[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61991-61993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23668]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM292, Special Conditions No. 25-275-SC]


Special Conditions: Dassault-Breguet Model Falcon 10 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 Dassault-Breguet Model 
Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates Incorporated, of 
Mojave, California. The modified airplanes 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 Honeywell Model AM-250 
Altimeters. 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 October 22, 
2004. Comments must be received on or before November 22, 2004.

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. NM292, 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. NM292.

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-
1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public 
comment is impracticable, because these procedures would significantly 
delay certification of the airplane and thus delivery of the affected 
aircraft. 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,

[[Page 61992]]

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 received.
    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 June 10, 2004, Flight Test Associates Incorporated, of Mojave, 
California, applied to the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, for a supplemental type certificate (STC) to modify Dassault-
Breguet Model Falcon 10 airplanes. The proposed modification 
incorporates the installation of digital Honeywell Model AM-250 
Barometric Altimeters as primary altimeters. These digital altimeters 
would perform critical functions, that is functions whose failure would 
prevent the continued safe flight and landing of the airplane. The 
digital altimeters to be installed in these airplanes 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, Flight Test Associates must 
show that the Model Falcon 10 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, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-
20.
    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 modified Dassault-Breguet Model 
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 Model 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.
    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 Flight Test Associates 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 under the provisions of Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Dassault-Breguet Model Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Flight 
Test Associates Incorporated will incorporate new dual primary 
altimeters that will perform critical functions. These systems may be 
vulnerable to HIRF 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 the Dassault-Breguet Model Falcon 10 
airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates Incorporated. These 
special conditions require that new primary altimeters 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 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 
identified 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.


[[Page 61993]]

    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-Breguet Model Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Flight Test 
Associates Incorporated. Should Flight Test Associates Incorporated 
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 apply to that model as well as under the provisions of 
14 CFR 21.101.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on Dassault-Breguet Model Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Flight Test 
Associates Incorporated. It is not a rule of general applicability and 
affects only the applicant which 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 record keeping 
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 Dassault-Breguet 
Model Falcon 10 airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates 
Incorporated:
    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 October 14, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-23668 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P