[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 13, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41949-41951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20628]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM-129; Special Conditions No. 25-ANM -119]


Special Conditions: Modified Avions Marcel Dassault--Breguet 
Aviation Mystere-Falcon Model Fan Jet Falcon (Basic), Fan Jet Falcon 
Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 Airplanes; High 
Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Avions Marcel 
Dassault--Breguet Aviation Mystere-Falcon Model Fan Jet Falcon (Basic), 
Fan Jet Falcon Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 
airplanes modified by Rockwell Collins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. These 
airplanes will be equipped with a digital Electronic Flight Instrument 
System (EFIS) that will perform critical functions. The applicable 
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for 
the protection of the EFIS from the effects of high-intensity radiated 
fields (HIRF). These special conditions provide the additional safety 
standards that the Administrator considers necessary to ensure that the 
critical functions performed by this system are maintained when the 
airplane is exposed to HIRF.

DATES: The effective date of these special conditions is August 6, 
1996. Comments must be received on or before September 27, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on these final special conditions, request for 
comments, may be mailed in duplicate to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attn: Rules 
Docket (ANM-7), Docket No. NM-129, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,

[[Page 41950]]

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-129.'' 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:
Mark Quam, FAA, Standardization Branch, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA has determined that good cause exists for making these 
special conditions effective upon issuance; however, interested persons 
are invited to submit such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Communications should identify the regulatory docket and 
special conditions 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. These 
special conditions may be changed in light of the comments received. 
All comments submitted will be available in the Rules 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 request must submit with those 
comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following 
statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. NM-129.'' The postcard will 
be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Background

    On January 16, 1996, Rockwell Collins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 
applied for an amendment to a supplemental type certificate to modify 
the Avopms Marcel Dassault--Breguet Aviation Mystere-Falcon Model Fan 
Jet Falcon (Basic), Fan Jet Falcon Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-
C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 airplanes. The proposed amendment adds EFIS-86C(14) 
(Electronic Flight Instrument System) applicability for the above 
listed airplanes. The EFIS displays required flight critical 
information and critical functions. The installation of the EFIS system 
displaying critical functions is potentially vulnerable to high-
intensity radiated fields (HIRF) external to the airplane.

Supplemental Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Sec. 21.101 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (FAR), Rockwell Collins, must show that the altered Avions 
Marcel Dassault--Breguet Aviation Mystere-Falcon Model Fan Jet Falcon 
(Basic), Fan Jet Falcon Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 
and 20-E5 airplanes continue to meet the applicable provisions of the 
regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A7EU, 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. 
A7EU include the following for the Model Fan Jet Falcon (Basic), Fan 
Jet Falcon Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 
airplanes: Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 4b dated December 31, 1953, 
including Amendments 4b-1 through 4b-12 and Special Regulation SR422B. 
In addition, under Sec. 21.101(b)(1), the following sections of the FAR 
apply to the EFIS installation: Secs. 25.1301(d), 25.1303 and 25.1322, 
as amended by Amendment 25-38; and Secs. 25.1309, 25.1321 (a) (b) (d), 
and (e), 25.1331, 25.1333, and 25.1335, as amended by Amendment 25-41. 
These special conditions will form an additional part of the 
supplemental type certification basis.
    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 Avions Marcel Dassault--Breguet 
Aviation Model Fan Jet Falcon (Basic), Fan Jet Falcon Series D, E, and 
Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 airplane 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. 21.101(b)(2).
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the applicant apply for a supplemental type 
certificate to modify any other model included on the same type 
certificate to incorporate 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).

Discussion

    There is no specific regulation that addresses protection 
requirements for electrical and electronic systems from high-intensity 
radiated fields (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 regulations incorporated by reference, special 
conditions are needed for the modified Model Fan Jet Falcon (Basic), 
Fan Jet Falcon Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 
airplanes that would require that the EFIS be designed and installed to 
preclude component damage and interruption of function due to the 
effects of HIRF.

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, such as the EFIS, to 
HIRF must be established.
    It is not possible to precisely define the HIRF to which the 
airplanes 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 
systems tests and analysis.
    2. A threat external to the airframe of the following field 
strengths for the frequency ranges indicated:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Peak (V/   Average
                      Frequency                          M)       (V/M) 
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10 KHz-100 KHz......................................        50        50

[[Page 41951]]

                                                                        
100 KHz-500 KHz.....................................        60        60
500 KHz-2000 KHz....................................        70        70
2 MHz-30 MHz........................................       200       200
30 MHz-70 MHz.......................................        30        30
70 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-1000 MHz....................................     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
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    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Avions Marcel Dassault--Breguet Aviation Model Fan Jet Falcon (Basic), 
Fan Jet Falcon Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 
airplane, modified by Rockwell Collins. Should Rockwell Collins apply 
at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other 
model included on Type Certificate No. A7EU to incorporate 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 only certain unusual or novel design features 
on Avions Marcel Dassault--Breguet Aviation Model Fan Jet Falcon 
(Basic), Fan Jet Falcon Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 
and 20-E5 airplanes modified by Rockwell Collins. It is not a rule of 
general applicability and affects only the applicant who applied to the 
FAA for approval of this feature on this 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. It is 
unlikely that prior public comment would result in a significant change 
from the substance contained herein. For this reason, and 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 immediately. Therefore, these special 
conditions are being made effective 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 recordkeeping 
requirements.

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. app. 1344, 1348(c), 1352, 1354(a), 1355, 
1421 through 1431, 1502, 1651(b)(2), 42 U.S.C. 1857f-10, 4321 et 
seq.; E.O. 11514; and 49 U.S.C. (106)(g).

The Special Conditions

    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 Avions Marcel 
Dassault--Bruguet Aviation Model Fan Jet Falcon (Basic), Fan Jet Falcon 
Series D, E, and Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 airplane, as 
modified by Rockwell Collins.
    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 external to the airplane.
    2. The following definition applies with respect to this special 
condition:
    Critical Function. 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 August 6, 1996.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, ANM-100.
[FR Doc. 96-20628 Filed 8-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M