Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell Flight Management System (FMS) One Million Word (1M or 700K) Data Bases (9104 Cycle or Earlier), as Installed in, but Not Limited to, McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F Airplanes, Boeing Model 747-400 Series Airplanes, and Boeing Model 757 and 767 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 5, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57998-58000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19938]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22585; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-041-AD; 
Amendment 39-14328; AD 2005-20-31]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell Flight Management System 
(FMS) One Million Word (1M or 700K) Data Bases (9104 Cycle or Earlier), 
as Installed in, but Not Limited to, McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and 
MD-11F Airplanes, Boeing Model 747-400 Series Airplanes, and Boeing 
Model 757 and 767 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; rescission; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is rescinding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
that applies to Honeywell FMS one million word (1M or 700K) data bases 
(9104 cycle or earlier) as installed in, but not limited to McDonnell 
Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes, Boeing Model 747-400 series 
airplanes, and Boeing Model 757 and 767 airplanes. That AD requires a 
revision to the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and 
installation of a placard to prohibit the use of Nondirectional Beacon 
(NDB) approaches for landing. That AD was prompted by an anomaly in the 
Honeywell FMS one million word (1M or 700K) data bases (9104 cycle or 
earlier). We issued that AD to prevent an airplane deviating from the 
published approach to the runway, which could lead to premature ground 
contact before reaching the runway. Since we issued that AD, we have 
determined that the Honeywell FMS one million word (1M or 700K) 
databases (9104 cycle or earlier) no longer exist on any of the 
affected airplanes.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 5, 2005.
    We must receive comments on this AD by December 5, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this rescission.
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Government-Wide Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov

[[Page 57999]]

and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, on 
the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Mabuni, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5341; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 30, 1991, the FAA issued AD 91-08-51, 
amendment 39-7031 (56 FR 26610, June 10, 1991) (originally issued on 
April 5, 1991, as telegraphic AD T91-08-51). That AD applies to certain 
McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 airplanes, and Boeing Model 747-400, 757, 
and 767 series airplanes. That AD requires a revision to the FAA-
approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and installation of a placard to 
prohibit the use of Nondirectional Beacon (NDB) approaches for landing. 
That action was prompted by an anomaly in the Honeywell Flight 
Management System (FMS) one million word (1M or 700K) data bases (9104 
cycle or earlier). The actions required by that AD are intended to 
prevent an airplane deviating from the published approach to the 
runway, which could lead to premature ground contact before reaching 
the runway.

Actions Since Previous AD Was Issued

    In February 2004, the FAA Office of Rulemaking (ARM-20) asked the 
public to tell us which regulations we should amend, eliminate, or 
simplify. We received about 100 comments from more than 30 commenters. 
One of the comments was on AD 91-08-51. The commenter stated that the 
navigational databases are upgraded monthly and no flight crew will be 
using a 13-year-old navigational database today.
    We agree with the commenter that AD 91-08-51 is no longer necessary 
and therefore we will rescind the AD. We have received confirmation 
from the airplane and equipment manufacturers that the Honeywell FMS 
one million word (1M or 700K) databases (9104 cycle or earlier) no 
longer exist on any of the affected airplanes worldwide.

FAA's Determination

    Upon further consideration, we have determined that we need to 
rescind AD 91-08-51 to eliminate an unnecessary regulation. Operators 
may remove the AFM revision and the placard that prohibit the use of 
NDB approaches for landing.
    Since this action rescinds a requirement to perform an unnecessary 
action, it has no adverse economic impact and imposes no additional 
burden on any person. Therefore, providing notice and opportunity for 
public comment is unnecessary before this AD is issued, and this AD may 
be made effective in less than 30 days after it is published in the 
Federal Register.

Explanation of Change to Applicability

    We have revised the applicability of the existing AD to identify 
model designations as published in the most recent type certificate 
data sheet for the affected models.

Comments Invited

    Although this is a final rule that was not preceded by notice and 
an opportunity for public comment, we invite you to submit any written 
relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your 
comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. 
FAA-2005-22585; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-041-AD'' at the 
beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the 
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend the AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of our docket 
web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you can visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) will not have a 
significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial 
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Rescission

0
Accordingly, according to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

[[Page 58000]]

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding an airworthiness directive (AD) that removes amendment 39-7031 
(56 FR 26610, June 10, 1991), to read as follows:

2005-20-31 Honeywell: Amendment 39-14328. Docket No. FAA-2005-22585; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-041-AD. Rescinds AD 91-08-51, 
Amendment 39-7031.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective October 5, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) This action rescinds AD 91-08-51.

Applicability

    (c) This action applies to Honeywell Flight Management System 
(FMS) one million word (1M or 700K) data bases (9104 cycle or 
earlier), as installed in, but not limited to, McDonnell Douglas 
Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes, and Boeing Model 747-400 series 
airplanes, Model 757-200, -200PF, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes, 
and Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series airplanes, 
certificated in any category.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 26, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19938 Filed 10-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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