21, 2006

-ETOPS: comments submitted March 15, 2004, rule anticipated November 2006

-Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder Upgrades: comments submitted June 28, 2005, rule anticipated March 2007

-Cabin Monitoring: comments submitted Nov. 14, 2005, rule anticipated March 2007

-Respiratory Assistive Devices: comments submitted Jan. 30, 2006

-Enhanced Aging Program for Aging Systems (EAPAS)/SFAR 88: comments submitted Feb. 3, 2006, compliance date for SFAR 88 set for Dec. 16, 2008, compliance date for EAPAS may be extended

-Fuel Tank Flammability Redution Measures: comments submitted May 8, 2006

 

Last Updated: 10/6/2006

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Mitch Nichols

Mitch Nichols
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