[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31453-31454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13435]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM439; Special Conditions No. 25-428-SC]


Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Single-
Occupant Side-Facing Seats

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream GVI 
airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) 
associated with single-occupant side-facing seats. 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: Effective Date: July 1, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Jacquet, FAA, Airframe/Cabin 
Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Standards Staff, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington, 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2676; facsimile 
(425) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 29, 2005, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (hereafter 
referred to as ``Gulfstream'') applied for an FAA type certificate for 
its new Gulfstream Model GVI passenger airplane. Gulfstream later 
applied for, and was granted, an extension of time for the type 
certificate, which changed the effective application date to September 
28, 2006. The Gulfstream Model GVI airplane will be an all-new, two-
engine jet transport airplane. The maximum takeoff weight will be 
99,600 pounds, with a maximum passenger count of 19 passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
21.17, Gulfstream must show that the Gulfstream Model GVI airplane 
(hereafter referred to as ``the GVI'') meets the applicable provisions 
of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-119, 25-
122, and 25-124. 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 GVI 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 type certificate for that model be amended 
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or 
unusual design features, the special conditions would also apply to the 
other model under provisions of Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to complying with the applicable airworthiness 
regulations and special conditions, the GVI 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 must also 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 14 CFR 11.19, in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38, and they become part of the type 
certification basis under Sec.  21.17(a)(2).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Gulfstream model GVI airplane will incorporate the following 
novel or unusual design feature: A single-occupant side-facing seat 
intended to be occupied during takeoff and landing.

Discussion

    Section 25.785(b), requires that ``each seat * * * at each station 
designated as occupiable during takeoff and landing must be designed so 
that a person making proper use of these facilities will not suffer 
serious injury in an emergency landing as a result of the inertia 
forces specified in Sec. Sec.  25.561 and 25.562.'' Additionally, Sec.  
25.562 requires dynamic testing of all seats occupied during takeoff 
and landing. The relative forces and injury mechanisms affecting the 
occupants of side-facing seats during an emergency landing are 
different from those of standard forward or aft facing seats. 
Therefore, the FAA has determined that, in addition to the requirements 
of part 21 and part 25, these special conditions are needed to address 
this seat installation.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of proposed special conditions No. 25-10-04-SC for 
Gulfstream GVI airplanes was published in the Federal Register on 
January 4, 2011 (76 FR 291). No comments were received and these

[[Page 31454]]

special conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Gulfstream model GVI airplane. Should Gulfstream 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.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
of the GVI. It is not a rule of general applicability.

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 Gulfstream GVI airplanes.
    In addition to the airworthiness standards in Sec. Sec.  25.562 and 
25.785, the following special conditions provide injury criteria and 
installation/testing guidelines that represent the minimum acceptable 
airworthiness standard for single-occupant side-facing seats:

A. The Injury Criteria

    1. Existing Criteria: All injury protection criteria of Sec.  
25.562(c)(1) through (c)(6) apply to the occupant of a side-facing 
seat. Head injury criterion (HIC) assessments are only required for 
head contact with the seat and/or adjacent structures.
    2. Body-to-Wall/Furnishing Contact: The seat must be installed aft 
of a structure such as an interior wall or furnishing that will support 
the pelvis, upper arm, chest, and head of an occupant seated next to 
the structure. A conservative representation of the structure and its 
stiffness must be included in the tests. It is recommended, but not 
required, that the contact surface of this structure be covered with at 
least two inches of energy absorbing protective padding (foam or 
equivalent), such as Ensolite.
    3. Thoracic Trauma: Thoracic trauma index (TTI) injury criterion 
must be substantiated by dynamic test or by rational analysis based on 
previous test(s) of a similar seat installation. Testing must be 
conducted with a side impact dummy (SID), as defined by Title 49, Code 
of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) part 572, subpart F, or its equivalent. 
TTI must be less than 85, as defined in 49 CFR part 572, subpart F. SID 
TTI data must be processed as defined in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS) part 571.214, section S6.13.5.
    4. Pelvis: Pelvic lateral acceleration must be shown by dynamic 
test or by rational analysis based on previous test(s) of a similar 
seat installation not to exceed 130g. Pelvic acceleration data must be 
processed as defined in FMVSS part 571.214, section S6.13.5.
    5. Shoulder Strap Loads: Where upper torso straps (shoulder straps) 
are used for occupants, tension loads in individual straps must not 
exceed 1,750 pounds. If dual straps are used for restraining the upper 
torso, the total strap tension loads must not exceed 2,000 pounds.

B. General Test Guidelines

    1. One longitudinal test with the SID or its equivalent, undeformed 
floor, no yaw, with all lateral structural supports (armrests/walls).
    Pass/fail injury assessments: TTI and pelvic acceleration.
    2. One longitudinal test with the Hybrid II anthropomorphic test 
dummy (ATD), deformed floor, yaw at 10 degrees, with all lateral 
structural support (armrests/walls).
    Pass/fail injury assessments: HIC; and upper torso restrain load, 
restraint system retention and pelvic acceleration.
    3. Vertical (14g) test with modified Hybrid II ATDs using existing 
pass/fail criteria.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 20, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-13435 Filed 5-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P