Signs Of the Times: What Goes Up, Must Be Regulated
ANN is currently
reviewing an extensive 123 page NPRM that FAA will place in the
public docket this Thursday, December 29th, 2005. This is the
long-awaited NPRM that will signal FAA's opening salvo in their
intent to regulate the fledgling private/commercial spaceflight
market. Issued by FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space,
Patricia G. Smith, the NPRM is being issued with a 60 day comment
period... a bit shorter than what we might have expected for such a
pivotal piece of rule-making (though an extension may be granted if
the FAA deems necessary).
The FAA proposes requirements for human space flight of crew and
space flight participants as required by the Commercial Space
Launch Amendments Act of 2004. If adopted, this rulemaking would
establish requirements for crew qualifications, training, and
notification. It would also establish training and informed consent
requirements for space flight participants. The rulemaking would
also modify existing financial responsibility requirements to
account for the FAA's new authority for space flight participants
and crew, and to issue experimental permits. The experimental
permit is the subject of a separate rulemaking. The FAA is
conducting this rulemaking in order to fulfill its responsibilities
under the new act. The requirements are designed to provide an
acceptable level of safety to the general public, and to notify
individuals on board of the risks associated with a launch or
reentry.
Interested parties may send their comments within 60 days of the
publication date (scheduled for 12.29.05).
Respondents should identify the NPRM by Docket
Number FAA-2005-23449 and may make their opinions and responses
know by the following means:
DOT Docket web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and
follow the instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and
follow the instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; US Department of
Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, S.W., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC
20590.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif
Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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