[Federal Register: August 11, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 154)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 47445-47447]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11au03-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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[[Page 47445]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. NM260, Special Conditions No. 25-242-SC]
Special Conditions: Dassault Model Falcon 10 Series Airplanes;
High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Model
Falcon 10 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Frederick
A. Whitson, will have novel and unusual design features when compared
to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards
for transport category airplanes. The modification incorporates the
installation of the IS&S Digital Air Data System. The applicable
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety
standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high-
intensity radiated fields (HIRF). These special conditions contain the
additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary
to establish a level of safety equivalent to that provided by the
existing airworthiness standards.
DATES: The effective date of these special conditions is July 31, 2003.
Comments must be received on or before September 10, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments on these special conditions may be mailed in
duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Attn: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM260, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056; or delivered in duplicate
to the Transport Airplane Directorate at the above address. All
comments must be marked: Docket No. NM260. Comments may be inspected in
the Rules Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 7:30 a.m.
and 4 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Dunn, FAA, Airplane and Flight
Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2799; facsimile (425) 227-
1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public
comment are unnecessary in accordance with 14 CFR 11.38, because the
FAA has provided previous opportunities to comment on substantially
identical special conditions and has fully considered and addressed all
the substantive comments received. Based on a review of the comment
history and the comment resolution, the FAA is satisfied that new
comments are unlikely. The FAA, therefore, finds that good cause exists
for making these special conditions effective upon issuance. However,
the FAA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by
submitting comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments
reference a specific portion of the special conditions, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. We ask
that you send us two copies of written comments.
We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning these special conditions. The docket is available for public
inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to
review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section
of this preamble between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
We will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing
date for comments. We will consider comments filed late if it is
possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. We may change
these special conditions in light of the comments we receive.
If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this
proposal, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard
on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the
postcard and mail it back to you.
Background
On May 3, 2003, Frederick A. Whitson, 7700 Ouray Road, Albuquerque,
NM 87120, applied to the FAA, Fort Worth Special Certification Office,
for a supplemental type certificate (STC) to modify certain Dassault
Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. These airplanes are two-flightcrew,
two-engine airplanes. The proposed modification incorporates the
installation of an IS&S Digital Air Data System. This system replaces
the equipment originally installed in these airplanes, which was not
accurate enough for reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM)
requirements. The information presented by this equipment is flight
critical. The IS&S Digital Air Data System to be installed in this
airplane has the potential to be vulnerable to high-intensity radiated
fields (HIRF) external to the airplane.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Frederick A. Whitson must
show that the modified Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes, as
changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A33EU, or the
applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the
change. The regulations incorporated by reference in the type
certificate are commonly referred to as the ``original type
certification basis.''
The regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No.
A33EU include 14 CFR part 25 dated February 1, 1964, including
Amendments Nos. 25-1 through 25-20. Type Certificate A33EU was issued
September 20, 1973.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate
or appropriate safety standards for the modified Dassault Model Falcon
10 series airplanes, as modified by Frederick A. Whitson, because of a
novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed
under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.
[[Page 47446]]
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes must comply
with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirement of 14 CFR part 34
and the noise certification requirement of part 36.
Special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, are issued in
accordance with Sec. 11.38 and become part of the type certification
basis in accordance with Sec. 21.101(b)(2).
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. Should Frederick A. Whitson apply at a later date for
a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on
the same type certificate to incorporate the same novel or unusual
design feature, these special conditions would also apply to the other
model.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The modified Falcon 10 will incorporate new avionics/electronics
and electrical systems that will perform critical functions. These
systems may be vulnerable to HIRF external to the airplane. The current
airworthiness standards (14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards that address protecting this equipment
from the adverse effects of HIRF. Accordingly, these instruments are
considered to be a novel or unusual design feature.
Discussion
There is no specific regulation that addresses protection
requirements for electrical and electronic systems from HIRF. Increased
power levels from ground-based radio transmitters and the growing use
of sensitive avionics/electronics and electrical systems to command and
control airplanes have made it necessary to provide adequate
protection.
To ensure that a level of safety is achieved equivalent to that
intended by the regulations incorporated by reference, special
conditions are needed for the Falcon 10. These special conditions
require that new avionics/electronics and electrical systems that
perform critical functions be designed and installed to preclude
component damage and interruption of function due to both the direct
and indirect effects of HIRF.
High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)
With the trend toward increased power levels from ground-based
transmitters, plus the advent of space and satellite communications
coupled with electronic command and control of the airplane, the
immunity of critical digital avionics/electronics and electrical
systems to HIRF must be established.
It is not possible to precisely define the HIRF to which the
airplane will be exposed in service. There is also uncertainty
concerning the effectiveness of airframe shielding for HIRF.
Furthermore, coupling of electromagnetic energy to cockpit-installed
equipment through the cockpit window apertures is undefined. Based on
surveys and analysis of existing HIRF emitters, an adequate level of
protection exists when compliance with the HIRF protection special
condition is shown with either paragraph 1 or 2 below:
1. A minimum threat of 100 volts rms (root-mean-square) per meter
electric field strength from 10 KHz to 18 GHz.
a. The threat must be applied to the system elements and their
associated wiring harnesses without the benefit of airframe shielding.
b. Demonstration of this level of protection is established through
system tests and analysis.
2. A threat external to the airframe of the field strengths
indicated in the following table for the frequency ranges indicated.
Both peak and average field strength components from the table are to
be demonstrated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field strength
(volts per meter)
Frequency ---------------------
Peak Average
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 kHz-100 kHz.................................... 50 50
100 kHz-500 kHz................................... 50 50
500 kHz-2 MHz..................................... 50 50
2 MHz-30 MHz...................................... 100 100
30 MHz-70 MHz..................................... 50 50
70 MHz-100 MHz.................................... 50 50
100 MHz-200 MHz................................... 100 100
200 MHz-400 MHz................................... 100 100
400 MHz-700 MHz................................... 700 50
700 MHz-1 GHz..................................... 700 100
1 GHz-2 GHz....................................... 2000 200
2 GHz-4 GHz....................................... 3000 200
4 GHz-6 GHz....................................... 3000 200
6 GHz-8 GHz....................................... 1000 200
8 GHz-12 GHz...................................... 3000 300
12 GHz-18 GHz..................................... 2000 200
18 GHz-40 GHz..................................... 600 200
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The field strengths are expressed in terms of peak of the root-mean-
square (rms) over the complete modulation period.
The threat levels identified above are the result of an FAA review
of existing studies on the subject of HIRF, in light of the ongoing
work of the Electromagnetic Effects Harmonization Working Group of the
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to
Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes modified by Frederick A.
Whitson to include an IS&S Digital Air Data System. Should Frederick A.
Whitson apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to
modify any other model already included on Type Certificate No. A33EU
to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special
conditions would apply to that model as well under the provisions of 14
CFR 21.101(a)(1).
Conclusion
This action affects only certain design features on the Dassault
Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. It is not a rule of general
applicability and affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for
approval of these features on the airplane.
The substance of the special conditions for these airplanes has
been subjected to the notice and comment procedure in several prior
instances and has been derived without substantive change from those
previously issued. Because a delay would significantly affect the
certification of the airplane, which is imminent, the FAA has
determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and
impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting these special
conditions upon issuance. The FAA is requesting comments to allow
interested persons to submit views that may not have been submitted in
response to the prior opportunities for comment described above.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.
The Special Conditions
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of
the supplemental type certification basis for Dassault Model Falcon 10
series airplanes modified by Frederick A. Whitson:
1. Protection From Unwanted Effects of High-Intensity Radiated
Fields (HIRF). Each electrical and electronic system that performs
critical functions must be designed and installed to ensure that the
operation and operational capability of these systems to perform
critical functions are not adversely affected when the airplane is
exposed to high intensity radiated fields external to the airplane.
[[Page 47447]]
2. For the purpose of these special conditions, the following
definition applies:
Critical Functions: Functions whose failure would contribute to or
cause a failure condition that would prevent the continued safe flight
and landing of the airplane.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 31, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-20400 Filed 8-8-03; 8:45 am]
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