Corrections to Flight Data Recorder Specifications

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule; correction.

SUMMARY:

This action corrects errors introduced into the flight data recorder specifications in two final rules. The FAA intended to add certain information by footnote in the appendices that contain the flight recorder specification charts, but inadvertently caused material to be deleted. This correction reinstates that material.

DATES:

Effective December 27, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Petronis, Senior Attorney for Regulations, AGC-200, Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone 202-267-3073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FAA published final rule amending the flight data recorder specifications for certain Airbus airplanes in the Federal Register on August 24, 1999 [64 FR 46117]. The intent of that final rule was to establish different criteria for certain flight data recorder parameters that are recorded by Airbus airplanes. The changes were introduced as footnotes. The footnote numbers were to appear with the name of the parameter in the “Parameters” columns of 14 CFR part 121 appendix M and part 125 appendix E.

Instead of inserting the footnotes numbers in the column and adding the noted information at the bottom of the chart, the amendatory language that was used resulted in information being deleted from the five remaining columns of the chart for each of the parameters affected by the rule. A similar attempted amendment in August 2000 [65 FR 51745, August 24, 2000] caused the same result.

Accordingly, the FAA is republishing the affected parameter specifications to reinstate them in the appendix M chart. The identical corrections are being made to Part 125 Appendix E, which contains the identical information. The FAA never intended to change any of the information that was effective at the time of the August 1999 final rule, and no intent may be implied by the absence of this information from the printed 2000 CFR. The FAA has no information to suggest that any operator subject to the affected regulations has taken any action based on the unintended deletion of the information. The required specifications are well established and not easily changed in operational flight data recorder system equipment.

Since no rule change was ever intended, there is no economic impact that is attributable to this correction.

Any operator that finds itself adversely affected by reliance on any omission from the 2000 CFR is advised to contract the FAA immediately for resolution of any problems.

Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration amends Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations parts 121 and 125 as follows:

Part 121 [Corrected]

Appendix M [Corrected]

1. Correct Appendix M to part 121, by revising item numbers, 1, 7, 9, 12b, 13b, 14a, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 37, 42 and 57 to read as follows (Note: The footnote text remains unchanged):

Part 121 [Corrected]

Appendix E [Corrected]

2. Correct appendix E to part 125, by revising item numbers 1, 7, 9, 12b, 13b, 14a, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 37, 42 and 57 to read as follows (Note: The footnote text remains unchanged):