[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55220-55222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26770]



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[[Page 55221]]


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM-118; Notice No. SC-95-6-NM]


Special Condition: Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), Model 
Galaxy, High-Intensity Radiated Fields

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes special conditions for the Israel 
Aircraft Industries (IAI) Model Galaxy airplane. This new airplane will 
utilize new avionics/electronic systems, such as electronic displays 
and electronic engine controls, that perform critical functions. The 
applicable 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 proposed 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: Comments must be received on or before December 14, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposal may be mailed in duplicate to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attn: Rules Docket (ANM-7), Docket No. NM-118, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, Washington, 98055-4056; or delivered in duplicate to the Office 
of the Assistant Chief Counsel at the above address. Comments must be 
marked: Docket No. NM-118. Comments may be inspected in the Rules 
Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 
p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Dulin, FAA, Standardization 
Branch, ANM-113, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056; 
telephone (206) 227-2141; facsimile (206) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of 
these proposed special conditions by submitting such written data, 
views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify 
the regulatory docket or notice number and be submitted in duplicate to 
the address specified above. All communications received on or before 
the closing date for comments will be considered by the Administrator 
before further rulemaking action is taken on these proposals. The 
proposals contained in this notice may be changed in light of comments 
received. All comments submitted will be available in the Rule Docket 
for examination by interested persons, both before and after the 
closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public 
contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking will be filed in 
the docket. Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their 
comments submitted in response to this notice must submit with those 
comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following 
statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. NM-118.'' The postcard will 
be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Background

    On July 29, 1992, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), Ben Gurion 
International Airport, Tel Aviv 70100, Israel, applied for a new type 
certificate in the transport airplane category for the Model Galaxy 
airplane. On April 19, 1995, IAI applied for an extension of the 
original application and selected June 21, 1994, as the new reference 
date of application. The Model Galaxy is a derivative of the IAI Model 
1125 Westwind Astra and is designed to be a long-range, high-speed 
airplane with a swept low wing and two aft-fuselage-mounted Pratt & 
Whitney Canada (PWC) 306A engines. The Model Galaxy will have a maximum 
takeoff weight of 33,450 pounds, a conventional empennage, a crew of 
two, and will be operated as an executive/corporate or commuter 
airplane with a maximum seating capacity of 19 passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Sec. 21.17, IAI must show, except as 
provided in Sec. 25.2, that the Model Galaxy meets the applicable 
provisions of part 25, effective February 1, 1965, as amended by 
Amendments 25-1 through 25-82. In addition, the proposed certification 
basis for the Model Galaxy includes part 34, effective September 10, 
1990, including all amendments in effect at the time of certification; 
and part 36, effective December 1, 1969, including all amendments in 
effect at the time of certification. No exemptions are anticipated. The 
special conditions that may be developed as a result of this notice 
will form an additional part of the type certification basis. In 
addition, the certification basis may include other special conditions 
that are not relevant to these proposed special conditions.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Model Galaxy because of a novel or 
unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the 
provisions of Sec. 21.16 to establish a level of safety equivalent to 
that established in the regulations.
    Special conditions, as appropriate, are issued in accordance with 
Sec. 11.49 of the FAR after public notice, as required by Secs. 11.28 
and 11.29, and become part of the type certification basis in 
accordance with Sec. 21.17(a)(2).
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Model Galaxy must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust 
emission requirements of part 34 and the noise certification 
requirements of 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 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 Sec. 21.101(a)(1).
Novel or Unusual Design Features
    The Model Galaxy airplane incorporates new avionic/electronic 
systems, such as electronic displays and electronic engine controls, 
that perform critical functions. These systems may be vulnerable to 
high-intensity radiated fields external to the airplane.
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 electrical and electronic 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 applicable regulations, special conditions are proposed 
for the IAI Galaxy that would require that electrical and electronic 
systems which 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. 

[[Page 55222]]


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 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 paragraphs 1 OR 2 below:
    1. A minimum threat of 100 volts per meter peak 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 following field 
strengths for the frequency ranges indicted.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Peak  (V/   Average 
                     Frequency                          M)       (V/M)  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 KHz-100 KHz....................................         50         50
100 KHz-500 KHz...................................         60         60
500 KHz-2 MHz.....................................         70         70
2 MHz-30 MHz......................................        200        200
30 MHz-100 MHz....................................         30         30
100 MHz-200 MHz...................................        150         33
200 MHz-400 MHz...................................         70         70
400 MHz-700 MHz...................................      4,020        935
700 MHz-1 GHz.....................................      1,700        170
1 GHz-2 GHz.......................................      5,000        990
2 GHz-4 GHz.......................................      6,680        840
4 GHz-6 GHz.......................................      6,850        310
6 GHz-8 GHz.......................................      3,600        670
8 GHz-12 GHz......................................      3,500      1,270
12 GHz-18 GHz.....................................      3,500        360
18 GHz-40 GHz.....................................      2,100        750
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed above, the proposed special conditions would be 
applicable initially to the IAI Model Galaxy. Should IAI apply at a 
later date for a change to the type certificate to include another 
model incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, the 
special conditions would apply to that model as well, under the 
provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).

Conclusion

    This action affects certain design features only on the IAI Galaxy 
airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability and affects only 
the manufacturer who applied to the FAA for approval of these features 
on the airplane.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and record keeping 
requirements.

    The authority citation for this special condition is as follows: 
Authority: 49 U.S.C. app. 1344, 1354(a), 1355, 1421, 1423, 1424, 1425, 
1428, 1429, 1430, and 49 U.S.C. 106(g).

The Proposed Special Condition

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the 
following special condition as part of the type certification basis for 
the IAI Model Galaxy airplanes. 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.
    For the purpose of this special condition, 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 October 13, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, ANM-100.
[FR Doc. 95-26770 Filed 10-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M