[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65695-65697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27377]



[[Page 65695]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM238; Special Conditions No. 25-222-SC]


Special Conditions: Avions Marcel Dassault--Breguet Aviation, 
Falcon 10; 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 Avions Marcel 
Dassault-Breguet Aviation, Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Garrett 
Aviation Services. 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 the 
Collins ADC-87A Air Data Computer system that performs critical 
functions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain 
adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of this 
system 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 October 18, 
2002. Comments must be received on or before November 27, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments on these special conditions may be mailed in 
duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Attn: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM238, 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. NM238. 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 has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public 
comment hereon are impracticable because these procedures would 
significantly delay certification, and thus delivery, of the affected 
airplane. 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. The FAA therefore finds that 
good cause exists for making these special conditions effective upon 
issuance; however, 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 7:30 a.m. and 4 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 
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 13, 2001, Garrett Aviation Services, 1200 North Airport 
Drive, Capital Airport, Springfield, IL 62707, applied for a 
supplemental type certificate (STC) to modify Avions Marcel Dassault -
Breguet Aviation (AMD/BA), Falcon 10 airplanes approved under Type 
Certificate No. A33EU . The AMD/BA Falcon 10 is a small transport 
category airplane, powered by two Airesearch Manufacturing Company 
Model TFE731-2-1C turbofan engines, with a maximum takeoff weight of 
18,300 pounds. This airplane operates with a 2-pilot crew and can hold 
up to 9 passengers. The modification incorporates the installation of 
single or dual Collins ADC-87A Air Data Computers. The ADC-87A is 
installed as a new 2 ADC or as a replacement for the existing 
Collins ADC-80K Air Data Computer, while also providing additional 
functional capability and redundancy in the system. The ADC-87A is a 
microprocessor-based digital computer used to adapt signals driving the 
existing Collins FCS-80 Flight Guidance 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 (amendment 21-69, effective 
September 16, 1991), Garrett Aviation Services must show that the AMD/
BA Falcon 10 airplane, as changed, continues to meet the applicable 
provisions of the regulations incorporated by reference in Type 
Certificate No. A33EU, or the applicable regulations in effect on the 
date of application for the change. Subsequent changes have been made 
to Sec.  21.101 as part of amendment 21-77, but those changes do not 
become effective until June 10, 2003. The regulations incorporated by 
reference in the type certificate are commonly referred to as the 
``original type certification basis.'' The certification basis for the 
modified AMD/BA Falcon 10 airplanes includes 14 CFR part 25, dated 
February 1, 1965, as amended by amendments 25-1 through 25-20, except 
for special conditions and exceptions noted in Type Certificate Data 
Sheet (TCDS) A33EU.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (that is, part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the AMD/BA Falcon 10 airplanes 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 AMD/BA Falcon 10 airplanes 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, including amendment 36-1.
    Special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, are issued in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38 and become part of the airplane's type 
certification basis in accordance with Sec.  21.101(b)(2),

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(amendment 21-69, effective September 16, 1991).
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should Garrett Aviation Services 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, the special conditions would also apply to the other 
model under the provisions of Sec.  21.101(a)(1), (amendment 21-69, 
effective September 16, 1991).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    As noted earlier, the AMD/BA Falcon 10 airplanes modified by 
Garrett Aviation Services will incorporate single or dual Collins ADC-
87A Air Data Computers that will perform critical functions. These 
systems have the potential to 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 that 
address 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 AMD/BA Falcon 10 airplanes modified by 
Garrett Aviation Services. These special conditions require that the 
Collins ADC-87A Air Data Computers, 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.

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 with either paragraph 1 or 2 below:
    1. A minimum threat of 100 volts rms (root-mean-square) per meter 
electric field strength from 10KHz to 18GHz.
    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 the table below for the frequency ranges indicated. Both 
peak and average field strength components from the table are to be 
demonstrated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Field strength  (volts
                                                        per meter)
                    Frequency                    -----------------------
                                                     Peak       Average
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The field strengths are expressed in terms of peak of the root-mean-
  square (rms) over the complete modulation period.

    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 AMD/
BA Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Garret Aviation Services. Should 
Garrett Aviation Services apply at a later date for a supplemental type 
certificate to modify any other model included on Type Certificate 
A33EU 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) (amendment 21-69, effective September 
16, 1991).

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the AMD/BA Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Garrett Aviation 
Services. 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. 
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 Avions Marcel 
Dassault--Breguet Aviation, Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Garrett 
Aviation Services.
    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

[[Page 65697]]

cause a failure condition that would prevent the continued safe flight 
and landing of the airplane.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 18, 2002.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-27377 Filed 10-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P