[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 154 (Monday, August 11, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47445-47447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20400]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 154 / Monday, August 11, 2003 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 47445]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM260, Special Conditions No. 25-242-SC]


Special Conditions: Dassault Model Falcon 10 Series Airplanes; 
High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Model 
Falcon 10 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Frederick 
A. Whitson, will have novel and unusual design features when compared 
to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards 
for transport category airplanes. The modification incorporates the 
installation of the IS&S Digital Air Data System. 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 provided by the 
existing airworthiness standards.

DATES: The effective date of these special conditions is July 31, 2003. 
Comments must be received on or before September 10, 2003.

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. NM260, 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. NM260. 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: Greg Dunn, FAA, Airplane and Flight 
Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2799; facsimile (425) 227-
1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public 
comment are unnecessary in accordance with 14 CFR 11.38, because the 
FAA has provided previous opportunities to comment on substantially 
identical special conditions and has fully considered and addressed all 
the substantive comments received. Based on a review of the comment 
history and the comment resolution, the FAA is satisfied that new 
comments are unlikely. 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 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 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 back to you.

Background

    On May 3, 2003, Frederick A. Whitson, 7700 Ouray Road, Albuquerque, 
NM 87120, applied to the FAA, Fort Worth Special Certification Office, 
for a supplemental type certificate (STC) to modify certain Dassault 
Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. These airplanes are two-flightcrew, 
two-engine airplanes. The proposed modification incorporates the 
installation of an IS&S Digital Air Data System. This system replaces 
the equipment originally installed in these airplanes, which was not 
accurate enough for reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) 
requirements. The information presented by this equipment is flight 
critical. The IS&S Digital Air Data System to be installed in this 
airplane has 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, Frederick A. Whitson must 
show that the modified Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes, as 
changed, continue 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. 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. 
A33EU include 14 CFR part 25 dated February 1, 1964, including 
Amendments Nos. 25-1 through 25-20. Type Certificate A33EU was issued 
September 20, 1973.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate 
or appropriate safety standards for the modified Dassault Model Falcon 
10 series airplanes, as modified by Frederick A. Whitson, because of a 
novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed 
under the provisions of Sec.  21.16.

[[Page 47446]]

    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes must comply 
with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirement of 14 CFR part 34 
and the noise certification requirement of part 36.
    Special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, are issued in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38 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 Frederick A. Whitson 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.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The modified Falcon 10 will incorporate new avionics/electronics 
and electrical systems that will perform critical functions. These 
systems may be vulnerable to HIRF external to the airplane. The current 
airworthiness standards (14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards that address protecting this equipment 
from the adverse effects of HIRF. Accordingly, these instruments are 
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 equivalent to that 
intended by the regulations incorporated by reference, special 
conditions are needed for the Falcon 10. 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 digital 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 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 the following table 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 
Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes modified by Frederick A. 
Whitson to include an IS&S Digital Air Data System. Should Frederick A. 
Whitson apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to 
modify any other model already included on Type Certificate No. A33EU 
to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special 
conditions would apply to that model as well under the provisions of 14 
CFR 21.101(a)(1).

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain design features on the Dassault 
Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. 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 the special conditions for these airplanes has 
been subjected to the notice and comment procedure 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 Dassault Model Falcon 10 
series airplanes modified by Frederick A. Whitson:
    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.

[[Page 47447]]

    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 July 31, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-20400 Filed 8-8-03; 8:45 am]
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