[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 24, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40215-40216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14333]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM372 Special Conditions No. 25-355-SC]


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued 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 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 
standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel 
or unusual design features of the Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 23, 2007.

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:

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 Code of Federal Regulations (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.''
    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.  21.17(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 Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The 787 will incorporate a number of novel or unusual design 
features.

[[Page 40216]]

Because of rapid improvements in airplane technology, the applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for these design features. These 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 issued 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 special conditions require 
that the reinforced flightdeck bulkhead meet the same standards as 
those specified in Sec.  25.795(a) for flightdeck doors. These special 
conditions contain the minimum standards that the Administrator 
considers necessary to ensure that safety standards are 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 with these 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 are 
covered by these special conditions.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25-07-08-SC for the 787 
was published in the Federal Register on April 12, 2007 (72 FR 18412). 
One comment was received, from Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA).
    ALPA Comment: ALPA recommended that the requirements of these 
special conditions apply to future versions of the 787, including 
possible freighter configurations.
    FAA Response: These special conditions apply to airplanes that 
incorporate a reinforced bulkhead. They are not limited to any 
particular type of operation, nor do they impose operational 
requirements. Thus, if a future freighter version did incorporate a 
reinforced bulkhead, these special conditions would apply. These 
special conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these 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 on the same type certificate 
incorporating the same novel or unusual design features, these special 
conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
of the 787. 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 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 July 12, 2007.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-14333 Filed 7-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P