[Federal Register: June 3, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 106)]
[Notices]               
[Page 38308-38309]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jn02-83]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 
Miscellaneous Non-Required Equipment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on a proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO) C138, 
Miscellaneous Non-Required Equipment. This TSO is limited in 
applicability to equipment that is not intended to be used in the 
cockpit, nor impact pilot workload. This

[[Page 38309]]

TSO establishes equipment categories which are classified based upon 
compliance to published aircraft standards. The TSO equipment 
manufacturer is provided guidelines for developments and documentation 
of equipment functional performance requirements and test conditions. 
The TSO equipment manufacturer is expected to provide evidence of 
having satisfied the declared functional performance and test 
conditions under defined environmental test conditions. For those 
equipment which contain software, the equipment manufacturer must 
provide evidence of having satisfied minimum software design assurance 
development criteria. This TSO also identifies equipment classes marked 
``'' for equipment standards to be defined in the 
future. These ``'' equipment classes are intended 
to allow for future TSO C138 expansion of aircraft standards for 
elective compliance by the equipment manufacturer.

DATES: Comments submitted must be received on or before July 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed TSO to: Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Aircraft Certification Service, Aircraft 
Engineering Division, Avionic Systems Branch, AIR-130, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. Or deliver comments to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Swearingen, Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Aircraft Certification Service Aircraft 
Engineering Division, Avionic Systems Branch, AIR-130, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, Telephone: (202) 267-9897, FAX: (202) 
267-5340.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested person are invited to comment on the proposed TSO listed 
in this notice by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as 
they desire, to the above specified address. Comments must be marked 
``Comments to TSO-C138.'' Comments received on the draft TSO may be 
examined both before and after the closing date, in Room 815, FAA 
Headquarters Building (FOB-10A), 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591, weekdays except Federal holidays, between 8:30 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. All communications received on or before the closing 
data for comments specified will be considered by the Director of the 
Aircraft Certification Service before issuing the final TSO.

Background

    Design and production approval under the FAA Technical Standard 
Order (TSO) program offers numerous advantages to the equipment 
manufacturer, equipment installer and the FAA Aircraft Certification 
Service. The proposed TSO is intended to provide equipment 
manufacturers ability to produce equipment without specifically tying 
the equipment to a given make/model of aircraft. Design and production 
approval under this TSO is intended to afford the equipment 
manufacturer and installer limited certification reuse credit. 
Equipment marked as compliant with the proposed TSO is anticipated to 
require less overall regulatory review during the installation process, 
since the equipment would be marked as having been found compliant to a 
given set of equipment standards (e.g., environmental considerations, 
software design assurance, etc). This inherent certification reuse 
credit is intended to provide equipment manufacturers increased 
marketability of equipment currently considered non-traditional TSO 
articles. Finally, the FAA believes that adoption of this proposed TSO 
will reduce the overall regulatory review cycle by the Aircraft 
Certification Offices. The FAA intends to identify success metrics and 
implements a monitoring program to ensure that any resultant increase 
in TSO Authorization applications do not result in an unmanageable 
workload burden upon the Aircraft Certification Offices.

How To Obtain Copies

    A copy of the revised draft TSO may be obtained via Internet 
(http://www.faa.gov/avr/air/airhome.htm) or on request from the 
individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Washington, DC., on May 29, 2002.
David W. Hempe,
Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-13819 Filed 5-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M