[Federal Register: February 3, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 22)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5208-5210]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03fe03-2]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. NM243; Special Conditions No. 25-226-SC]
Special Conditions: Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 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 Bombardier Model BD-
100-1A10 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design
feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the
airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The airplane
design includes four large liquid crystal display (LCD) electronic
displays, an integrated electronic standby system, and full authority
digital engine controls (FADEC) all of which perform critical
functions. 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 established by the existing airworthiness standards.
DATES: The effective date of these special conditions is January 9,
2003. Comments must be received on or before March 5, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments on these special conditions may be mailed in
duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Attention: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM243, 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. NM243.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Dunn, FAA, Airplane and Flight
Crew 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 public
comment in
[[Page 5209]]
accordance with 14 CFR 11.38 are unnecessary, 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 written 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 based on the comments we receive.
If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on
these special conditions, 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 March 26, 1999, Bombardier Inc. submitted an application to
Transport Canada for FAA type certification of its new Model BD-100-
1A10 airplane. The BD-100-1A10 airplane is a business jet powered by
two Honeywell AS907 High Bypass turbo-fan engines. The airplane has a
two-pilot cockpit and interior seating for sixteen passengers. The
overall length of the Model BD-100-A10 is 68.7 feet, the height is
20.25 feet, and the wing span is 63.8 feet. The airplane has a maximum
takeoff weight of 37,500 pounds, a maximum landing weight of 33,750
pounds, a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet, and a design range
of 3,100 nautical miles at Mach 0.8 or 2,780 nautical miles at Mach
0.82. The Model BD-100-1A10 airplane will include four large LCD
electronic displays, an integrated electronic standby system, and
FADEC, all of which perform critical functions. These systems may be
vulnerable to HIRF external to the airplane.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Bombardier Inc. must show
that Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes meet the applicable provisions in
effect on the date of application for the type certificate or
applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1
through 25-98. Subsequent changes have been made to Sec. 21.101 as
part of Amendment 21-77, but those changes do not become effective
until June 10, 2003.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (i.e., part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes
because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are
prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes must comply with the fuel vent
and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise
certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36, and the FAA must issue a
finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to Sec. 611 of Public Law 92-
574, the ``Noise Control Act of 1972.''
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(a)(2).
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or
unusual design feature, these special conditions would also apply to
the other model under the provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1), Amendment
21-69, effective September 16, 1991.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
As noted earlier, Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes will incorporate four
LCD electronic displays, an integrated electronic standby system, and
FADEC that will perform critical functions. These systems may be
vulnerable to HIRF external to the airplane. The current airworthiness
standards of part 25 do not contain adequate or appropriate safety
standards for the protection of this equipment from the adverse effects
of HIRF. Accordingly, these systems are considered to be novel or
unusual designs.
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 Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. These special
conditions require that avionic/electronic 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 and the advent of space and satellite communications,
coupled with electronic command and control of the airplane, the
immunity of critical avionic/electronic 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
identified in the table below for the frequency ranges indicated. Both
peak and average field strength components from the table are to be
demonstrated.
[[Page 5210]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Bombardier BD-100-1A10 airplanes. Should Bombardier apply at a later
date for a change to the type certificate to include another model
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special
conditions would apply to that model as well, under the provisions of
Sec. 21.101(a)(1), Amendment 21-69, effective September 16, 1991.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. It is not a rule of general
applicability, and affects only the applicant which applied to the FAA
for approval of these features on the airplane. The FAA has determined
that notice and opportunity for public comment are unnecessary, 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. The FAA is satisfied that new
comments are unlikely and finds, therefore, that good cause exists for
making these special conditions effective upon issuance.
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 type certification basis for the Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10
airplane.
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.
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 January 9, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Assistant Director, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-2422 Filed 1-31-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P