[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 175 (Monday, September 11, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53315-53316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15012]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM317; Special Conditions No. 25-328-SC]


Special Conditions: Airbus Model A380-800 Airplane, Flotation and 
Ditching

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Airbus A380-800 
airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when 
compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness 
standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or 
unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the 
configuration of the airplane, including its full-length double deck. 
For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do 
not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding 
flotation and ditching. These proposed 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. Additional special conditions will be 
issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model 
A380-800 airplane.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of these special conditions 
is August 28, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Holly Thorson, FAA, International 
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; 
telephone (425) 227-1357; facsimile (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Airbus applied for FAA certification/validation of the 
provisionally-designated Model A3XX-100 in its letter AI/L 810.0223/98, 
dated August 12, 1998, to the FAA. Application for certification by the 
Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) of Europe had been made on January 16, 
1998, reference AI/L 810.0019/98. In its letter to the FAA, Airbus 
requested an extension to the 5-year period for type certification in 
accordance with 14 CFR 21.17(c).
    The request was for an extension to a 7-year period, using the date 
of the initial application letter to the JAA as the reference date. The 
reason given by Airbus for the request for extension is related to the 
technical challenges, complexity, and the number of new and novel 
features on the airplane. On November 12, 1998, the Manager, Aircraft 
Engineering Division, AIR-100, granted Airbus' request for the 7-year 
period, based on the date of application to the JAA.
    In its letter AI/LE-A 828.0040/99 Issue 3, dated July 20, 2001, 
Airbus stated that its target date for type certification of the Model 
A380-800 had been moved from May 2005, to January 2006, to match the 
delivery date of the first production airplane. In a subsequent letter 
(AI/L 810.0223/98 issue 3, dated January 27, 2006), Airbus stated that 
its target date for type certification is October 2, 2006. In 
accordance with 14 CFR 21.17(d)(2), Airbus chose a new application date 
of December 20, 1999, and requested that the 7-year certification 
period which had already been approved be continued. The FAA has 
reviewed the part 25 certification basis for the Model A380-800 
airplane, and no changes are required based on the new application 
date.
    The Model A380-800 airplane will be an all-new, four-engine jet 
transport airplane with a full double-deck, two-aisle cabin. The 
maximum takeoff weight will be 1.235 million pounds with a typical 
three-class layout of 555 passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Airbus must show that the 
Model A380-800 airplane meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 
25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-98. If the Administrator 
finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain 
adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Airbus A380-800 
airplane because of novel or unusual design features, special 
conditions are prescribed under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.16.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane must comply with the 
fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the 
noise

[[Page 53316]]

certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36. In addition, the FAA must 
issue a finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to section 611 of 
Public Law 93-574, the ``Noise Control Act of 1972.''
    Special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, are issued in 
accordance with 14 CFR 11.38 and become part of the type certification 
basis in accordance with 14 CFR 21.17(a)(2), Amendment 21-69, effective 
September 16, 1991.
    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 novel or 
unusual design feature, the special conditions would also apply to the 
other model under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101.

Discussion of Novel or Unusual Design Features

    While the main deck of the A380-800 airplane has five pairs of type 
A exits, these are not sufficient for the total number of persons on 
board the airplane. Therefore, the upper deck exits must also be used 
as ditching exits. As a result, the upper deck exits are being equipped 
with slide/rafts. With two decks, there is the possibility of 
interference between the slides/rafts of the upper deck and the slide/
rafts or rafts of the main deck.
    Since 14 CFR part 25 does not address the use of upper deck exits 
as ditching exits, special conditions are necessary to ensure that 
occupants can be safely evacuated from these exits following a ditching 
event.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25-05-12-SC, pertaining 
to flotation and ditching, were published in the Federal Register on 
August 9, 2005 (70 FR 46115). Comments were received from the Airline 
Pilots Association (ALPA) and an individual commenter.
    Requested change 1: ALPA suggests that in general the special 
conditions ``should evaluate the arrangement and utility of the slide/
rafts at each exit using a realistic range of aircraft configurations 
and sea state.''
    Regarding proposed Special Condition b., ALPA recommends that ``The 
demonstration of the boarding of the upper deck slide/rafts should be 
done using crewmembers from air carriers operating the aircraft. In 
addition, these crewmembers should have had no training beyond that 
which will be provided to regular line crewmembers.''
    FAA response: Demonstrations of the slide/rafts will consider a 
realistic range of airplane configurations and sea states. These 
demonstrations and the associated crew training will be consistent with 
current practice. The A380-800 is not novel with respect to those 
matters. Therefore, we have made no change to the special conditions, 
as proposed.
    Requested change 2: In terms of proposed Special Condition c., an 
individual commenter expressed concern about interference between the 
M3 slide/raft and other slide/rafts. ALPA commented that preventing 
such interference should not rely on crew procedures.
    FAA response: Since the M3 exit will not be used as a ditching 
exit, proposed Special Condition c. is not included in these Final 
Special Conditions. Should this exit later be reinstated as a ditching 
exit, appropriate requirements will be developed for its use.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Airbus A380-800 airplane. Should Airbus apply at a later date for a 
change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating 
the same novel or unusual design features, 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 
of the Airbus A380-800 airplane. It is not a rule of general 
applicability.

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 type certification basis for the Airbus A380-800 airplane.
    In addition to the requirements of Sec. Sec.  25.801, 25.807(i), 
25.810, 25.1411, and 25.1415, the following special conditions apply:
    a. For door sill heights that would be greater than six (6) feet 
above the waterline during a ditching event, an assist means must be 
provided from the airplane to the water.
    b. Boarding of the upper deck slide/rafts must be demonstrated for 
the rated and overload capacity of the slide/rafts from the 
representative door sill heights associated with planned and unplanned 
ditching. The boarding procedure must ensure that the occupants 
boarding the slide/rafts remain on the slide/raft whether the occupants 
enter the slide/raft or raft by walking, jumping or sliding. In 
addition, the boarding procedure must not result in injury either to 
occupants entering the slide/raft or to occupants already in the slide/
raft.
    c. It must be demonstrated that the upper deck slide/rafts located 
at doors U1 and U2 (just forward and just aft of the wing) can be 
safely separated from the airplane. Safety considerations include 
damage to the slide/rafts, injury to occupants of the slide/raft, 
ejection of the occupants from the slide/raft into the water as a 
result of the contact with the wing, and the slide/raft becoming 
beached on the wing. Probable damage to the wing leading and trailing 
edge flight control structure during a water landing must be considered 
when assessing the damage caused to the slide/rafts or life rafts.
    d. It must be demonstrated that when the upper deck slide/rafts are 
separated from the airplane, they do not injure occupants of the slide/
raft, eject occupants of the slide/raft into the water, or damage the 
slide/raft in a way that affects its seaworthiness.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 28, 2006
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-15012 Filed 9-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P