[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3026-3027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00975]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1077; Special Conditions No. 25-609A-SC]


Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 6X Airplane; 
Design Roll Maneuver

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; amendment.

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SUMMARY: These amended special conditions are issued for the Dassault 
Aviation (Dassault) Model Falcon 6X airplane. This airplane 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 electronic flight controls 
that affect maneuvering. 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 Dassault on January 20, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Martin, AIR-621, Materials and 
Structural Properties Section, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, 
Policy and Innovation Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 S 
216th Street,

[[Page 3027]]

Des Moines, Washington 98198-6547; telephone and fax 206-231-3210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 1, 2012, Dassault Aviation applied for a type certificate 
for their new Model Falcon 5X airplane. Those special conditions were 
issued on February 17, 2016 (81 FR 7965). However, Dassault has decided 
not to release an airplane under the model designation Falcon 5X, 
instead choosing to change that model designation to Falcon 6X.
    In February of 2018, due to engine supplier issues, Dassault 
extended the type certificate application date for their Model Falcon 
5X airplane under new Model Falcon 6X. This amendment to the original 
special conditions reflects the model-name change. This airplane is a 
twin-engine business jet with seating for 19 passengers and a maximum 
takeoff weight of 77,460 pounds. The Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane 
design remains unchanged from the Model Falcon 5X in all material 
respects other than different engines.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Dassault must show that the 
Model Falcon 6X airplane meets the applicable provisions of part 25, as 
amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-146.
    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 Dassault Model Falcon 6X 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 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 Dassault Model Falcon 6X 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.  21.17(a)(2).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design feature:
    An electronic flight-control system that provides control through 
pilot inputs to the flight computer, thereby affecting maneuverability 
of the airplane as compared to conventional control systems.

Discussion

    Current part 25 airworthiness regulations account for control laws 
for which aileron deflection is proportional to control-stick 
deflection. They do not address nonlinearities or other effects on 
aileron actuation that may be caused by electronic flight controls. 
Because this type of system may affect flight loads, and therefore the 
structural capability of the airplane, specific regulations are needed 
to address these effects.
    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.

Discussion of Comments

    The FAA issued Final special conditions, request for comment 
Special Conditions No. 25-609-SC for the Dassault Model Falcon 5X 
airplane, which was published in the Federal Register on February 17, 
2016 (81 FR 7965). No comments were received, and the special 
conditions are adopted as proposed, with amendments.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane. Should Dassault 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 one model of airplane. 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(f), 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 Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplanes.
    In lieu of compliance to Sec.  25.349(a), the following conditions, 
speeds, and cockpit roll-control motions (except as the motions may be 
limited by pilot effort) must be considered in combination with an 
airplane load factor of zero, and of two-thirds of the positive 
maneuvering factor used in design. In determining the resulting 
control-surface deflections, the torsional flexibility of the wing must 
be considered in accordance with Sec.  25.301(b).
    1. Conditions corresponding to steady rolling velocities must be 
investigated. In addition, conditions corresponding to maximum angular 
acceleration must be investigated for airplanes with engines or other 
weight concentrations outboard of the fuselage. For the angular 
acceleration conditions, zero rolling velocity may be assumed in the 
absence of a rational time-history investigation of the maneuver.
    2. At VA, sudden movement of the cockpit roll control up 
to the limit is assumed. The position of the cockpit roll control must 
be maintained until a steady roll rate is achieved, and then must be 
returned suddenly to the neutral position.
    3. At VC, the cockpit roll control must be moved 
suddenly and maintained so as to achieve a roll rate not less than that 
obtained in special condition 2, above.
    4. At VD, the cockpit roll control must be moved 
suddenly and maintained so as to achieve a roll rate not less than one-
third of that obtained in special condition 2, above.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 13, 2022.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00975 Filed 1-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P