[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56475-56477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20000]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2016-8029; Special Conditions No. 25-634-SC]
Special Conditions: Garmin International, Beechcraft Corporation
Model 400A Airplanes; Airplane Electronic-System Security Protection
From Unauthorized External 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 Beechcraft
Corporation (Beechcraft) Model 400A airplane. This airplane, as
modified by Garmin International (Garmin), will have a novel or unusual
design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in
the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. These
airplanes will have a digital-systems network architecture composed of
several connected networks that may allow access to or by external
computer systems and networks, and may otherwise result in airplane
electronic-system security vulnerabilities without appropriate
protection. 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 Garmin on August 22, 2016. We must
receive your comments by October 6, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2016-8029
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.
[[Page 56476]]
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: Varun Khanna, FAA, Airplane and Flight
Crew Interface, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone 425-227-1298; 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
airplane.
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 February 13, 2014, Garmin applied for a supplemental type
certificate to allow installation of digital-systems network
architecture, composed of several connected networks that may allow
access to or by external computer systems and networks, in Beechcraft
Model 400A airplanes. The Model 400A airplane is a small, twin-engine,
transport-category airplane with a maximum takeoff weight of 16,300 lbs
and capable of carrying 7 to 9 passengers, plus 2 crew members.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Garmin must show that the Beechcraft Model 400A airplane,
as changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions of the
regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A16SW, or the applicable
regulations in effect on the date of application for the change, except
for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA.
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 Beechcraft Model 400A airplane
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 same type
certificate to incorporate 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 Beechcraft Model 400A 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.
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 Beechcraft Model 400A airplanes will incorporate the following
novel or unusual design features:
The Garmin G5000, installed in the Beechcraft Model 400A airplane,
may add wired and wireless access points to the networks of the
Aircraft Control Domain and Airline Information Services Domain. This
creates a potential for unauthorized persons to access the Aircraft
Control Domain and Airline Information Services Domain, and presents
security vulnerabilities related to the introduction of computer
viruses and worms, user error, and intentional sabotage of airplane
electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases) if not
appropriately protected.
Discussion
The Garmin G5000 allows connection to airplane electronic systems
and networks, and access from airplane external sources (e.g., operator
networks, wireless devices, Internet connectivity, service-provider
satellite communications, electronic flight bags, etc.) to the
previously isolated airplane electronic assets. Airplane electronic
assets include electronic equipment and systems, instruments, networks,
servers, software and electronic components, field-loadable software
and hardware applications, and databases. This proposed design may
otherwise result in network security vulnerabilities from intentional
or unintentional corruption of data and systems required for the
safety, operation, and maintenance of the airplane if not appropriately
protected. The existing regulations and guidance material did not
anticipate this type of system architecture, or external wired and
wireless electronic access to airplane electronic systems. Furthermore,
regulations, and current system safety-assessment policy and
techniques, do not address potential security vulnerabilities that
could be caused by unauthorized access to airplane electronic systems
and networks.
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
Beechcraft Model 400A airplane. Should Garmin apply at a later date for
a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on
Type Certificate No. A16SW to incorporate 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 one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability and
affects only the
[[Page 56477]]
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 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 Beechcraft Model 400A airplanes
modified by Garmin.
1. The applicant must ensure that the airplane electronic systems
are protected from access by unauthorized sources external to the
airplane, including those possibly caused by maintenance activity.
2. The applicant must ensure that electronic system-security
threats are identified and assessed, and that effective electronic
system-security protection strategies are implemented to protect the
airplane from all adverse impacts on safety, functionality, and
continued airworthiness.
3. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the airplane 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 August 11, 2016.
Paul Bernado,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20000 Filed 8-19-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P