[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 159 (Tuesday, August 18, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49892-49893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20299]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2002; Special Conditions No. 25-593-SC]


Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc. Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-
2A13 Airplanes; Flight Envelope Protection, High-Speed Limiting

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 Bombardier Inc. 
Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. 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: This action is effective on Bombardier Inc. on August 18, 2015. 
We must receive your comments by October 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2015-2002 
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 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 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, 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: The FAA has determined that notice of, and 
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is 
impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay 
issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected 
airplanes.
    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 
publication in the Federal Register.

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 May 30, 2012, Bombardier Aerospace Inc. applied for a type 
certificate for their new Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. 
These airplanes are derivatives of the Model BD-700 series airplanes. 
These two models are marketed as the Bombardier Global 7000 and Global 
8000, respectively. These are ultra-long-range, executive-interior 
business jets, with a maximum certified passenger capacity of 19.
    The Global 7000 and Global 8000 airplanes will be assembled without 
a completed interior in Toronto, Ontario, and flight tested at the 
Bombardier Flight Test Center in Wichita, Kansas. Like the existing BD-
700 airplanes, Global 7000 and Global 8000 custom passenger interiors 
and airplane delivery will be provided from Montreal, Quebec, via 
supplemental type certificate.
    The Global 7000 and Global 8000 share an identical supplier base 
and significant design-element commonality, the highlights of which 
are:

 Two GE PassportTM 20 aft-mounted engines
 New high-speed transonic wing
 Fly-by-wire control system with side-stick controls
 Pro Line Fusion[supreg] avionics suite

    Both the Model BD-700-2A12 and -2A13 airplanes have a wingspan of 
104.1 feet, a height of 26.7 feet, a maximum operating altitude of 
51,000 feet, a maximum operating speed of 340 knots, and a maximum 
fuselage diameter of 8.84 feet. The BD-700-2A12 is 111.9 feet long, 
with a maximum take-off weight of 106,250 pounds; and the -2A13 is 
102.9 feet in length at 104,800 pounds.
    The longitudinal control-law design of both airplane designs 
incorporate a high-speed protection system in the normal mode; this 
would prevent the pilot from inadvertently or intentionally exceeding a 
speed approximately equivalent to VFC or attaining 
VDF. Current Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 25 sections do not relate to a high-speed limiter that might 
preclude or modify flying-qualities assessments in the high-speed 
region.

[[Page 49893]]

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Bombardier Inc. must show 
that the Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes meet the 
applicable provisions of part 25 as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 
25-129.
    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 BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 
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 novel or 
unusual design feature, these special conditions would also apply to 
the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 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 Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes will 
incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:
    An electronic flight-control system that contains fly-by-wire 
control laws, including envelope protections, for high-speed protection 
functions. Current part 25 requirements do not contain appropriate 
standards for high-speed protection systems.

Discussion

    Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes are equipped with a 
high-speed protection system, which, when the system detects airspeed 
exceeding a small tolerance above VMO/MMO, 
employs a high-speed limiter to automatically deploy multifunction 
spoilers (MFS) as speed brakes. The MFS retract automatically when the 
system detects that airspeed is sufficiently reduced.
    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.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 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, these special conditions would apply to that 
model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. It is not a 
rule of general applicability.
    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, the FAA has 
determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and 
impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting these special 
conditions upon publication in the Federal Register. 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 Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 airplanes. The requirements of Sec.  25.253 (high-speed 
characteristics), and its related policy, are applicable to the Model 
BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes, and are not affected by these 
special conditions.
    In addition to Sec.  25.143, the following requirement applies:
    Operation of the high-speed limiter during all routine and descent 
procedure flight must not impede normal attainment of speeds up to 
high-speed warning.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 7, 2015.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20299 Filed 8-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P