The FAA today issued an Announcement of Policy for Landing Performance Assessments After Departure for All Turbojet Operators for use in establishing “methods of ensuring that sufficient landing distance exists for safely making a full stop landing with an acceptable safety margin, on the runway to be used, in the conditions existing at the time of arrival, and with the deceleration means and airplane configuration to be used.” This Notice comes in the wake of the Southwest Airlines landing overrun accident involving a Boeing 737-700 at Chicago Midway Airport in December 2005. Following that accident the FAA initiated an audit to evaluate information relating to the accident including the applicable regulations, FAA orders, notices, advisory circulars, ICAO and foreign country requirements, airplane manufacturer-developed material, independent source material, and the current practices of air carrier operators. The Notice is the result of that audit.
The Notice applies to operators subject to Part 121, section 121.195(b), part 135, section 135.385(b), and part 91, section 91.1037(b) and (c). The Notice requires that “[n]o later than September 1, 2006, turbojet operators will be required to have procedures in place to ensure that a full stop landing, with at least a 15% safety margin beyond the actual landing distance, can be made on the runway to be used, in the conditions existing at the time of arrival, and with the deceleration means and airplane configuration that will be used.”
Affected operators can expect to receive Operations Specification/Management Specification (OpSpec/MSpec) C082 from the FAA by June 30, 2006 implementing the Notice’s requirements. If not currently in compliance, all affected turbojet operators will have to comply with the Notice and the requirements of OpSpec/MSpec C082 no later than October 1, 2006. Prior to that time, affected turbojet operators will be required to submit their proposed procedures for compliance with the Notice and OpSpec/MSpec to their POI no later than September 1, 2006. When the turbojet operator demonstrates the ability to comply with the C082 authorization for landing distance assessments and has complied with other requirements of the Notice the OpSpec/MSpec should be issued.
If you would like further information regarding the Notice you may contact Jerry Ostronic, Air Transportation Division, AFS-200, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, and Telephone (202) 267-8166.
