Proposed Policy on Substantiation of Secondary Composite Structures

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed policy to provide some guidelines for certifying secondary structures made from composite materials. This notice advises the public, especially manufacturers of normal, utility, and acrobatic category airplanes, and commuter category airplanes and their suppliers, that the FAA intends to adopt a policy on composite applications that range from secondary structures to non-structural parts such as interiors. This notice is necessary to advise the public of this FAA policy and give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on it.

DATES:

Send your comments by September 15, 2004.

Discussion: We are making this proposed policy statement available to the public and all manufacturers for their comments.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the proposed policy statement, PS-ACE100-2004-10030, may be requested from the following: Small Airplane Directorate, Standards Office (ACE-110), Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 901 Locust Street, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106. The proposed policy statement is also available on the Internet at the following address http://www.airweb.faa.gov/policy . Send all comments on this proposed policy statement to the individual identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lester Cheng, Federal Aviation Administration, Small Airplane Directorate, Regulations & Policy, ACE-111, 901 Locust Street, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (316) 946-4111; fax: 816-329-4090; e-mail: lester.cheng@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite your comments on this proposed policy statement. Send any data or views as you may desire. Identify the proposed Policy Statement Number PS-ACE100-2004-10030 on your comments, and if you submit your comments in writing, send two copies of your comments to the above address. The Small Airplane Directorate will consider all communications received on or before the closing date for comments. We may change the proposal contained in this notice because of the comments received.

Comments sent by fax or the Internet must contain “Comments to proposed policy statement PS-ACE100-2004-10030” in the subject line. You do not need to send two copies if you fax your comments or send them through the Internet. If you send comments over the Internet as an attached electronic file, format it in either Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text. State what specific change you are seeking to the proposed policy memorandum and include justification (for example, reasons or data) for each request.