[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59988-59990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20629]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM334; Special Conditions No. 25-305-SC]


Special Conditions: Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 
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-Aviation 
Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes modified by Chippewa Aerospace, 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 a Honeywell Primus Epic Control 
Display System for Retrofit (CDS-R) that performs 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 October 4, 
2005. Comments must be received on or before November 14, 2005.

[[Page 59989]]


ADDRESSES: Comments on these special conditions may be mailed in 
duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Attention: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM334, 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. NM334.

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, 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 January 5, 2005, Chippewa Aerospace, Inc., 1601 Executive 
Avenue, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 29577, applied for a supplemental 
type certificate (STC) to modify Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 
airplanes. This model is currently approved under Type Certificate No. 
A46EU. The Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes are transport 
category airplanes powered by three Allied Signal TFE-731-3-1C turbine 
engines with maximum takeoff weights of up to 40,780 pounds. These 
airplanes operate with a 2-pilot crew and can seat up to 19 passengers. 
The modification incorporates the installation of a Honeywell Primus 
Epic Control Display System for Retrofit (CDS-R). This system performs 
a critical function whose failure would prevent the continued safe 
flight and landing of the airplane. The integrated flightdeck display 
system that will 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, Chippewa Aerospace, Inc. 
must show that the Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes, as 
changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations 
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A46EU, 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 Dassault-Aviation 
Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes includes applicable sections of 14 CFR part 
25 as amended by Amendment 25-1 through Amendment 25-34, Special 
Conditions No. 25-86-EU-24, 14 CFR part 36 as amended by Amendment 36-1 
through Amendment 36-9, and SFAR 27 as amended by Amendment 27-1. In 
addition, the certification basis includes certain special conditions, 
exemptions, equivalent levels of safety, or later amended sections of 
the applicable part 25 that are not relevant to these special 
conditions.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 
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 Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 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 Chippewa Aerospace, Inc. apply at a later date 
for a STC to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. 
A46EU 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

    As noted earlier, the Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes 
modified by Chippewa Aerospace, Inc. will incorporate a Honeywell 
Primus Epic CDS-R that will perform critical functions. This system may 
be vulnerable to high-intensity radiated fields (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-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 
airplanes modified by Chippewa Aerospace, 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.

[[Page 59990]]

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 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
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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
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The field strengths are expressed in terms of peak of the root-mean-
 square (rms) over the complete modulation period.
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    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-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes modified by Chippewa 
Aerospace, Inc. Should Chippewa Aerospace, Inc. apply at a later date 
for a STC to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. 
A46EU to incorporate the same or similar novel or unusual design 
feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well 
under the provisions of Sec.  21.101.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes modified by Chippewa 
Aerospace, 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 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 the Dassault-Aviation 
Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes modified by Chippewa Aerospace, Inc.
    1. Protection from Unwanted Effects of 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 4, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-20629 Filed 10-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P