[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 4 (Monday, January 8, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 645-646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-28]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM358; Special Conditions No. 25-342-SC]


Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Model GV, 
GV-SP, and GIV-X Airplanes; Windshield Coating in Lieu of Wipers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This special condition is issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace 
Corporation Model GV, GV-SP, and GIV-X airplanes. These airplanes will 
have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with the use of a 
hydrophobic windshield coating, rather than windshield wipers, as the 
means to maintain a clear portion of the windshield during 
precipitation conditions, as required by the airworthiness standards 
for transport category airplanes. The applicable airworthiness 
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for 
this design feature. This special condition contains the additional 
safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to 
establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the 
existing airworthiness standards.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 22, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John McConnell, Airplane and Flight 
Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft

[[Page 646]]

Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 227-1365; facsimile (425) 227-1320, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On December 19, 2005, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, PO Box 
2206, Savannah, Georgia 31402-2206, applied for a change to Type 
Certificate No. A12EA to use a hydrophobic windshield coating as the 
sole means of providing adequate pilot compartment view in the presence 
of precipitation for Gulfstream Model GV, GV-SP and GIV-X airplanes. 
The Gulfstream Model GV, GV-SP and GIV-X airplanes are currently 
approved under Type Certificate No. A12EA. The Model GV airplane is 
powered by two BMW-Rolls Royce Deutschland BR700-710A1-10 engines, 
operates with a two person flightcrew, and has the capacity to carry 19 
passengers. The Model GV-SP airplane is powered by two BMW-Rolls Royce 
Deutschland BR700-710C4-11 engines, operates with a two person 
flightcrew, and has the capacity to carry 19 passengers. The Model GIV-
X airplane is powered by two Rolls Royce Tay Mark 611-8C engines, 
operates with a two person flightcrew, and has the capacity to carry 19 
passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Sec.  21.101, Gulfstream Aerospace 
Corporation must show that the Model GV, GV-SP and GIV-X airplanes, as 
changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations 
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A12EA, 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. 
A12EA include:
     For Model GV airplanes--part 25, effective February 1, 
1965, Amendment 25-1 through Amendment 25-81, with exceptions.
     For Model GV-SP airplanes--part 25, effective February 1, 
1965, Amendment 25-1 through Amendment 25-98.
     For Model GIV-X airplanes--part 25, effective February 1, 
1965, Amendment 25-1 through Amendment 25-101, with exceptions.
    In addition, the certification basis includes other regulations, 
special conditions and exemptions that are not relevant to this special 
condition.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Model GV, GV-SP and GIV-X 
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 GV, GV-SP and GIV-X 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 special conditions 
would also apply to the other model under Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Gulfstream Model GV, GV-SP and GIV-X flightdeck designs 
incorporate a hydrophobic windshield coating to provide adequate pilot 
compartment view in the presence of precipitation. Sole reliance on 
such a coating, without windshield wipers or a windshield blower, 
constitutes a novel or unusual design feature for which the applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards. Therefore, special conditions are required that provide the 
level of safety equivalent to that established by the regulations.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of proposed special conditions No. 25-06-12-SC for 
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV, GV-SP, and GIV-X airplanes 
was published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2006 (71 FR 
63723). No comments were received, and the special condition is adopted 
as proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, this special condition is applicable to 
Gulfstream Model GV, GV-SP and GIV-X airplanes. Should Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation apply at a later date for a change to the type 
certificate to include another model incorporating the same novel or 
unusual design feature, the special condition would apply to that model 
as well.

Effective Upon Issuance

    Under standard practice, the effective date of final special 
conditions would be 30 days after the date of publication in the 
Federal Register; however, as scheduled airplane deliveries for the 
Gulfstream Model GV, GV-SP and GIV-X airplanes are imminent, the FAA 
finds that good cause exists to make this special condition effective 
upon issuance.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on Gulfstream Model GV, GV-SP, and GIV-X airplanes. 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 Condition

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the following special condition is issued as part of the 
type certification basis for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV, 
GV-SP, and GIV-X airplanes.

Pilot Compartment View--Hydrophobic Coatings in Lieu of Windshield 
Wipers

    The airplane must have a means to maintain a clear portion of the 
windshield, during precipitation conditions, enough for both pilots to 
have a sufficiently extensive view along the ground or flight path in 
normal taxi and flight attitudes of the airplane. This means must be 
designed to function, without continuous attention on the part of the 
crew, in conditions from light misting precipitation to heavy rain at 
speeds from fully stopped in still air, to 1.5 VSR1 with 
lift and drag devices retracted.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 22, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-28 Filed 1-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P