[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65105-65106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27198]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1140; Special Conditions No. 25-450-SC]


Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Model GIV-X 
Airplane; Isolation or Aircraft Electronic System Security Protection 
From Unauthorized Internal Access

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 Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation Model GIV-X airplane. This airplane will have 
novel or unusual design features associated with connectivity of the 
passenger domain computer systems to the airplane critical systems and 
data networks. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain 
adequate or appropriate safety standards for 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 airworthiness standards.

DATES: The effective date of these special conditions is October 13, 
2011. We must receive your comments by December 5, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2011-1140 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for sending 
your comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or by Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal 
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the 
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all 
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the 
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov/.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Varun Khanna, FAA, Airplane and Flight 
Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1298; facsimile 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and 
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions are 
impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay 
issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected 
aircraft. 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 will consider all comments we receive by the closing date for 
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments 
we receive.

Background

    On April 21, 2011, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (hereafter 
referred to as ``Gulfstream'') applied for a supplemental type 
certificate to install a new interior design configuration in the 
Gulfstream Model GIV-X passenger airplane. The Gulfstream Model GIV-X 
is a two-engine jet transport airplane with a maximum takeoff weight of 
47,600 pounds and an interior configuration for a maximum of 19 
passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Gulfstream must show that the Gulfstream Model GIV-X 
airplane (hereafter referred to as the ``GIV-X''), as changed, 
continues to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations 
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A12EA 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. A12EA are as follows:
    14 CFR part 25, effective February 1, 1965, including Amendments 
25-1 through 25-56, except for the following sections which are limited 
to showing compliance with the amendments indicated: Part 25 effective 
February 1, 1965, Sec. Sec.  25.109, 25.571, and 25.813; part 25 
Amendment 25-22, Sec.  25.571; and part 25 Amendment 25-15, Sec.  
25.807(c)(2). In addition, the certification basis includes certain 
special conditions, exemptions, and equivalent safety findings that are 
not relevant to these special conditions.
    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 GIV-X 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

[[Page 65106]]

same type certificate to incorporate 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 GIV-X 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 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 GIV-X will incorporate the following novel or unusual design 
features: Digital systems architecture composed of several connected 
networks. The proposed architecture and network configuration may be 
used for, or interfaced with, a diverse set of functions, including:
    1. Flight-safety related control, communication, and navigation 
systems (aircraft control domain);
    2. Airline business and administrative support (airline information 
domain);
    3. Passenger information and entertainment systems (passenger 
entertainment domain); and
    4. The capability to allow access to or by external sources.

Discussion

    The GIV-X integrated network configuration may allow increased 
connectivity with external network sources and will have more 
interconnected networks and systems, such as passenger entertainment 
and information services, than previous Gulfstream airplane models. 
This may allow the exploitation of network security vulnerabilities and 
increased risks potentially resulting in unsafe conditions for the 
airplane and its occupants. This potential exploitation of security 
vulnerabilities may result in intentional or unintentional destruction, 
disruption, degradation, or exploitation of data and systems critical 
to the safety and maintenance of the airplane. The existing regulations 
and guidance material did not anticipate these types of system 
architectures. Furthermore, 14 CFR regulations and current system 
safety assessment policy and techniques do not address potential 
security vulnerabilities which could be exploited by unauthorized 
access to airplane networks and servers. Therefore, these special 
conditions are being issued to ensure that the security (i.e., 
confidentiality, integrity, and availability) of airplane systems is 
not compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless electronic 
connections between airplane systems and networks and the passenger 
entertainment domain.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Gulfstream Model GIV-X. Should Gulfstream apply at a later date for a 
supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on the 
Type Certificate No. A12EA to incorporate 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 
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability and 
affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of these 
features on the airplane.
    The substance of these special conditions has been subjected to the 
notice and comment period in several prior instances and has been 
derived without substantive change from those previously issued. It is 
unlikely that prior public comment would result in a significant change 
from the substance contained herein. Therefore, because a delay would 
significantly affect the certification of the airplane, which is 
imminent, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment 
are unnecessary and impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting 
these special conditions upon issuance. The FAA is requesting comments 
to allow interested persons to submit views that may not have been 
submitted in response to the prior opportunities for comment described 
above.

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 Model GIV-X airplanes.
    1. The applicant must ensure that the design provides isolation 
from, or airplane electronic system security protection against, access 
by unauthorized sources internal to the airplane. The design must 
prevent inadvertent and malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts 
upon, airplane equipment, systems, networks, or other assets required 
for safe flight and operations.
    2. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the 
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the aircraft is 
maintained, including all post Type Certification modifications that 
may have an impact on the approved electronic system security 
safeguards.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 13, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27198 Filed 10-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P