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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 44717. Aging aircraft
(a) Inspections and Reviews. - The Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration shall prescribe regulations that ensure the
continuing airworthiness of aging aircraft. The regulations
prescribed under subsection (a) of this section -
(1) at least shall require the Administrator to make
inspections, and review the maintenance and other records, of
each aircraft an air carrier uses to provide air transportation
that the Administrator decides may be necessary to enable the
Administrator to decide whether the aircraft is in safe condition
and maintained properly for operation in air transportation;
(2) at least shall require an air carrier to demonstrate to the
Administrator, as part of the inspection, that maintenance of the
aircraft's age-sensitive parts and components has been adequate
and timely enough to ensure the highest degree of safety;
(3) shall require the air carrier to make available to the
Administrator the aircraft and any records about the aircraft
that the Administrator requires to carry out a review; and
(4) shall establish procedures to be followed in carrying out
an inspection.
(b) When and How Inspections and Reviews Shall Be Carried Out. -
(1) Inspections and reviews required under subsection (a)(1) of
this section shall be carried out as part of each heavy maintenance
check of the aircraft conducted after the 14th year in which the
aircraft has been in service.
(2) Inspections under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be
carried out as provided under section 44701(a)(2)(B) and (C) of
this title.
(c) Aircraft Maintenance Safety Programs. - The Administrator
shall establish -
(1) a program to verify that air carriers are maintaining their
aircraft according to maintenance programs approved by the
Administrator;
(2) a program -
(A) to provide inspectors and engineers of the Administration
with training necessary to conduct auditing inspections of
aircraft operated by air carriers for corrosion and metal
fatigue; and
(B) to enhance participation of those inspectors and
engineers in those inspections; and
(3) a program to ensure that air carriers demonstrate to the
Administrator their commitment and technical competence to ensure
the airworthiness of aircraft that the carriers operate.
(d) Foreign Air Transportation. - (1) The Administrator shall
take all possible steps to encourage governments of foreign
countries and relevant international organizations to develop
standards and requirements for inspections and reviews that -
(A) will ensure the continuing airworthiness of aging aircraft
used by foreign air carriers to provide foreign air
transportation to and from the United States; and
(B) will provide passengers of those foreign air carriers with
the same level of safety that will be provided passengers of air
carriers by carrying out this section.
(2) Not later than September 30, 1994, the Administrator shall
report to Congress on carrying out this subsection.
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