[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32635-32636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13240]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1041; Notice No. 25-546-SC]


Special Conditions: Bombardier Aerospace, Models BD-500-1A10 and 
BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes; Electronic Flight Control System: Control 
Surface Awareness and Mode Annunciation

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final Special Conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier 
Aerospace Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. These 
airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with 
control surface awareness and mode annunciation of the electronic 
flight control system. 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 7, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Jacobsen, FAA, Airplane and 
Flightcrew 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: 

Background

    On December 10, 2009, Bombardier Aerospace applied for a type 
certificate for their new Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series 
airplanes (hereafter collectively referred to as ``CSeries''). The 
CSeries airplanes are swept-wing monoplanes with an aluminum alloy 
fuselage sized for 5-abreast seating. 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.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.17, Bombardier Aerospace must show that the CSeries airplanes 
meet the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25 as amended by 
Amendments 25-1 through 25-129 thereto.
    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 CSeries 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 CSeries 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 CSeries airplanes will incorporate the following novel or 
unusual design features: A fly-by-wire electronic flight control system 
(EFCS) and no direct coupling from the flightdeck controller to the 
control surface. As a result, the pilot is not aware of the actual 
control surface position as envisioned under current airworthiness 
standards.

Discussion

    These special conditions require that the flightcrew receive a 
suitable flight control position annunciation when a flight condition 
exists in which nearly full surface authority (not crew-commanded) is 
being used. Suitability of such a display must take into account that 
some pilot-demanded maneuvers (e.g., rapid roll) are necessarily 
associated with intended full performance, which may saturate the 
surface. Therefore, simple alerting systems function in both intended 
and unexpected control-limiting situations. As a result, they must be 
properly balanced between providing necessary crew awareness and being 
a potential nuisance to the flightcrew. A monitoring system that 
compares airplane motion and surface deflection with the demand of the 
pilot side stick controller could help reduce nuisance alerting.
    These special conditions also address flight control system mode 
annunciation. Suitable mode annunciation must be provided to the 
flightcrew for events that significantly change the operating mode of 
the system but do not merit the classic ``failure warning.''
    These special conditions establish a level of safety equivalent to 
that provided by a conventional flight control system and existing 
regulations.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of proposed special conditions No. 25-13-40-SC for the 
Bombardier CSeries airplanes was published in the Federal Register on 
December 12, 2013 (78 FR 75511). No comments were received, and the 
special conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. Should Bombardier 
Aerospace 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 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 Bombardier Aerospace Models BD-
500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes.

[[Page 32636]]

Electronic Flight Control System: Control Surface Awareness and Mode 
Annunciation

0
1. In addition to the requirements of Sec. Sec.  25.143, 25.671, and 
25.672, the following requirements apply:
    a. The system design must ensure that the flightcrew is made 
suitably aware whenever the primary control means nears the limit of 
control authority.

    Note: The term ``suitably aware'' indicates annunciations 
provided to the flightcrew are appropriately balanced between 
nuisance and that necessary for crew awareness.

    b. If the design of the flight control system has multiple modes of 
operation, a means must be provided to indicate to the flightcrew any 
mode that significantly changes or degrades the normal handling or 
operational characteristics of the airplane.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 22, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-13240 Filed 6-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P