Revision of Certification Requirements: Mechanics and Repairmen

SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was

published on July 9, 1998. In that document, the FAA propose changes to

the Federal Aviation Regulations that prescribe the certification and

training requirements for mechanics and repairmen. This extension is a

result of a formal request from the Professional Aviation Maintenance

Association (PAMA) to extend the comment period to the proposal. This

extension is necessary to afford all interested parties an opportunity

to present their views on the proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposal may be delivered or mailed, in

triplicate, to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Chief

Counsel, Attn: Rules Docket (AGC-200), Docket No. 27863, Room 915G, 800

Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591. Comments submitted must

be marked: ``Docket No. 27863.'' Comments also may be sent

electronically to the following Internet address: 9-nprm-

[email protected]. Comments may be examined in Room 915G on weekdays,

except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Leslie K. Vipond, AFS-350, Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance

Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as

they may desire. Comments relating to the environmental, energy,

federalism, or economic impact that might result from adopting the

proposals in this notice are also invited. Substantive comments should

be accompanied by cost estimates. Comments must identify the regulatory

docket or notice number and be submitted in triplicate to the Rules

Docket address specified above.

All comments received, as well as a report summarizing each

substantive public contact with FAA personnel on this rulemaking, will

be filed in the docket. The docket is available for public inspection

before and after the comment closing date.

All comments received on or before the closing date will be

considered by the Administrator before taking action on this proposed

rulemaking. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent

practicable. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in

light of the comments received.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice must include a pre-addressed,

stamped postcard with those comments on which the following statement

is made: ``Comments to Docket No. 27863.'' The postcard will be date

stamped and mailed to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem

and suitable communications software from the FAA regulations section

of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 703-321-

3339), the Government Printing Office's electronic bulletin board

service (telephone: 202-512-1661), or the FAA's Aviation rulemaking

Advisory Committee Bulletin Board service (telephone: (800) 322-2772 or

(202) 267-5948).

Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov/

avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm or the Government Printing Office's electronic

webpage at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara for access to recently

published rulemaking documents.

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request

to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1,

800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202)

267-9680. Communications must identify the notice number or docket

number of this NPRM.

Persons interested in being placed on the mailing list for future

NPRM's should request from the above office a copy of Advisory Circular

No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, that

describes the application procedure.

Background

On June 26, 1998, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued

Notice No. 98-5, Revision of Certification Requirements: Mechanics and

Repairmen (63 FR 37172, July 9, 1998). Comments to that document were

to be received on or before November 6, 1998.

By letter dated August 7, 1998, PAMA requested that the FAA extend

the comment period for Notice No. 98-5 until January 8, 1999. PAMA

stated that the proposal is a highly complex document that affects all

aviation maintenance personnel. The association also noted difficulties

encountered by its members in obtaining the document and related

advisory material. PAMA stated that an extension of the comment period

would provide the public with sufficient time to obtain and fully

evaluate this proposal before submitting comments to the FAA.

In accordance with Sec. 11.29(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal

Regulations, the FAA has reviewed PAMA's petition for extension of the

comment period to Notice No. 98-5. PAMA has shown a substantive

interest in the proposed rule and good cause for the extension. The FAA

also has determined that extension of the comment period is consistent

with the public interest.

Extension of Comment Period

The FAA has reviewed the request for consideration of an extended

comment period for Notice No. 98-5 and determined that an extension

would be in the public interest, and that good cause exists for taking

this action. Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 98-5 is

extended to January 8, 1999. Also, the comments on draft Advisory

Circulars (AC): AC 66-XX Part 66--The New Certification Regulations for

Aviation Maintenance Personnel, AC 66-XX Recurrent Training for

Aviation Maintenance Personnel, and AC 66-XX Approval of Aviation

Maintenance Technician (Transport) Training Program Providers is

extended until January 8, 1999.

Issued in Washington, DC, October 7, 1998.

Richard O. Gordon,

Acting Director, Flight Standards Services.

[FR Doc. 98-27400 Filed 10-13-98; 8:45 am]

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