[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 3 (Friday, January 4, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 487-489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-247]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM204; Special Conditions No. 25-194-SC]


Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 
20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5; 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 Dassault Aviation 
Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes 
modified by ElectroSonics. These modified airplanes 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 incorporates the installation of dual 
Electronic Primary Flight Display systems that perform critical 
functions. 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 established by the existing airworthiness standards.

DATES: The effective date of these special conditions is December 27, 
2001.
    Comments must be received on or before February 4, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments on these special conditions may be mailed in 
duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Attention: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM204, 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. NM204. Comments may be 
inspected in the Rules Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays, 
between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meghan Gordon, FAA, Standardization 
Branch, ANM-113, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone 
(425) 227-2138; facsimile (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    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 9 a.m. and 5 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 in light of the comments we receive.
    If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this 
proposal, 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 to you.

Background

    On November 9, 2001, ElectroSonics, 4391 International Gateway, 
Columbus, Ohio, applied for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to 
modify Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200,

[[Page 488]]

20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes. The Dassault Aviation Model 
Mystere-Falcon 200, 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 are small transport 
category airplanes.
    The Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200 airplanes are 
powered by two Garrett Turbine Engine Company ATF3-6A-4C turbine 
engines with a maximum takeoff weight of 32,000 pounds.
    The Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5 and 
20-F5 airplanes are powered by two Garrett Engine Division Model TFE-
5AR-2C engines with a maximum takeoff weight of 29,000 pounds. These 
airplanes operate with a 2-pilot crew and can hold up to 10 passengers.
    The modification of these airplanes incorporates the installation 
of a Universal Avionics Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFI-550). 
The EFI-550 is a replacement for the existing Analog Flight 
Instrumentation, while also providing additional functional capability 
and redundancy in the system. The avionics/electronics and electrical 
systems installed in this airplane 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, ElectroSonics must show that 
the Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, 
and 20-F5 airplanes, as changed, 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 included in the 
certification basis for the Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 
20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes include Civil Air Regulations 
4b, effective December 1953, through Amendment 4b-12; Special 
Regulation 422B; and 14 CFR part 25, as amended to incorporate 
Amendments 25-1 through 25-43.
    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 Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-
Falcon 200, 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes modified by 
ElectroSonics, 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, these Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 20-C5, 
20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes must comply with the fuel vent and 
exhaust emission requirements of part 34 and the noise certification 
requirements of part 36.
    Special conditions, as appropriate, are issued in accordance with 
Sec. 11.49, after public notice, as required by Secs. 11.28 and 
11.29(b), 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 ElectroSonics 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 novel or unusual design 
feature, these special conditions would also apply to the other model 
under the provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    As noted earlier, the Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 
20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes modified by ElectroSonics will 
incorporate dual Electronic Primary Flight Display systems that will 
perform critical functions. These systems may be vulnerable to high-
intensity radiated fields 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 that is equivalent to 
that intended by the regulations incorporated by reference, special 
conditions are needed for the Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 
200, 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes modified by 
ElectroSonics.
    These special conditions require that new avionics/electronics and 
electrical systems 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, plus the advent of space and satellite communications 
coupled with electronic command and control of the airplane, the 
immunity of critical 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 with the HIRF protection special 
condition is shown in accordance with either 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 
indicated in Table 1 for the frequency ranges indicated. Both peak and 
average field strength components from Table 1 are to be demonstrated.

                                 Table 1
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                                                         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
2 GHz-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
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[[Page 489]]

 
  The field strengths are expressed in terms of peak of the root-mean-
            square (rms) over the complete modulation period.
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    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 
Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 
20-F5 airplanes modified by ElectroSonics. Should ElectroSonics 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 
novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply 
to that model as well under the provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, 
and 20-F5 airplanes modified by ElectroSonics. 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 period 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 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.

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 Dassault Aviation 
Model Mystere-Falcon 200, 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes 
modified by ElectroSonics.
    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 December 27, 2001.
Lirio Liu-Nelson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-247 Filed 1-3-02; 8:45 am]
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