[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75284-75285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29485]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 11, 2013 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 75284]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1038; Notice No. 25-13-37-SC]


Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-
500-1A11 Series Airplanes; Flight Envelope Protection: High Speed 
Limiting

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Bombardier 
Inc. Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. These 
airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with 
an electronic flight control system that contains fly-by-wire control 
laws, including envelope protections, for the overspeed protection and 
roll limiting function. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not 
contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design 
feature. These proposed 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: Send your comments on or before January 27, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2013-1038 
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 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 9 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: Joe Jacobsen, FAA, Airplane and Flight 
Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2011; facsimile 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 on or before the closing 
date for comments. We may change these special conditions based on the 
comments we receive.

Background

    On December 10, 2009, Bombardier Inc. applied for a type 
certificate for their new Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series 
airplanes (hereafter collectively referred to as ``C-series''). The C-
series airplanes are swept-wing monoplanes with a pressurized cabin. 
They share an identical supplier base and significant common design 
elements. The fuselage is aluminum alloy material, blended double-
bubble fuselage, sized for nominal 5-abreast seating. Each airplane's 
powerplant consists of two under wing Pratt and Whitney PW1524G ultra-
high bypass, geared turbofan engines. Flight controls are fly-by-wire 
flight with two passive/uncoupled side sticks. Avionics includes five 
landscape primary cockpit displays. The dimension of the airplanes 
encompass a wingspan of 115 feet; a height of 37.75 feet; and a length 
of 114.75 feet for the Model BD-500-1A10 and a length of 127 feet for 
the Model BD-500-1A11. Passenger capacity is designated as 110 for the 
Model BD-500-1A10 and 125 for the Model BD-500-1A11. Maximum takeoff 
weight is 131,000 pounds for the Model BD-500-1A10 and 144,000 pounds 
for the Model BD-500-1A11. Maximum takeoff thrust is 21,000 pounds for 
the Model BD-500-1A10 and 23,300 pounds for the Model BD-500-1A11. 
Range is 3,394 miles (5,463 kilometers) for both models of airplanes. 
Maximum operating altitude is 41,000 feet for both model airplanes.
    The longitudinal control law design of the Bombardier C-series 
airplanes incorporates an overspeed protection system in the normal 
mode. This mode prevents the pilot from inadvertently or intentionally 
exceeding a speed approximately equivalent to the maximum speed for 
stability characteristics (VFC) or attaining demonstrated 
flight diving speed (VDF). Current Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 25 standards did not envision a high speed 
limiter that might preclude or modify flying qualities assessments in 
the overspeed region.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Bombardier Inc. must show 
that the C-series airplanes meet the applicable provisions of part 25 
as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-129 thereto.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations

[[Page 75285]]

(i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for the C-series airplanes 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 or similar 
novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would also 
apply to the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the C-series airplanes 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 C-series airplanes will incorporate the following novel or 
unusual design features: An electronic flight control system that 
contains fly-by-wire control laws, including envelope protections, for 
the overspeed protection and roll limiting function. Current part 25 
requirements do not contain appropriate standards for high speed 
protection systems.

Discussion

    The overspeed protection functionality includes multifunction 
spoilers (MFS) that will automatically deploy as speed brakes once the 
airspeed exceeds a small tolerance above maximum operating limit speed 
(Vmo/Mmo); the MFS will retract automatically 
when speed is subsequently reduced. Special conditions are necessary in 
addition to the requirements of Sec.  25.143 for the operation of the 
high speed protection. The general intent is that the overspeed 
protection does not impede normal maneuvering and speed control, and 
that the overspeed protection does not restrict or prevent emergency 
maneuvering.
    These proposed 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.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. Should Bombardier 
Inc. 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 two model series of airplanes. 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 Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the 
following special conditions as part of the type certification basis 
for the Bombardier Inc. Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series 
airplanes.
    1. Flight Envelope Protection--High Speed Limiting. In addition to 
Sec.  25.143, the following requirements apply: Operation of the high 
speed limiter during all routine and descent procedure flight must not 
impede normal attainment of speeds up to overspeed warning.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 29, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-29485 Filed 12-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P