[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 199 (Friday, October 14, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63823-63824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26556]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM457; Notice No. 25-449-SC]


Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G280 
Airplane Pilot-Compartment View--Hydrophobic Coatings in Lieu of 
Windshield Wipers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream 
Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G280 airplane. This airplane will have a 
novel or unusual design feature associated with the pilot-compartment 
view through a hydrophobic windshield coating, in lieu of windshield 
wipers. 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: November 14, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loran Haworth, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1133; facsimile 
(425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On March 30, 2006, GALP applied for a type certificate for their 
new Model G280 airplane. The G280 is an 8-10 passenger (19 maximum), 
twin-engine airplane with a 41,000-foot cruise altitude, a maximum 
operating altitude of 45,000 feet, and a range of approximately 3,400 
nautical miles.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.17, GALP must show that the Model G280 airplane meets the 
applicable provisions of part 25 as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 
25-117.
    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 G280 airplane because of a 
novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed 
under the provisions of Sec.  21.16.

[[Page 63824]]

    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 feature, the special conditions would also apply to the 
other model.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Model G280 airplane 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; and the FAA must issue a 
finding of regulatory adequacy under Sec.  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 Model G280 will incorporate the following novel or unusual 
design features:
    The GALP Model G280 airplane flight-deck design incorporates a 
hydrophobic coating to provide adequate pilot-compartment view in the 
presence of precipitation. Sole reliance on such a coating, without 
windshield wipers, 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

    Section 25.773(b)(1) of 14 CFR requires a means to maintain a clear 
portion of the windshield for both pilots to have a sufficiently 
extensive view along the flight path during precipitation conditions. 
The regulations require this means to maintain such an area during 
precipitation in heavy rain at speeds up to 1.5 VSR1. 
Hydrophobic windshield coatings may depend to some degree on airflow to 
maintain a clear-vision area. The heavy rain and high speed conditions 
specified in the current rule do not necessarily represent the limiting 
condition for this new technology. For example, airflow over the 
windshield, which may be necessary to remove moisture from the 
windshield, may not be adequate to maintain a sufficiently clear area 
of the windshield in low-speed flight or during surface operations. 
Alternatively, airflow over the windshield may be disturbed during such 
critical times as the approach to land, where the airplane is at a 
higher-than-normal pitch attitude. In these cases, areas of airflow 
disturbance or separation on the windshield could cause failure to 
maintain a clear-vision area on the windshield.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of Proposed Special Conditions no. 25-11-14-SC for the GALP 
Model G280 airplane was published in the Federal Register on May 25, 
2011 (76 FR 30294). No comments were received, and the special 
conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
GALP Model G280 airplane. Should GALP 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 conditions would 
apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the GALP Model G280 airplane. 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 the GALP Model G280 airplane.
    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.

Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-26556 Filed 10-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P