[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 27, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51436-51438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21959]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM262; Special Conditions No. 25-244-SC]


Special Conditions: Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation Model 
Falcon 10 Series Airplanes; 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 (AMD/BA) Model Falcon 10 series airplanes 
modified by Elliott Aviation Technical Products Development, Inc. 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 Innovative Solutions & Support 
(IS&S) Air Data Display Units (ADDU) with the IS&S Air Data Sensor and 
an analog interface unit (AIU) 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 August 19, 
2003.
    Comments must be received on or before September 26, 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. NM262, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton Washington, 98055-4056; or delivered in duplicate to 
the Transport Directorate at the above address. All comments must be 
marked: Docket No. NM262.

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:

[[Page 51437]]

FAA's Determination as to Need for Public Process

    The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public 
comment is unnecessary because 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 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 based on 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 February 25, 2003, Elliott Aviation Technical Products 
Development, Inc., PO Box 100, Quad City Airport, Moline, Illinois 
61266-0100, applied for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to modify 
Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation Model Falcon 10 series 
airplanes. This model series is currently approved under Type 
Certificate No. A33EU. The Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation 
Model Falcon 10 series airplanes are a small category airplane powered 
by two Airesearch Manufacturing Company TFE731-2-1C turbofan engines, 
and have 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 Innovative Solutions & 
Support (IS&S) Air Data Display Units (ADDU) with an IS&S Air Data 
Sensor and Analog Interface Unit (AIU). The ADDU replaces the existing 
analog flight instrumentation and provides additional functional 
capability and redundancy in the system. The AIU is a digital-to-analog 
adapter used to adapt signals driving the existing Sperry Flight 
Guidance Computer. The avionics/electronics and electrical systems 
installed in this airplane have the potential to be vulnerable to HIRF 
external to the airplane.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Elliott Aviation Technical 
Products Development, Inc. must show that the Avions Marcel Dassault-
Breguet Aviation 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 certification 
basis for the Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation Model Falcon 10 
series airplanes includes 14 CFR part 25 as amended by Amendments 25-1 
through 25-20, dated February 1, 1964, except for special conditions 
and exceptions noted in Type Certificate Data Sheet (TDCS) No. A33EU.
    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 Falcon 10 series airplanes because of novel or unusual 
design features, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions 
of Sec.  21.16.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation Model Falcon 10 
series airplanes must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission 
requirements 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.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should Elliott Aviation Technical Products 
Development, Inc. apply at a later date for a supplemental type 
certificate to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. 
A33EU to incorporate the same or similar novel or unusual design 
feature, these special conditions would also apply to the other model.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    As noted earlier, the Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation Model 
Falcon 10 series airplanes modified by Elliott Aviation Technical 
Products Development, Inc. will incorporate systems comprised of dual 
Air Data Display Units and an analog interface unit 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 equivalent to that 
intended by the regulations incorporated by reference, special 
conditions are needed for Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation Model 
Falcon 10 series airplanes modified by Elliott Aviation Technical 
Products Development, Inc. 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, and 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

[[Page 51438]]

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 
identified in the table below for the frequency ranges indicated. Both 
peak and average field strength components from the table below 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-70MHz....................................          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 
Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation Model Falcon 10 series 
airplanes modified by Elliott Aviation Technical Products Development, 
Inc. Should Elliott Aviation Technical Products Development, Inc. apply 
at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other 
model included on Type Certificate No. A33EU to incorporate the same or 
similar novel or unusual design features, these special conditions 
would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation Model Falcon 10 series 
airplanes modified by Elliott Aviation Technical Products Development, 
Inc. 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. 
Therefore, 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.

0
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.

The Special Conditions

0
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 Model Falcon 10 series airplanes modified by 
Elliott Aviation Technical Products Development, Inc.
    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 August 19, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-21959 Filed 8-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P