
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 10798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3891]



[[Page 10798]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of task assignment to the Aviation 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC).

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SUMMARY: The FAA has withdrawn a task assigned to the Aviation 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) concerning all weather operations. 
This notice is to inform the public of the FAA's decision to withdraw 
this task.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda D. Courtney, Manager, Aircraft 
and Airport Rules Division, Office of Rulemaking, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
brenda.courtney@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA established ARAC to provide advice and recommendations to 
the FAA Administrator on the FAA's rulemaking activities. This includes 
obtaining advice and recommendations on the FAA's commitments to 
harmonize Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) with its 
partners in Europe and Canada.
    On November 26, 2003, the FAA published a notice in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 66524) informing the public of ARAC's acceptance of a 
new task, and its decision to assign the task to the All Weather 
Operations Harmonization Working Group. Over the years since assigning 
this task to ARAC, the working group has provided support to the FAA, 
other civil aviation authorities and the International Civil Aviation 
Organization (ICAO). This collaborative effort has brought about 
standardized and harmonized systems and processes such as the Enhanced 
Flight Vision System and use of radar altimeters in Europe. The working 
group has also provided support to the ICAO Operations Panel and 
provided updates to the All Weather Operations Manual for ICAO. These 
efforts are important to the FAA and other civil aviation authorities; 
however, they are not tasks typically assigned to ARAC. As such, the 
FAA has decided to continue these efforts under a different venue. We 
anticipate establishing a separate committee charged to work 
collaboratively among the international aviation community, the FAA and 
other civil aviation authorities to ensure regulatory standards and 
policies related to all weather operations activities are standardized 
and harmonized in the interest of safety, and global economic 
efficiencies.
    Withdrawal of the all weather operations task completes the 
activities that were assigned to ARAC's Air Carrier Operations 
Technical Subject Area. Because the FAA does not intend to assign any 
additional tasks to this technical area, the Air Carrier Operations 
Technical Subject Area is closed. The FAA has vetted the withdrawal of 
this task and our decision to close the Air Carrier Operations 
Technical Subject Area with the ARAC.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2012.
Pamela Hamilton-Powell,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 2012-3891 Filed 2-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


