[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17334-17336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7343]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM452; Notice No. 25-424-SC]


Special Conditions: Boeing Model 747-2G4B Airplane; Certification 
of Cooktops

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 747-
2G4B series airplane. This airplane, as modified by Greenpoint 
Technologies, Inc., will have a novel or unusual design feature 
associated with the replacement and re-certification of existing 
cooktops with advanced technology induction coil cooktops in the main 
deck galleys on two Boeing Model 747-2G4B airplanes. The proposed 
modification is limited to removing the existing cooktops and replacing 
them with new technology cooktops. No changes to the galley surfaces, 
smoke detection system, ventilation system, warning systems, and fire 
suppression systems are included in this modification. The applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for this design feature. 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 airworthiness standards.

DATES: The effective date of these special conditions is March 22, 
2011. We must receive your comments by April 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You must mail two copies of your comments to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Attn: Rules 
Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM452, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356. You may deliver two copies to the Transport 
Airplane Directorate at the above address. You must mark your comments: 
Docket No. NM452. 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 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 227-2194; facsimile (425) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The FAA has determined that notice of, and opportunity for prior 
public comment on, these special conditions is impracticable because 
these procedures would significantly delay issuance of the design 
approval and thus delivery of the affected airplanes. In addition, the 
substance of these special conditions has been subject to the public 
comment process in several prior instances with no substantive comments 
received. The FAA therefore finds that good cause exists for making 
these special conditions effective upon issuance.

Comments Invited

    We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by 
sending 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 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., 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 
these special conditions based on the comments we receive.
    If you want us to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this 
proposal, include with your comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard 
on which you have written the docket number. We will stamp the date on 
the postcard and mail it back to you.

Background

    On July 20, 2010, Greenpoint Technologies, Inc., applied for a 
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the replacement of existing 
cooktops in the Boeing Model 747-2G4B airplane. The Boeing Model 747-
2G4B currently approved under Type Certificate No. A20WE, is a Model 
747-200 series airplane with four CF6-80C2B1 engines. The Model 747-200 
series airplane is an extended range passenger version of the Model 
747-100 airplanes with changes to increase its strength and fuel 
capacity.
    The modification incorporates the installation of an electrically 
heated surface, called a cooktop. Cooktops introduce high heat, smoke, 
and the possibility of fire into the passenger cabin environment. These 
potential hazards to the airplane and its occupants must be 
satisfactorily addressed. Since existing airworthiness regulations do 
not contain safety standards addressing cooktops, special conditions 
are therefore needed.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Greenpoint Technologies 
Inc., must show that the Boeing Model 747-2G4B, as changed, continues 
to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by 
reference in Type Certification No. A20WE, 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. A20WE are 
part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-8, with reversions to 
earlier amendments, voluntary compliance to later amendments, special 
conditions, equivalent safety findings, and exemptions listed in the 
type certificate data sheet.
    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 Boeing Model 747-2G4B because of a 
novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed 
under the provisions of Sec.  21.16.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the applicant apply for a supplemental type 
certificate to modify any other model included on the same type 
certificate to incorporate the same novel or unusual design features, 
the special conditions would also apply to the other model.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Boeing Model 747-2G4B must comply with the fuel vent 
and exhaust emission requirements of 14

[[Page 17335]]

CFR part 34 and the noise certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38, and they become part of the type-
certification basis under Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The modification of the Boeing Model 747-2G4B airplane will include 
installation of cooktops in the passenger cabin. Cooktops introduce 
high heat, smoke, and the possibility of fire into the passenger cabin 
environment. The current airworthiness standards of part 25 do not 
contain adequate or appropriate safety standards to protect the 
airplane and its occupants from these potential hazards. Accordingly, 
this system is considered to be a novel or unusual design feature.

Discussion

    Currently, ovens are the prevailing means of heating food on 
airplanes. Ovens are characterized by an enclosure that contains both 
the heat source and the food being heated. The hazards represented by 
ovens are thus inherently limited, and are well understood through 
years of service experience. Cooktops, on the other hand, are 
characterized by exposed heat sources and the presence of relatively 
unrestrained hot cookware and heated food, which may represent 
unprecedented hazards to both occupants and the airplane. Cooktops 
could have serious passenger and airplane safety implications if 
appropriate requirements are not established for their installation and 
use. These special conditions apply to cooktops with electrically 
powered burners. The use of an open flame cooktop (for example natural 
gas) is beyond the scope of these special conditions and would require 
separate rulemaking action. The requirements identified in these 
special conditions are in addition to those considerations identified 
in Advisory Circular (AC) 20-168, ``Certification Guidance for 
Installation of Non-Essential, Non-Required Aircraft Cabin Systems & 
Equipment (CS&E),'' and those in AC 25-17A, ``Transport Airplane Cabin 
Interiors Crashworthiness Handbook.'' The intent of these special 
conditions is to provide a level of safety that is consistent with that 
on similar airplanes without cooktops.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Boeing Model 747-2G4B airplane modified by Greenpoint Technologies, 
Inc. Should Greenpoint Technologies, Inc., apply at a later date for a 
supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on the 
same type certificate to incorporate the same 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 747-2G4B airplane modified by Greenpoint 
Technologies, Inc. It is not a rule of general applicability and it 
affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of these 
features on the airplane.
    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 the certification date of the Boeing 
Model 747-2G4B in imminent, the FAA finds that good cause exists to 
make these special conditions effective upon issuance.

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 Special Conditions

    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 Boeing Model 747-2G4B airplanes 
modified by Greenpoint Technologies, Inc.:

Cooktop Installations With Electrically-Powered Burner

    1. Means, such as conspicuous burner-on indicators, physical 
barriers, or handholds, must be installed to minimize the potential for 
inadvertent personnel contact with hot surfaces of both the cooktop and 
cookware. Conditions of turbulence must be considered.
    2. Sufficient design means must be included to restrain cookware 
while in place on the cooktop, as well as representative contents, 
e.g., soup, sauces, etc., from the effects of flight loads and 
turbulence. Restraints must be provided to preclude hazardous movement 
of cookware and contents. These restraints must accommodate any 
cookware that is identified for use with the cooktop. Restraints must 
be designed to be easily utilized and effective in service. The 
cookware restraint system should also be designed so that it will not 
be easily disabled, thus rendering it unusable. Placarding must be 
installed which prohibits the use of cookware that can not be 
accommodated by the restraint system.
    3. Placarding must be installed which prohibits the use of cooktops 
(i.e., power on any burner) during taxi, takeoff, and landing (TTL).
    4. Means must be provided to address the possibility of a fire 
occurring on or in the immediate vicinity of the cooktop. Two 
acceptable means of complying with this requirement are as follows:
    a. Placarding must be installed that prohibits any burner from 
being powered when the cooktop is unattended (Note: That this would 
prohibit a single person from cooking on the cooktop and intermittently 
serving food to passengers while any burner is powered), and a fire 
detector must be installed in the vicinity of the cooktop which 
provides an audible warning in the passenger cabin, or galley only 
audible warning per the airworthiness approval of the Boeing Model 747-
2G4B aircraft with existing design safety features, compartment and a 
fire extinguisher of appropriate size and extinguishing agent must be 
installed in the immediate vicinity of the cooktop. Access to the 
extinguisher must not be blocked by a fire on or around the cooktop. 
One of the fire extinguishers required by Sec.  25.851 may be used to 
satisfy this requirement if the total complement of extinguishers can 
be evenly distributed throughout the cabin. If this is not possible, 
then the extinguisher in the galley area would be additional, or
    b. An automatic, thermally activated fire suppression system must 
be installed to extinguish a fire at the cooktop and immediately 
adjacent surfaces. The agent used in the system must be an approved 
total flooding agent suitable for use in an occupied area. The fire 
suppression system must have a manual override. The automatic 
activation of the fire suppression system must also automatically shut 
off power to the cooktop.
    5. Means must be provided to address the surfaces of the galley 
surrounding the cooktop, which could be exposed to a fire on the 
cooktop surface or in cookware on the cooktop. Two acceptable means of 
complying with this requirement are as follows:
    a. The materials must be constructed of materials that comply with 
the flammability requirements of Part III of Appendix F of part 25. 
This requirement is in addition to the flammability requirements 
typically required of the materials in these galley surfaces.

[[Page 17336]]

During the selection of these materials, consideration must also be 
given to ensure that the flammability characteristics of the materials 
will not be adversely affected by the use of cleaning agents and 
utensils used to remove cooking stains.
    b. Retain the surface materials of the existing galleys surrounding 
the cooktops per the airworthiness approval of the Boeing 747-2G4B 
model aircraft flammability requirements of Part I (Sec.  25.853 
Amendment 25-59) of Appendix F of part 25. The use of the existing 
flammability approvals of the galley per the Type Certificate (A20WE) 
certification basis for the Boeing 747-2G4B model is acceptable as this 
modification consists of structural changes strictly to accommodate the 
installation of new cooktops.
    6. The cooktop must be ventilated with a system independent of the 
airplane cabin and cargo ventilation system. Procedures and time 
intervals must be established to inspect and clean or replace the 
ventilation system to prevent a fire hazard from the accumulation of 
flammable oils and be included in the instructions for continued 
airworthiness. The ventilation system ducting must be protected by a 
flame arrestor or an automatic shutoff valve in the over-range top 
ventilation system in lieu of the flame arrestor. [Note: The applicant 
may find additional useful information in Society of Automotive 
Engineers, Aerospace Recommended Practice 85, Rev. E, entitled ``Air 
Conditioning Systems for Subsonic Airplanes,'' dated August 1, 1991.]
    7. Means must be provided to contain spilled foods or fluids in a 
manner that will prevent the creation of a slipping hazard to occupants 
and will not lead to the loss of structural strength due to corrosion.
    8. Cooktop installations must provide adequate space for the user 
to immediately escape a hazardous cooktop condition.
    9. A means to shut off power to the cooktop must be provided at the 
galley containing the cooktop and in the cockpit. If additional 
switches are introduced in the cockpit, revisions to smoke or fire 
emergency procedures of the AFM will be required.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 22, 2011.
K.C. Yanamura,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-7343 Filed 3-28-11; 8:45 am]
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