[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30314-30316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13949]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0605; Special Conditions No. 25-730-SC]


Special Conditions: Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 Series 
Airplanes; 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 Airbus Model A318, 
A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel 
or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology 
envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category 
airplanes. This design feature is airplane electronic systems and 
networks that allow access from external sources (e.g., wireless 
devices, internet connectivity) to the airplane's internal electronic 
components.
    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 Airbus on June 28, 2018. Send 
comments on or before August 13, 2018.

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ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2018-0605 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 website, 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).
    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, Airplane and Flight Crew 
Interface Section, AIR-671, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and 
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; 
telephone and fax 206-231-3159; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The substance of these special conditions previously has been 
published in the Federal Register for public comment. These special 
conditions have 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, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment 
are unnecessary, and finds that, for the same reason, good cause exists 
for adopting these special conditions 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 2, 2017, Airbus applied for a change to Type 
Certificate No. A28NM for the installation of electronic network system 
architecture or Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (FOMAX) 
equipment in the Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. The 
Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes are twin-
engine, transport category airplanes with a passenger seating capacity 
of 136 to 230 and a maximum takeoff weight of 123,458 to 213,848 
pounds, depending on the specific design.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Airbus must show that the Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 
series airplanes as changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions 
of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A28NM 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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and 
A321 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 novel or 
unusual design feature, or should any other model already included on 
the same type certificate be modified 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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 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.
    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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes will 
incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:
    The installation and activation of electronic network system 
architecture or Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (FOMAX) 
equipment that allows access from external sources (e.g., wireless 
devices, internet connectivity) to the airplane's internal electronic 
components.

Discussion

    The Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplane 
architecture and network configuration may allow increased connectivity 
to and access from external network sources and airline operations and 
maintenance networks to the aircraft control domain and airline 
information services domain. The aircraft control domain and airline 
information services domain perform functions required for the safe 
operation and maintenance of the airplane. Previously these domains had 
very limited connectivity with external network sources. The 
architecture and network configuration may allow the exploitation of 
network security vulnerabilities resulting in intentional or 
unintentional destruction, disruption, degradation, or exploitation of 
data, systems, and networks critical to the safety and maintenance of 
the airplane.
    The existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate 
these types of airplane system architectures. Furthermore, 14 CFR 
regulations and the current system safety assessment policy and 
techniques do not address potential security vulnerabilities, which 
could be exploited by unauthorized access to airplane networks, data 
buses, and servers. Therefore, these special conditions are to ensure 
that the security (i.e., confidentiality, integrity, and availability) 
of airplane systems is not compromised by unauthorized

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wired or wireless electronic connections.
    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 
Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. Should Airbus 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 a certain novel or unusual design feature 
on Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. It is not a 
rule of general applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Authority Citation

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.

The Special Conditions

0
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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 
series airplanes.
    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 aircraft is 
maintained, including all post-type-certification modifications that 
may have an impact on the approved electronic system security 
safeguards.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on June 25, 2018.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-13949 Filed 6-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P