[Federal Register: October 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 210)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 63676-63678]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31oc06-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. NM356; Special Conditions No. 25-334-SC]
Special Conditions: Boeing Model 737-700 IGW Airplane (BBJ, S/N
34683); Certification of Cooktops
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA issues these special conditions for the Boeing Model
737-
[[Page 63677]]
700 IGW airplane (BBJ serial number 34683). This airplane, as modified
by PATS Aircraft LLC, 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 modification consists
of installing an electrically heated surface, called a cooktop. The
applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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 October 13,
2006. We must receive your comments by December 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may mail or deliver comments on these special conditions
in duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Attn: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM356, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98057-3356. You must mark your
comments: Docket No. NM356.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Shelden, FAA, Airframe and Cabin
Safety Branch, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356;
telephone (425) 227-2785; facsimile (425) 227-1100; e-mail
john.shelden@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice and
opportunity for prior public comment for these special conditions is
impracticable because this procedure would significantly delay
certification and 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. We therefore find that good cause exists for making these
special conditions effective upon issuance. However, we invite
interested persons to take part in this rulemaking by sending written
comments. 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
about these special conditions. You may inspect the docket 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 by 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 us to let you know we received 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 August 31, 2005, PATS Aircraft LLC applied for a supplemental
type certificate for the Boeing Model 737-700 IGW airplane (BBJ serial
number 34683). The Boeing Model 737-700 IGW airplane is one of the
Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) variants of Model 737 airplanes. It is a
large transport category airplane powered by two CFM 56 engines, with a
maximum takeoff weight of 171,000 pounds. The modified Boeing Model
737-700 IGW airplane, BBJ serial number 34683, operates with a 2-pilot
crew, up to 4 flight attendants, and can hold up to 18 passengers.
The modification consists of installing an electrically heated
surface, called a cooktop. Cooktops introduce high heat, smoke, and the
possibility of fire into the passenger cabin environment. These
potential hazards to the airplane and its occupants must be
satisfactorily addressed. Since existing airworthiness regulations do
not contain safety standards addressing cooktops, we issue these
special conditions.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Sec. 21.101, PATS Aircraft LLC must show
that the 737-700 IGW, as changed, continues to meet the applicable
provisions of the regulations incorporated by reference in Type
Certificate No. A16WE 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 A16WE are part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through
25-77, with reversions to earlier amendments, voluntary compliance to
later amendments, special conditions, equivalent safety findings, and
exemptions listed in the type certificate data sheet.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 25, as amended)
do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the 737-700
IGW 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 737-700 IGW 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.
The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in Sec. 11.19, under
Sec. 11.38, and they become part of the type certification basis under
Sec. 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
As noted earlier, the modification of the Boeing Model 737-700 IGW
airplane, BBJ serial number 34683, will incorporate a cooktop in the
passenger cabin. Cooktops introduce high heat, smoke, and the
possibility of fire into the passenger cabin environment. The current
airworthiness standards of part 25 do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards to protect the airplane and its occupants
from these potential hazards. So this system is considered to be a
novel or unusual design feature.
Discussion
Currently, ovens are the prevailing means of heating food on
airplanes. Ovens are characterized by an enclosure that contains both
the heat source and the food being heated. The hazards presented by
ovens are thus inherently limited, and are well understood through
years of service experience. Cooktops, on the other hand, are
characterized by exposed heat sources and the presence of relatively
unrestrained hot cookware and heated food. These may represent
unprecedented hazards to both occupants and the airplane.
Cooktops could have serious implications for passenger and airplane
safety if appropriate requirements are not established for their
installation and use. These special conditions apply to cooktops with
electrically powered burners. Use of an open flame cooktop (employing
natural gas, for example) is beyond the scope of these special
conditions and would require separate rulemaking action. The
requirements identified in these special conditions are in addition to
those considerations
[[Page 63678]]
identified in Advisory Circular (AC) 25-10, ``Guidance for Installation
of Miscellaneous Non-required Electrical Equipment,'' and those in AC
25-17, ``Transport Airplane Cabin Interiors Crashworthiness Handbook.''
The intent of these special conditions is to provide a level of safety
consistent with that on similar airplanes without cooktops.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
737-700 IGW airplane, BBJ serial number 34683, modified by PATS
Aircraft LLC. Should PATS Aircraft LLC apply at a later date for a
supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on
Type Certificate No. A16WE to incorporate the same novel or unusual
design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as
well.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on one model of airplane. 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.
Under standard practice, the effective date of final special
conditions would be 30 days after the date of publication in the
Federal Register. However, because the certification date for the
subject modification to the Boeing Model 737-700 IGW is imminent, the
FAA finds that good cause exists to make these special conditions
effective upon issuance.
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 conditions are issued as part of
the type certification basis for the Boeing Model 737-700 IGW BBJ
airplane, BBJ serial number 34683, modified by PATS Aircraft LLC:
Cooktop Installations With Electrically-Powered Burners
1. A design feature must be installed to minimize potential for
inadvertent personnel contact with hot surfaces of both the cooktop and
cookware. Examples of such safety features are conspicuous burner-on
indicators, physical barriers, or handholds. Conditions of turbulence
must be considered.
2. The design must include sufficient means to restrain cookware
and representative contents, such as soups or sauces, while in place on
the cooktop, from effects of flight loads and turbulence.
(a) Restraints must be provided to preclude hazardous movement of
cookware and contents. These restraints must accommodate any cookware
identified for use with the cooktop.
(b) Restraints must be designed to be easily used and effective in
service. The cookware restraint system should also be designed so it
cannot be easily disabled, thus rendering it unusable.
(c) Placarding must be installed that prohibits use of cookware
that cannot be accommodated by the restraint system.
3. Placarding must be installed that prohibits use of cooktops
(power on any burner) during taxi, takeoff, and landing (TTL).
4. Means must be provided to address the possibility of a fire
occurring on or in the immediate vicinity of the cooktop caused by
materials or grease inadvertently coming in contact with the burners.
Note: Two acceptable means of complying with this requirement
are as follows:
Placarding must be installed that prohibits power on any
burner when the cooktop is unattended. This would prohibit a single
person from cooking on the cooktop and intermittently serving food to
passengers while any burner is powered. A fire detector which provides
an audible warning in the passenger cabin must be installed in the
vicinity of the cooktop. In addition, a fire extinguisher of
appropriate size and extinguishing agent must be installed in the
immediate vicinity of the cooktop. A fire on or around the cooktop must
not block access to the extinguisher. One of the fire extinguishers
required by Sec. 25.851 may be used to satisfy this requirement if the
total complement of extinguishers can be evenly distributed throughout
the cabin. If this is not possible, then the extinguisher in the galley
area would be additional.
or
An automatic, thermally-activated fire suppression system
must be installed to extinguish a fire on the cooktop and immediately
adjacent surfaces. The agent used in the system must be an approved
total flooding agent suitable for use in occupied areas. The fire
suppression system must have a manual override. Automatic activation of
the fire suppression system must also automatically shut off power to
the cooktop.
5. Galley surfaces surrounding the cooktop, which would be exposed
to a fire on the cooktop surface or in cookware on the cooktop, must be
constructed of materials complying with flammability requirements of 14
CFR part 25, Appendix F part III. This requirement is in addition to
the flammability standards typically required of these galley surface
materials. During selection of these materials, consideration must also
be given to ensuring that the flammability characteristics of the
materials will not be adversely affected by cleaning agents and
utensils used to remove cooking stains.
6. The cooktop must be ventilated with a system independent of the
airplane cabin and cargo ventilation system. Procedures and time
intervals must be established to inspect and clean or replace the
ventilation system to prevent a fire hazard from accumulation of
flammable oils. These procedures and time intervals must be included in
the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). The ventilation
system ducting must be protected by a flame arrestor.
Note: The applicant may find additional useful information in
``Air Conditioning Systems for Subsonic Airplanes,'' Society of
Automotive Engineers, Aerospace Recommended Practice 85, Rev. E,
dated August 1, 1991.
7. Means must be provided to contain spilled foods or fluids in a
manner that will prevent creation of a slipping hazard to occupants and
will not lead to loss of structural strength due to airplane corrosion.
8. Cooktop installations must provide adequate space for the user
to immediately escape a hazardous cooktop condition.
9. A means to shut off power to the cooktop must be provided both
in the galley containing the cooktop and in the cockpit. If additional
switches are introduced in the cockpit, revisions to smoke or fire
emergency procedures of the AFM will be required.
10. A readily deployable cover must be provided to cover the
cooktop during taxi, takeoff, and landing (TT&L) operation. Deployment
of the cover must automatically shut off power to the cooktop.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 13, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18281 Filed 10-30-06; 8:45 am]
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