[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 70 (Thursday, April 12, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18412-18413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6887]



[[Page 18412]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM372, Special Conditions No. 25-07-08-SC]


Special Conditions: Boeing Model 787-8 Airplane; Reinforced 
Flightdeck Bulkhead

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes special conditions for the Boeing Model 
787-8 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. The Boeing 
Model 787-8 airplanes will have a flightdeck bulkhead incorporating 
ballistic- and intrusion-resistant features. While the regulations 
include standards for ballistic- and intrusion-resistant flightdeck 
doors, they do not yet incorporate the same standards for these 
features in the bulkhead. Therefore, special conditions are needed to 
address these design features. 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 Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 29, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposal may be mailed in duplicate to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Attention: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM372, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; or delivered in duplicate to the 
Transport Airplane Directorate at the above address. All comments must 
be marked Docket No. NM372. 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: Jeff Gardlin, FAA, Airframe/Cabin 
Safety, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; 
telephone (425) 227-2136; facsimile (425) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    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 proposed 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 notice 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 the 
proposed special conditions based on 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 28, 2003, Boeing applied for an FAA type certificate for 
its new Boeing Model 787-8 passenger airplane. The Boeing Model 787-8 
airplane will be an all-new, two-engine jet transport airplane with a 
two-aisle cabin. The maximum takeoff weight will be 476,000 pounds, 
with a maximum passenger count of 381 passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Boeing must show that Boeing 
Model 787-8 airplanes (hereafter referred to as ``the 787'') meet the 
applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 
through 25-117, except Sec. Sec.  25.809(a) and 25.812, which will 
remain at Amendment 25-115. If the Administrator finds that the 
applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the 787 because of a novel or unusual 
design feature, special conditions are prescribed under provisions of 
14 CFR 21.16.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the 787 must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission 
requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise certification requirements 
of part 36. In addition, the FAA must issue a finding of regulatory 
adequacy pursuant to section 611 of Public Law 92-574, the ``Noise 
Control Act of 1972.''
    Special conditions, as defined in Sec.  11.19, are issued in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38 and become part of the type certification 
basis in accordance with Sec.  21.17(a)(2).
    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, the special conditions would also 
apply to the other model under the provisions of Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The 787 will incorporate a number of novel or unusual design 
features. Because of rapid improvements in airplane technology, the 
applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for these design features. These proposed 
special conditions for the 787 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.
    On January 15, 2002, the FAA promulgated 14 CFR 25.795(a) 
(Amendment 25-106), which specifies that the flightdeck door of a 
transport airplane be designed to resist forcible intrusion by 
unauthorized persons and penetration by small arms fire and 
fragmentation devices. At the time it was written, the regulation was 
limited to the flightdeck door to expedite a rapid retrofit of the 
existing airplanes required by operating rules to have a flightdeck 
door.
    In addition to a reinforced flightdeck door, the 787 will have a 
flightdeck bulkhead which is reinforced to resist intrusion and 
ballistic penetration. The regulations do not adequately address the 
certification requirements for such a bulkhead, and appropriate 
certification standards are necessary. These proposed special 
conditions would require that the reinforced flightdeck bulkhead meet 
the same standards as those specified in Sec.  25.795(a) for flightdeck 
doors. The proposed special conditions contain the minimum standards 
that the Administrator considers necessary to ensure that safety 
standards are

[[Page 18413]]

maintained after the aircraft enters into service.
    On December 21, 2006, the FAA issued a notice of proposed 
rulemaking that proposes amending Sec.  25.795(a) to require that a 
flightdeck bulkhead--and any other accessible barrier separating the 
flightcrew compartment from occupied areas--also be designed to resist 
intrusion or penetration. The methods of compliance described in the 
preamble of that notice and associated draft advisory material could be 
used to show compliance to these proposed special conditions.
    For the 787, the reinforced bulkhead may be comprised of components 
such as the walls of adjacent lavatories, galleys, or crew rest areas. 
Those components would be covered by these proposed special conditions.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these proposed special conditions are 
applicable to the 787. Should Boeing 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 proposed special conditions 
would apply to that model as well under the provisions of Sec.  21.101.

Conclusion

    This action would affect only certain novel or unusual design 
features of the 787. It is not a rule of general applicability, and it 
would affect only the applicant that 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 Special Conditions is as follows:

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

The Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) proposes the following special conditions as part 
of the type certification basis for the Boeing Model 787-8 airplane.
    In addition to the requirements of 14 CFR 25.795(a) governing 
protection of the flightdeck door, the following special conditions 
apply.
    The reinforced bulkhead, including components that comprise the 
bulkhead, separating the flightcrew compartment from occupied areas 
must be designed to meet the following standards:
    It must resist forcible intrusion by unauthorized persons and be 
capable of withstanding impacts of 300 Joules (221.3 foot-pounds) at 
critical locations on the bulkhead as well as a 1113 Newton (250 pound) 
constant tensile load on accessible handholds.
    It must resist penetration by small arms fire and fragmentation 
devices to a level equivalent to level IIIa of the National Institute 
of Justice Standard (NIJ) 0101.04.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 4, 2007.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-6887 Filed 4-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P