[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1161-1163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-236]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 4 / Thursday, January 6, 2005 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 1161]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM298, Special Conditions No. 25-282-SC]


Special Conditions: Dassault-Breguet Model Falcon 10 Airplane; 
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 a Dassault-Breguet 
Model Falcon 10 airplane modified by Long Beach Avionics of Long Beach, 
California. The modified airplane 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 a Collins Model ALI-80 
Altimeter and Model MSI-80 Mach Airspeed Indicator. 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 December 23, 
2004. Comments must be received on or before February 7, 2005.

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. NM298, 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. NM298. 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 is 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, 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 October 11, 2004, Long Beach Avionics of Long Beach, California, 
applied to the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office for a 
supplemental type certificate (STC) to modify a Dassault-Breguet Model 
Falcon 10 airplane. The proposed modification incorporates the 
installation of a Collins Model ALI-80 Altimeter and a Model MSI-80 
Mach Airspeed Indicator as primary instruments. These digital 
instruments would perform critical functions, that is, functions whose 
failure would prevent the continued safe flight and landing of the 
airplane. The Altimeter and Mach Airspeed Indicator to be installed in 
the 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, Long Beach Avionics must show that the Model 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. 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 airplane 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

[[Page 1162]]

airplane 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 Long Beach Avionics 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 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 airplane modified by Long 
Beach Avionics will incorporate new digital equipment 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 airplane 
modified by Long Beach Avionics. These special conditions require that 
new digital equipment 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 
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
2GHz-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 a 
Dassault-Breguet Model Falcon 10 airplane modified by Long Beach 
Avionics. Should Long Beach Avionics apply at a later date for a 
supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on 
Type Certificate 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 design features on the Dassault-
Breguet Model Falcon 10 airplane modified by Long Beach Avionics. 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 this airplane 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 immediately. 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 modified Dassault-
Breguet Model Falcon 10 airplane:
    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

[[Page 1163]]

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 23, 2004.
Kevin Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-236 Filed 1-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P