Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R Series Airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F Airplanes (Collectively Called A300-600); and Model A310 Series Airplanes; Equipped With Certain Honeywell Inertial Reference Units (IRU)

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12117-12119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4070]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19537; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-145-AD; 
Amendment 39-13993; AD 2005-05-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and 
F4-600R Series Airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F Airplanes 
(Collectively Called A300-600); and Model A310 Series Airplanes; 
Equipped With Certain Honeywell Inertial Reference Units (IRU)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and 
Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600); and 
Model A310 series airplanes; equipped with certain Honeywell inertial 
reference units (IRUs). This AD requires revising the Limitations 
section of the airplane flight manual to prohibit the use of CAT 2 and 
CAT 3 automatic landing and rollout procedures at certain airports. 
This AD is prompted by a report that some magnetic deviation tables in 
the IRU database are obsolete and contain significant differences with 
the real magnetic deviations. We are issuing this AD to prevent an 
airplane from deviating from the runway centerline, and possibly 
departing the runway.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 15, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 
15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, 
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19537; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-145-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2797; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with an AD for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R 
series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively 
called A300-600); and Model A310 series airplanes; equipped with 
certain Honeywell inertial reference units (IRUs). That action, 
published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2004 (69 FR 64520), 
proposed to require revising the Limitations section of the airplane 
flight manual (AFM) to prohibit the use of CAT 2 and CAT 3 automatic 
landing and rollout procedures at certain airports.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been 
submitted on the proposed AD. The commenter supports the proposed AD.

Explanation of Changes Made to This Final Rule

    We have revised Table 2 of this AD to more clearly identify the 
applicable airplane flight manuals (AFM) to be revised.
    In Table 2 of the proposed AD we referenced an incorrect date for 
the temporary revisions. We have revised Table 2 of this final rule to 
correct that information.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment that has been submitted, and determined that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD as proposed, with the changes 
described previously. We have determined that these changes will 
neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the 
scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 136 airplanes of U.S. registry. The AFM 
revision will take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor 
rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures,

[[Page 12118]]

the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $8,840, or $65 per 
airplane.

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 Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to 
examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2005-05-05 Airbus: Amendment 39-13993. Docket No. FAA-2004-19537; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-145-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 15, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus airplanes, certificated in any 
category; as identified in Table 1 of this AD:

                         Table 1.--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Equipped with any
                               honeywell inertial    Excluding airplanes
           Model--            reference unit (IRU)       modified in
                               having part number--   accordance with--
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4- HG1050BD01,           Airbus modification
 600R series airplanes; and    HG1050BD02, or        12304 in
 C4-605R Variant F airplanes   HG1050BD05.           production.
 (collectively called A300-
 600).
A310 series airplanes.......  HG1050BD01,           Airbus modification
                               HG1050BD02, or        12304 in
                               HG1050BD05.           production.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report that some magnetic 
deviation tables in the IRU database are obsolete and contain 
significant differences with the real magnetic deviations. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent an airplane from deviating from the 
runway centerline, and possibly departing the runway.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision

    (f) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations section of the Airbus A300-600 AFM; or the Airbus 
A310 AFM; as applicable; by inserting a copy of the applicable 
Airbus temporary revision (TR) listed in Table 2 of this AD into the 
applicable AFM.

    Note 1: When Airbus includes these TRs in the general revisions 
of the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted in the AFM, 
provided the relevant information in the general revisions is 
identical to that in Airbus TRs 6.01.03/08 and 6.01.03/36.


                            Table 2.--AFM TRs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Airbus temporary
          For model                 revision                 AFM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A300-600 airplanes..........  6.01.03/08, dated     A300-600 Flight
                               February 9, 2004.     Manual.
A310 series airplanes.......  6.01.03/36, dated     A310 Flight Manual.
                               February 9, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terminating Action

    (g) After replacing the Honeywell IRUs with new or modified 
Honeywell IRUs in accordance with the requirements of AD 2003-20-01, 
amendment 39-13319 (68 FR 55814), the AFM revision required by 
paragraph (f) of this AD may be removed.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (i) French airworthiness directive F-2004-093(B), issued June 
23, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

[[Page 12119]]

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the applicable temporary revision to the 
applicable Airbus airplane flight manual specified in Table 3 of 
this AD to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless 
the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register 
approves the incorporation by reference of those documents in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the 
service information, contact Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 
31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. For information on the availability of 
this material at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    You may view the AD docket at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-
401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

              Table 3.--Material Incorporated by Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Airbus temporary  revision                       AFM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.01.03/08, dated February 9, 2004........  A300-600 Flight Manual.
6.01.03/36, dated February 9, 2004........  A310 Flight Manual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 18, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4070 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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