[Federal Register: September 11, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 175)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53309-53310]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11se06-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. NM315; Special Conditions No. 25-327-SC]
Special Conditions: Airbus Model A380-800 Airplane; Emergency
Exit Arrangement--Outside Viewing
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Airbus A380-800
airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when
compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness
standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or
unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the
configuration of the airplane, including its full-length double deck.
For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do
not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding outside
viewing from emergency exits. 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. Additional special conditions will be
issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model
A380-800 airplane.
DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of these special conditions
is August 28, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Holly Thorson, FAA, International
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone
(425) 227-1357; facsimile (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Airbus applied for FAA certification/validation of the
provisionally-designated Model A3XX-100 in its letter AI/L 810.0223/98,
dated August 12, 1998, to the FAA. Application for certification by the
Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) of Europe had been made on January 16,
1998, reference AI/L 810.0019/98. In its letter to the FAA, Airbus
requested an extension to the 5-year period for type certification in
accordance with 14 CFR 21.17(c).
The request was for an extension to a 7-year period, using the date
of the initial application letter to the JAA as the reference date. The
reason given by Airbus for the request for extension is related to the
technical challenges, complexity, and the number of new and novel
features on the airplane. On November 12, 1998, the Manager, Aircraft
Engineering Division, AIR-100, granted Airbus' request for the 7-year
period, based on the date of application to the JAA.
In its letter AI/LE-A 828.0040/99 Issue 3, dated July 20, 2001,
Airbus stated that its target date for type certification of the Model
A380-800 had been moved from May 2005, to January 2006, to match the
delivery date of the first production airplane. In a subsequent letter
(AI/L 810.0223/98 issue 3, dated January 27, 2006), Airbus stated that
its target date for type certification is October 2, 2006. In
accordance with 14 CFR 21.17(d)(2), Airbus chose a new application date
of December 20, 1999, and requested that the 7-year certification
period which had already been approved be continued. The FAA has
reviewed the part 25 certification basis for the Model A380-800
airplane, and no changes are required based on the new application
date.
The Model A380-800 airplane will be an all-new, four-engine jet
transport airplane with a full double-deck, two-aisle cabin. The
maximum takeoff weight will be 1.235 million pounds with a typical
three-class layout of 555 passengers.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Airbus must show that the
Model A380-800 airplane meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part
25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-98. If the Administrator
finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain
adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Airbus A380-800
airplane because of novel or unusual design features, special
conditions are prescribed under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.16.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane 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. In addition, the
FAA must issue a finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to section 611
of Public Law 93-574, the ``Noise Control Act of 1972.''
Special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, are issued in
accordance with 14 CFR 11.38 and become part of the type certification
basis in accordance with 14 CFR 21.17(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, the special conditions would also apply to the
other model under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101.
Discussion of Novel or Unusual Design Features
Emergency evacuations are generally associated with adverse
conditions, such as a fire outside the airplane. Because those adverse
conditions may pose an immediate threat to the occupants of the
airplane, it is often necessary to avoid opening emergency exits that
would otherwise be usable. For this reason, it would be extremely
useful to have a viewing window or other means of assessing the outside
conditions to determine whether to open a particular emergency exit.
The regulations governing the certification of the A380 do not
adequately address a full-length double deck airplane in terms of the
exit of passengers in an emergency and a viewing window or other means
of assessing the outside conditions to determine whether to open an
emergency exit. Therefore, special conditions are needed to ensure that
each emergency exit has a means to permit viewing of the conditions
outside the exit when the exit is closed. These special conditions are
based upon Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 96-9 and Amendment 25-
116, effective November 26, 2004, which adopted a similar requirement
into Sec. 25.809(a).
Discussion of Comments
Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25-05-10-SC, pertaining
to Emergency Exit Arrangement--Outside Viewing, was published in the
Federal Register on
[[Page 53310]]
August 9, 2005 (70 FR 46112). Comments were received from the Airline
Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Boeing Company.
Requested change 1: ALPA recommends that ``* * * a special
condition should be added to require that each [emergency] exit provide
rescue personnel on the exterior of the aircraft a means to either
determine whether the exit's emergency assist means (slide) is armed or
disarmed or a means to disarm the emergency assist means from outside
the aircraft.
``Consideration must be given to the exits located on the lower
deck just aft of the wing (Doors 3L & 3R). A sufficient view to
determine slide usability must be ensured from inside the cabin when
the exits above them have been activated and their slides deployed.''
FAA response: A means to know whether the exits are disarmed when
opened from the outside is covered in Sec. 25.810(a)(1)(i). That is,
the slides must automatically disarm when opened from the outside.
Regarding the second point, the means to view conditions outside the
exit must be sufficient to determine slide usability regardless of
whether other slides have been deployed. This requirement is implicit
in Sec. 25.809(a). Therefore, we have not changed the special
condition, as proposed.
Requested change 2: The Boeing Company makes the following comment:
``The certification basis for the Airbus Model A380 does not
include Amendment 25-116, which included changes to 14 CFR 25.809
(Emergency Exit Arrangement). It appears, however that the FAA is now
proposing to apply the requirements of Amendment 25-116 through Special
Conditions, without any novel or unusual design features. This is
contrary to part 21, which clearly specifies how the type certification
basis of the airplane is to be established and when Special Conditions
are warranted.''
FAA response: The FAA does not agree. The full upper deck is a
novel design and warrants enhanced visibility, since passengers will be
evacuating from both decks and the slides deploy close to each other.
Amendment 25-116 was adopted after the special condition was initiated.
This process is very similar to the way the first widebody
requirements evolved: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 69-33 contained
many proposals similar to special conditions for the 747, DC-10, and
L1011 airplanes and was later adopted in large part by Amendment 25-32.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Airbus A380-800 airplane. Should Airbus apply at a later date for a
change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating
the same novel or unusual design features, these special conditions
would apply to that model as well under the provisions of Sec. 21.101.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
of the Airbus A380-800 airplane. It is not a rule of general
applicability.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
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 condition is issued as part of the
type certification basis for the Airbus A380-800 airplane.
In addition to the requirements of Sec. 25.809(a) at Amendment 25-
72, the following special condition applies:
Each emergency exit must have means to permit viewing of the
conditions outside the exit when the exit is closed. The viewing means
may be on the exit or adjacent to it, provided that no obstructions
exist between the exit and the viewing means. Means must also be
provided to permit viewing of the likely areas of evacuee ground
contact with the landing gear extended as well as in all conditions of
landing gear collapse. A single device that satisfies both objectives
is acceptable.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 28, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15005 Filed 9-8-06; 8:45 am]
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