[Federal Register: July 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 128)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40537-40538]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jy04-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. NM282 Special Conditions No. 25-267-SC]
Special Conditions: Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A Series
Airplanes; High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Learjet Model 35, 35A,
36, and 36A series airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates. These
modified airplanes 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 installation of a Honeywell Model BA-250 altimeter
indicator and a Model AM-250 barometric altimeter. 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 June 3, 2004.
Comments must be received on or before August 5, 2004.
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. NM282, 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. NM282.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steve Edgar, FAA, Standardization
Branch, ANM-113, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone
(425) 227-2025; facsimile (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public
comment is impracticable because these procedures would significantly
delay certification of the airplane and thus delivery of the affected
aircraft. In addition, the substance of these special conditions has
been subject to the public comment process in several prior instances
with no substantive comments received. 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 4:00 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 December 19, 2003, Flight Test Associates, Incorporated, of
Mojave, California, applied to the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office, for a supplemental type certificate (STC) to
modify Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A series airplanes. These
models are currently approved under Type Certificate No. A10CE. The
proposed modification incorporates installation of the digital
Honeywell Model BA-250 altimeter indicator and Model AM-250 barometric
altimeter as primary altimeters. The information presented by this
equipment is flight critical. The digital altimeters installed in these
airplanes have 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, Flight Test Associates must
show that the Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A series airplanes, as
changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A10CE, 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.
A10CE include 14 CFR part 25 as amended by Amendments 25-2, 25-4, 25-7,
25-10, and 25-18.
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 Learjet Model 35, 35A,
36, and 36A series 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, the Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A series 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.
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.
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. Should Flight Test Associates 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 or similar novel
or unusual design feature, these special conditions would also apply to
the other model under the provisions of Sec. 21.101.
[[Page 40538]]
Novel or Unusual Design Features
As noted earlier, the Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A series
airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates will incorporate new dual
primary altimeters 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, this system is 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 Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A series
airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates. These special conditions
require that new primary altimeters 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 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 is shown with either HIRF protection
special condition 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
identifed 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
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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
2GHz-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
Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A series airplanes modified by Flight
Test Associates. Should Flight Test Associates apply at a later date
for an STC to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No.
A10CE to incorporate the same or similar novel or unusual design
feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well as
under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on the Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A series airplanes modified by
Flight Test Associates. 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 these special conditions 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 record keeping
requirements.
0
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.
The Special Conditions
0
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 the Learjet Model 35,
35A, 36, and 36A series airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates:
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 June 3, 2004.
Franklin Tiangsing,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-15037 Filed 7-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P