Notice2021-23280
Notice of Public Meeting
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 26, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is hosting a virtual Inclusive Language Summit to present and discuss recommendations the Agency has received that promote the institution of inclusive language throughout the FAA. The Summit will provide a platform for the public to comment and provide additional recommendations to the FAA as it develops an enterprise-wide initiative to adopt language that is both gender-neutral and inclusive. In the spirit of bringing all voices to the conversation, the FAA seeks participation from all members of the public; stakeholders in public agencies; academia; not-for profit institutions; individuals working in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); and the aerospace community. Input from a diverse audience will assist the FAA in developing policies, procedures and plans for implementation of terminology that is inclusive in nature in all aspects of FAA governance and oversight as well as in the international context under FAA's global leadership.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 204 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59266-59267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23280]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Public Meeting
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is hosting a virtual Inclusive Language Summit to
present and discuss recommendations the Agency has received that
promote the institution of inclusive language throughout the FAA. The
Summit will provide a platform for the public to comment and provide
additional recommendations to the FAA as it develops an enterprise-wide
initiative to adopt language that is both gender-neutral and inclusive.
In the spirit of bringing all voices to the conversation, the FAA seeks
participation from all members of the public; stakeholders in public
agencies; academia; not-for profit institutions; individuals working in
the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); and
the aerospace community. Input from a diverse audience will assist the
FAA in developing policies, procedures and plans for implementation of
terminology that is inclusive in nature in all aspects of FAA
governance and oversight as well as in the international context under
FAA's global leadership.
DATES: The virtual meeting will be held on November 10, 2021, from
10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Requests for accommodations to a disability must be received by
November 1, 2021. Written comments or recommendations will be received
until November 30, 2021.
ADDRESSES: This will be a virtual meeting and livestreamed on FAA's
social media platforms for members of the public to observe. To
observe, follow FAA social media platforms on the day of the event at
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FAA">https://www.facebook.com/FAA</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/FAAnews">https://www.youtube.com/FAAnews</a>, or
<a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews">https://twitter.com/FAANews</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Cuddy, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591;
telephone (202) 267-5869; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3470717d75745255551a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fdbdad6dedff9fefeb1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The FAA's mission is to provide the safest, most efficient
aerospace system in the world. We strive to reach the next level of
safety and efficiency and to demonstrate global leadership in how we
safely integrate new users and technologies into our aerospace system.
Because language matters, embracing diversity and inclusion will have a
significant impact on bringing all voices into the conversation to help
further the FAA's mission. To lead the aerospace industry into the next
century, the FAA must actively promote values of DEIA. The words and
language that we use in all communication channels, both for internal
and external use, as well as rules, regulations and associated policies
and guidance, must match this objective. If any individual employee,
contractor or industry partner feels excluded or marginalized because
of language or words, the work of the agency suffers and opportunities
for achievement are diminished.
The FAA has initiated efforts to expand inclusive language across
the Agency. In 2019, the FAA first tasked the Federal Women's Program
to begin to develop recommendations for gender neutral language.
Furthermore, in February 2021, the FAA tasked the Drone Advisory
Committee (DAC) to develop recommendations for gender-neutral language
as an alternative to gender specific terms currently used in the drone
and aviation communities. The FAA also tasked DAC to take the lead to
facilitate the adoption of gender-neutral language throughout the drone
community and provide recommendations that organizations across the
industry and community can implement. The DAC presented its
recommendations to the FAA in June 2021 and they are posted on the
FAA's DAC web page.\1\ Please refer to page 110 of the June 2021 DAC
meeting ebook for a recommended list of changes.
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\1\ See pages 97-136 of the Drone Advisory Committee Public e-
Book at <a href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/drone_advisory_committee/media/DAC_Public_eBook_06_23_2021.pdf">https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/drone_advisory_committee/media/DAC_Public_eBook_06_23_2021.pdf</a>.
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[[Page 59267]]
The FAA acknowledges that many of the terms that the DAC proposed
to incorporate are not new words, nor are they new to aviation. The
DAC's recommendations, in addition to other similar concurrent
initiatives, have sparked a wider conversation across the Agency about
formally embracing more inclusive language, including terminology that
is gender-neutral. Replacing gender-based terms with new inclusive
terminology is expected to create a more inclusive and accepting
environment within the FAA and the aerospace industry as a whole.
However, the FAA recognizes the importance of gathering public input on
the proposed DAC terminology, as well as alternative terminology, that
FAA should consider adopting in furtherance of its goal to ensure
equality, which can only be accomplished through the elimination of
bias and discrimination on the basis of sex, including the person's
sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy. The FAA notes that
implementation of policies and plans related to the adoption of
inclusive terminology may necessitate changes in legislation, as well
as rules and regulations. However, the FAA is committed to ensuring FAA
is both a workplace and a regulatory agency free of bias and
discrimination in all practices.
II. Public Participation
The Inclusive Language Summit is open to the public. Members of the
public will have an opportunity to provide feedback or additional
recommendations to the Agency's proposal to adopt language that is more
inclusive.
Members of the public are also welcome to submit written
recommendations. Please send written documents to the email address in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
In the spirit of bringing all voices to the conversation, the FAA
seeks participation from all members of the public; stakeholders in
public agencies; academia; not-for profit institutions; individuals
working in the area of DEIA; and the aviation community. Input from a
diverse audience will assist the FAA in developing policies and
procedures that are inclusive in nature and strengthen the FAA's goal
of becoming an employer of choice and the Agency's mission to be a
global aerospace leader.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to providing
equal access to this meeting for all participants. If you need
alternative formats or services because of a disability, such as sign
language, interpretation, or other ancillary aids, please contact the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
Members of the public may submit comments and questions for the
FAA's consideration to the email address listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section. On the day of the event participants will
be given the opportunity to ask questions in near real time through a
link provided on the FAA's social media pages located in ADDRESSES
section.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Timothy R. Adams,
Acting Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2021-23280 Filed 10-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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