[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 21, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35567-35572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9819]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM347; Notice No. 25-06-06-SC]


Special Conditions: Boeing Model 777-200 Series Airplanes; 
Forward Lower Lobe Crew Rest Compartment (CRC)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Boeing Model 
777-200 series airplanes. These airplanes, modified by Aerocon 
Engineering Company (AEC), will have a novel or unusual design feature 
associated with a forward lower lobe crew rest compartment (CRC). The 
applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed

[[Page 35568]]

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: We must receive your comments by August 7, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You must mail two copies of your comments to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Attn: Rules 
Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM347, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056. You may deliver two copies to the Transport 
Airplane Directorate at the above address. You must mark your comments: 
Docket No. NM347. You can inspect comments in the Rules Docket 
weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jayson Claar, FAA, Airframe/Cabin 
Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington, 
98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2194; facsimile (425) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by 
sending written comments, date, or views. The most helpful comments 
reference a specific portion of the proposed 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 proposed special conditions. You can inspect the 
docket 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., weekdays, 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 make 
changes to these proposed special conditions based on 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 March 10, 2005, Aerocon Engineering Company (AEC) applied for a 
supplemental type certificate to permit installation of a CRC in Boeing 
777-200 series airplanes.
    The CRC will be located under the passenger cabin floor in the 
forward cargo compartment of Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. It 
will be the size of three standard airfreight containers, combined, and 
will be removable from the cargo compartment. The CRC will be occupied 
in flight but not during taxi, takeoff, or landing. No more than ten 
crewmembers at a time will be permitted to occupy it. The CRC will have 
a smoke detection system, a hand held fire extinguishing system, and an 
oxygen system.
    The CRC will be accessed from the main deck via a ``stairhouse.'' 
The floor within the stairhouse has a hatch that leads to stairs which 
occupants use to descend into the CRC. This hatch locks automatically 
in the open position when fully opened. In addition, there will be an 
emergency hatch which opens directly into the main passenger cabin 
area. The CRC also has a maintenance access/ground loading door. This 
door is intended to be used to allow maintenance personnel and cargo 
handlers to enter the CRC from the cargo compartment when the airplane 
is not in flight.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Sec.  21.101, AEC must show that Boeing 
Model 777-200 series airplanes, as changed, continue to meet (1) the 
applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by reference in 
Type Certificate No. T00001SE or (2) 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. T00001SE are as 
follows:
    The certification basis for Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes 
is 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-82, except 
for Sec.  25.571(e)(1) which remains at Amendment 25-71, with 
exceptions. Refer to Type Certificate No. T00001SE, as applicable, for 
a complete description of the certification basis for this model, 
including certain special conditions that are not relevant to these 
proposed special conditions.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for Boeing Model 777-200 series 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, Boeing Model 777-200 series 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.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in Sec.  11.19, under 
Sec.  11.38 and they become part of the type certification basis under 
Sec.  21.101.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended 
later to include any other model that incorporates the same or similar 
novel or unusual design feature, or should any other model already 
included on the same type certificate be modified to incorporate the 
same or similar novel or unusual design feature, the proposed special 
conditions would also apply to the other model under Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    While the installation of a CRC is not a new concept for large 
transport category airplanes, each CRC has unique features based on 
design, location, and use on the airplane. The CRC is novel in terms of 
part 25 in that it will be located below the passenger cabin floor in 
the forward cargo compartment of Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. 
Due to the novel or unusual features associated with the installation 
of a CRC, special conditions are considered necessary to provide a 
level of safety equal to that established by the airworthiness 
regulations incorporated by reference in the type certificates of these 
airplanes. These proposed special conditions do not negate the need to 
address other applicable part 25 regulations.

Operational Evaluations and Approval

    These proposed special conditions specify requirements for design 
approvals (i.e., type design changes and supplemental type 
certificates) of CRCs administered by the FAA's Aircraft Certification 
Service. Prior to operational use of a CRC, the FAA's Flight Standards 
Service, Aircraft Evaluation Group (AEG), must evaluate and approve the 
``basic suitability'' of the CRC for occupation by crewmembers. If an 
operator wishes to utilize a CRC as ``sleeping quarters,'' the

[[Page 35569]]

CRC must undergo an additional operational evaluation and approval. The 
CRC would be evaluated for compliance to Sec. Sec.  121.485(a) and 
121.523(b), with Advisory Circular 121-31, Flight Crew Sleeping 
Quarters and Rest Facilities, providing one method of compliance to 
these operating regulations.
    To obtain an operational evaluation, the type design holder must 
contact the AEG within the Flight Standards Service which has 
operational approval authority for the project. In this instance, it is 
the Seattle AEG. The type design holder must request a ``basic 
suitability'' evaluation or a ``sleeping quarters'' evaluation of the 
crew rest. The type design holder may make these requests concurrently 
with the demonstration of compliance with these special conditions.
    The results of these evaluations will be documented in the Boeing 
Model 777-200 Flight Standardization Board (FSB) Report Appendix. In 
discussions with their FAA Principal Operating Inspector (POI), 
individual operators may reference these standardized evaluations as 
the basis for an operational approval, in lieu of an on-site 
operational evaluation.
    An operational re-evaluation and approval will be required for any 
changes to the approved CRC configuration, if the changes affect 
procedures for emergency egress of crewmembers, other safety procedures 
for crewmembers occupying the CRC, or training related to these 
procedures. The applicant for any such change is responsible for 
notifying the Seattle AEG that a new crew rest evaluation is required.
    All instructions for continued airworthiness (ICAW), including 
service bulletins, must be submitted to the Seattle AEG for approval 
acceptance before the FAA issues its approval of the modification.

Discussion of Proposed Special Conditions No. 9 and 12

    The following clarifies how proposed Special Condition No. 9 should 
be understood relative to the requirements of Sec.  25.1439(a):
    Amendment 25-38 modified the requirements of Sec.  25.1439(a) by 
adding, ``In addition, protective breathing equipment must be installed 
in each isolated separate compartment in the airplane. Including upper 
and lower lobe galleys, in which crewmember occupancy is permitted 
during flight for the maximum number of crewmembers expected to be in 
the area during any operation.'' The CRC is an isolated separate 
compartment, so Sec.  25.1439(a) is applicable. However, the Sec.  
25.1439(a) PBE requirements for isolated separate compartments are not 
appropriate because the CRC is novel and unusual in terms of the number 
of occupants.
    In 1976 when Amendment 25-38 was adopted, small galleys were the 
only isolated compartments that had been certificated. Two crewmembers 
were the maximum expected to occupy those galleys.
    These proposed special conditions address a CRC, which can 
accommodate up to ten crewmembers. This large number of occupants in an 
isolated compartment was not envisioned at the time Amendment 25-38 was 
adopted. It is not appropriate for all occupants to don PBE in the 
event of a fire because the first action should be to leave the 
confined space unless the occupant is fighting the fire. Taking the 
time to don the PBE would prolong the time for the emergency evacuation 
of the occupants and possibly interfere with efforts to extinguish the 
fire.
    In regard to proposed Special Condition No. 12, the FAA considers 
that during the 1-minute smoke detection time, penetration of a small 
quantity of smoke from this forward lower lobe CRC design into an 
occupied area on this airplane configuration would be acceptable based 
upon the limitations placed in these proposed special conditions. The 
FAA determination considers that the proposed special conditions place 
sufficient restrictions in the quantity and type of material allowed in 
crew carry-on bags that the threat from a fire in this remote area 
would be equivalent to that experienced on the main cabin.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these proposed special conditions are 
applicable to Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes as modified by the 
AEC forward lower lobe CRC. Should AEC apply at a later date for a 
change to the supplemental type certificate to include another model 
listed on the same type certificate data sheet, incorporating the same 
or similar novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions 
would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. It is not a rule of 
general applicability, and it affects only the applicant which applied 
to the FAA for approval of these features on the airplane.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

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

The Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the 
following special conditions as part of the type certification basis 
for the Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes, modified by Aerocon 
Engineering Company.
    1. Occupancy of the forward lower lobe crew rest compartment (CRC) 
is limited to the total number of installed bunks and seats in each 
compartment. There must be an approved seat or Berth able to withstand 
the maximum flight loads when occupied for each occupant permitted in 
the CRC. The maximum occupancy is ten in the CRC.
    (a) There must be appropriate placard(s) displayed in a conspicuous 
place at each entrance to the CRC to indicate:
    (1) The maximum number of occupants allowed;
    (2) That occupancy is restricted to crewmembers who are trained in 
the evacuation procedures for the CRC;
    (3) That occupancy is prohibited during taxi, take-off and landing;
    (4) That smoking is prohibited in the CRC;
    (5) That hazardous quantities of flammable fluids, explosives, or 
other dangerous cargo are prohibited from the CRC; and
    (6) That stowage in the CRC must be limited to emergency equipment, 
airplane-supplied equipment (e.g., bedding), and crew personal luggage; 
cargo or passenger baggage is not allowed.
    (b) There must be at least one ashtray located conspicuously on or 
near the entry side of any entrance to the CRC.
    (c) There must be a means to prevent passengers from entering the 
compartment in the event of an emergency or when no flight attendant is 
present.
    (d) There must be a means for any door installed between the CRC 
and passenger cabin to be capable of being quickly opened from inside 
the compartment, even when crowding occurs at each side of the door.
    (e) For all doors installed in the evacuation routes, there must be 
a means to preclude anyone from being trapped inside the compartment. 
If a locking mechanism is installed, it must

[[Page 35570]]

be capable of being unlocked from the outside without the aid of 
special tools. The lock must not prevent opening from the inside of the 
compartment at any time.
    2. There must be at least two emergency evacuation routes, each of 
which can be used by each occupant of the CRC to rapidly evacuate to 
the main cabin. The exit door/hatch for each route must be able to be 
closed for the main cabin after evacuation. In addition--
    (a) The routes must be located with one at each end of the 
compartment, or with two having sufficient separation within the 
compartment and between the routes to minimize the possibility of an 
event (either inside or outside of the CRC) rendering both routes 
inoperative.
    (b) The routes must be designed to minimize the possibility of 
blockage, which might result from fire, mechanical or structural 
failure, or persons standing on top of or against the escape route. If 
an evacuation route utilizes an area where normal movement of 
passengers occurs, it must be demonstrated that passengers would not 
impede egress to the main deck. If a hatch is installed in an 
evacuation route, the point at which the evacuation route terminates in 
the passenger cabin should not be located where normal movement by 
passengers or crew occurs (main aisle, cross aisle, passageway or 
galley complex). If such a location cannot be avoided, special 
consideration must be taken to ensure that the hatch or door can be 
opened when a person, the weight of a ninety-fifth percentile male, is 
standing on the hatch or door. The use of evacuation routes must not be 
dependent on any powered device. If there is low headroom at or near an 
evacuation route, provisions must be made to prevent or to protect 
occupants (of the CRC) from head injury.
    (c) Emergency evacuation procedures, including the emergency 
evacuation of an incapacitated occupant from the CRC, must be 
established. All of these procedures must be transmitted to all 
operators for incorporation into their training programs and 
appropriate operational manuals.
    (d) There must be a limitation in the Airplane Flight Manual or 
other suitable means requiring that crewmembers be trained in the use 
of evacuation routes.
    3. There must be a means for the evacuation of an incapacitated 
person (representative of a 95th percentile male) from the CRC to the 
passenger cabin floor. The evacuation must be demonstrated for all 
evacuation routes. A flight attendant or other crewmember (a total of 
one assistant within the CRC) may provide assistance in the evacuation. 
Additional assistance may be provided by up to three persons in the 
main passenger compartment. For evacuation routes having stairways, the 
additional assistants may descend down to one half the elevation change 
from the main deck to the lower deck compartment, or to the first 
landing, whichever is higher.
    4. The following signs and placards must be provided in the CRC:
    (a) At least one exit sign, located near each exit, meeting the 
requirements of Sec.  25.812(b)(1)(i) at Amendment 25-58, except that a 
sign with reduced background area of no less than 5.3 square inches 
(excluding the letters) may be utilized, provided that it is installed 
such that the material surrounding the exit sign is light in color 
(e.g., white, cream, light beige). If the material surrounding the exit 
sign is not light in color, a sign with a minimum of a one-inch wide 
background border around the letters would also be acceptable;
    (b) An appropriate placard located near each exit defining the 
location and the operating instructions for each evacuation route;
    (c) Placards must be readable from a distance of 30 inches under 
emergency lighting conditions; and
    (d) The exit handles and evacuation path operating instruction 
placards must be illuminated to at least 160 micro lamberts under 
emergency lighting conditions.
    5. There must be a means in the event of failure of the aircraft's 
main power system, or of the normal CRC lighting system, for emergency 
illumination to be automatically provided for the CRC.
    (a) This emergency illumination must be independent of the main 
lighting system.
    (b) The sources of general cabin illumination may be common to both 
the emergency and the main lighting systems if the power supply to the 
emergency lighting system is independent of the power supply to the 
main lighting system.
    (c) The illumination level must be sufficient for the occupants of 
the CRC to locate and transfer to the main passenger cabin floor by 
means of each evacuation route.
    (d) The illumination level must be sufficient with the privacy 
curtains in the closed position for each occupant of the CRC to locate 
a deployed oxygen mask.
    6. There must be means for two-way voice communications between 
crewmembers on the flightdeck and occupants of the CRC. There must also 
be public address (PA) system microphones at each flight attendant seat 
required to be near a floor level exit in the passenger cabin per Sec.  
25.785(h) at Amendment 25-51. The PA system must allow two-way voice 
communications between flight attendants and the occupants of the CRC, 
except that one microphone may serve more than one exit provided the 
proximity of the exits allows unassisted verbal communication between 
seated flight attendants.
    7. There must be a means for manual activation of an aural 
emergency alarm system, audible during normal and emergency conditions, 
to enable crewmembers on the flightdeck and at each pair of required 
floor level emergency exits to alert occupants of the CRC of an 
emergency situation. Use of a public address or crew interphone system 
will be acceptable, provided an adequate means of differentiating 
between normal and emergency communications is incorporated. The system 
must be powered in flight for at least ten minutes after the shutdown 
or failure of all engines and auxiliary power units (APU) or the 
disconnection or failure of all power sources which are dependent on 
the continued operation of the engines and APUs.
    8. There must be a means, readily detectable by seated or standing 
occupants of the CRC, which indicates when seat belts should be 
fastened. In the event there are no seats, at least one means must be 
provided to cover anticipated turbulence (e.g., sufficient handholds). 
Seat belt type restraints must be provided for berths and must be 
compatible for the sleeping attitude during cruise conditions. There 
must be a placard on each berth requiring that seat belts must be 
fastened when occupied. If compliance with any of the other 
requirements of these special conditions is predicated on specific head 
location, there must be a placard identifying the head position.
    9. In lieu of the requirements specified in Sec.  25.1439(a) at 
Amendment 25-38 that pertain to isolated compartments and to provide a 
level of safety equivalent to that which is provided occupants of a 
small isolated galley, the following equipment must be provided in the 
CRC:
    (a) At least one approved hand-held fire extinguisher appropriate 
for the kinds of fires likely to occur;
    (b) Two PBE devices approved to Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C116 
or equivalent, suitable for fire fighting, or one PBE for each hand-
held fire extinguisher, whichever is greater; and
    (c) One flashlight.



[[Page 35571]]


    Note: Additional PBEs and fire extinguishers in specific 
locations, (beyond the minimum numbers prescribed in Special 
Condition No. 9) may be required as a result of any egress analysis 
accomplished to satisfy Special Condition No. 2(a).


    10. A smoke or fire detection system (or systems) must be provided 
that monitors each occupiable area within the CRC, including those 
areas partitioned by curtains. Flight tests must be conducted to show 
compliance with this requirement. Each system (or systems) must 
provide:
    (a) A visual indication to the flightdeck within one minute after 
the start of a fire;
    (b) An aural warning in the CRC; and
    (c) A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be 
readily detectable by a flight attendant, taking into consideration the 
positioning of flight attendants throughout the main passenger 
compartment during various phases of flight.
    11. The CRC must be designed such that fires within the compartment 
can be controlled without a crewmember having to enter the compartment, 
or the design of the access provisions must allow crewmembers equipped 
for fire fighting to have unrestricted access to the compartment. The 
time for a crewmember on the main deck to react to the fire alarm, to 
don the fire fighting equipment, and to gain access must not exceed the 
time for the compartment to become smoke-filled, making it difficult to 
locate the fire source.
    12. There must be a means provided to exclude hazardous quantities 
of smoke or extinguishing agent originating in the CRC from entering 
any other compartment occupied by crewmembers or passengers. This means 
must include the time periods during the evacuation of the CRC and, if 
applicable, when accessing the CRC to manually fight a fire. Smoke 
entering any other compartment occupied by crewmembers or passengers 
when the access to the CRC is opened, during an emergency evacuation, 
must dissipate within five minutes after the access to the CRC is 
closed. Hazardous quantities of smoke may not enter any other 
compartment occupied by crewmembers or passengers during subsequent 
access to manually fight a fire in the CRC (the amount of smoke 
entrained by a firefighter exiting the CRC through the access is not 
considered hazardous). During the 1-minute smoke detection time, 
penetration of a small quantity of smoke from the CRC into an occupied 
area is acceptable. Flight tests must be conducted to show compliance 
with this requirement.
    If a built-in fire extinguishing system is used in lieu of manual 
fire fighting, then the fire extinguishing system must be designed so 
that no hazardous quantities of extinguishing agent will enter other 
compartments occupied by passengers or crew. The system must have 
adequate capacity to suppress any fire occurring in the CRC, 
considering the fire threat, volume of the compartment and the 
ventilation rate.
    13. There must be a supplemental oxygen system equivalent to that 
provided for main deck passengers for each seat and berth in the CRC. 
The system must provide an aural and visual warning to warn the 
occupants of the CRC to don oxygen masks in the event of decompression. 
The warning must activate before the cabin pressure altitude exceeds 
15,000 feet. The aural warning must sound continuously for a minimum of 
five minutes or until a reset push button in the CRC is depressed. 
Procedures for crew rest occupants to follow in the event of 
decompression must be established. These procedures must be transmitted 
to the operators for incorporation into their training programs and 
appropriate operational manuals.
    14. The following requirements apply to CRCs that are divided into 
several sections by the installation of curtains or partitions:
    (a) To warn sleeping occupants, there must be an aural alert that 
can be heard in each section of the CRC and that accompanies automatic 
presentation of supplemental oxygen masks. A visual indicator that 
occupants must don an oxygen mask is required in each section where 
seats or berths are not installed. A minimum of two supplemental oxygen 
masks is required for each seat or berth. There must also be a means by 
which the oxygen masks can be manually deployed from the flightdeck.
    (b) A placard is required adjacent to each curtain that visually 
divides or separates, for privacy purposes, the CRC into small 
sections. The placard must require that the curtain remains open when 
the private section it creates is unoccupied.
    (c) For each section of the CRC created by the installation of a 
curtain, the following requirements of these special conditions must be 
met both with the curtain open and with the curtain closed:
    (1) Emergency illumination (Special Condition No. 5);
    (2) Emergency alarm system (Special Condition No. 7);
    (3) Seat belt fasten signal or return to seat signal as applicable 
(Special Condition No. 8); and
    (4) The smoke or fire detection system (Special Condition No. 10).
    (d) Crew rest compartments visually divided to the extent that 
evacuation could be affected must have exit signs that direct occupants 
to the primary stairway exit. The exit signs must be provided in each 
separate section of the CRC, and must meet the requirements of Sec.  
25.812(b)(1)(i) at Amendment 25-58. An exit sign with reduced 
background area as described in Special Condition No. 4(a) may be used 
to meet this requirement.
    (e) For sections within a CRC that are created by the installation 
of a partition with a door separating the sections, the following 
requirements of these special conditions must be met both with the door 
open and with the door closed:
    (1) There must be a secondary evacuation route from each section to 
the main deck, or alternatively, it must be shown that any door between 
the sections has been designed to preclude anyone from being trapped 
inside the compartment. Removal of an incapacitated occupant within 
this area must be considered. A secondary evacuation route from a small 
room designed for only one occupant for short time duration, such as a 
changing area or lavatory, is not required. However, removal of an 
incapacitated occupant within this area must be considered.
    (2) Any door between the sections must be shown to be openable when 
crowded against, even when crowding occurs at each side of the door.
    (3) There may be no more than one door between any seat or berth 
and the primary stairway exit.
    (4) There must be exit signs in each section meeting the 
requirements of Sec.  25.812(b)(1)(i) at Amendment 25-58 that direct 
occupants to the primary stairway exit. An exit sign with reduced 
background area as described in Special Condition No. 4(a) may be used 
to meet this requirement.
    (5) Special Conditions No. 5 (emergency illumination), No. 7 
(emergency alarm system), No. 8 (fasten seat belt signal or return to 
seat signal as applicable) and No. 10 (smoke or fire detection system) 
must be met both with the door open and with the door closed.
    (6) Special Conditions No. 6 (two-way voice communication) and No. 
9 (emergency fire fighting and protective equipment) must be met 
independently for each separate section except for lavatories or other 
small areas that are not intended to be occupied for extended periods 
of time.
    15. Where a waste disposal receptacle is fitted, it must be 
equipped with a built-in fire extinguisher designed to

[[Page 35572]]

discharge automatically upon occurrence of a fire in the receptacle.
    16. Materials (including finishes or decorative surfaces applied to 
the materials) must comply with the flammability requirements of Sec.  
25.853 at Amendment 25-72. Mattresses must comply with the flammability 
requirements of Sec.  25.853(b) and (c) at Amendment 25-72.
    17. All lavatories within the CRC are required to meet the same 
requirements as those for a lavatory installed on the main deck except 
with regard to Special Condition No.10 for smoke detection.
    18. When a CRC is installed or enclosed as a removable module in 
part of a cargo compartment or is located directly adjacent to a cargo 
compartment without an intervening cargo compartment wall, the 
following apply:
    (a) Any wall of the module (container) forming part of the boundary 
of the reduced cargo compartment, subject to direct flame impingement 
from a fire in the cargo compartment and including any interface item 
between the module (container) and the airplane structure or systems, 
must meet the applicable requirements of Sec.  25.855 at Amendment 25-
72.
    (b) Means must be provided so that the fire protection level of the 
cargo compartment meets the applicable requirements of Sec.  25.855 at 
Amendment 25-72, Sec.  25.857 at Amendment 25-60 and Sec.  25.858 at 
Amendment 25-54 when the module (container) is not installed.
    (c) Use of each emergency evacuation route must not require 
occupants of the CRC compartment to enter the cargo compartment in 
order to return to the passenger compartment.
    (d) The aural warning in Special Condition No. 7 must sound in the 
CRC.
    19. Means must be provided to prevent access into the Class C cargo 
compartment during all airplane flight operations and to ensure that 
the maintenance door is closed during all airplane flight operations.
    20. All enclosed stowage compartments within the CRC that are not 
limited to stowage of emergency equipment or airplane-supplied 
equipment (e.g., bedding) must meet the design criteria given in the 
table below. As indicated by the table below, this special condition 
does not address enclosed stowage compartments greater than 200 ft 
3 in interior volume. The in-flight accessibility of very 
large enclosed stowage compartments and the subsequent impact on the 
crewmembers ability to effectively reach any part of the compartment 
with the contents of a hand fire extinguisher will require additional 
fire protection considerations similar to those required for 
inaccessible compartments such as Class C cargo compartments.

                                      Stowage Compartment Interior Volumes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fire protection features        Less than 25 ft \3\       25 ft \3\ to 57 ft \3\    57 ft \3\ to 200 ft \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Materials of Construction \1\..  Yes......................  Yes......................  Yes.
Detectors \2\..................  No.......................  Yes......................  Yes
Liner \3\......................  No.......................  No.......................  Yes.
Locating Device \4\............  No.......................  Yes......................  Yes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Material--The material used to construct each enclosed stowage compartment must at least be fire resistant
  and must meet the flammability standards established for interior components per the requirements of Sec.
  25.853. For compartments less than 25 ft \3\ in interior volume, the design must ensure the ability to contain
  a fire likely to occur within the compartment under normal use.
\2\ Detectors--Enclosed stowage compartments equal to or exceeding 25 ft \3\ in interior volume must be provided
  with a smoke or fire detection system to ensure that a fire can be detected within a one-minute detection
  time. Flight tests must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement. Each system (or systems) must
  provide:
(a) A visual indication in the flightdeck within one minute after the start of a fire;
(b) An aural warning in the CRC; and
(c) A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be readily detectable by a flight attendant, taking
  into consideration the positioning of flight attendants throughout the main passenger compartment during
  various phases of flight.
\3\ Liner--If it can be shown that the material used to construct the stowage compartment meets the flammability
  requirements of a liner for a Class B cargo compartment, then no liner would be required for enclosed stowage
  compartments equal to or greater than 25 ft \3\ in interior volume but less than 57 ft \3\ in interior volume.
  For all enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 57 ft \3\ in interior volume but less than or
  equal to 200 ft \3\, a liner must be provided that meets the requirements of Sec.   25.855 at Amendment 25-72
  for a class B cargo compartment.
\4\ Location Detector--Crew rest areas which contain enclosed stowage compartments exceeding 25 ft \3\ interior
  volume and which are located away from one central location such as the entry to the crew rest area or a
  common area within the crew rest area would require additional fire protection features and/or devices to
  assist the firefighter in determining the location of a fire.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 13, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-9819 Filed 6-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P