[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 166 (Monday, August 29, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52661-52663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18568]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 166 / Monday, August 29, 2022 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 52661]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0476; Special Conditions No. 25-780A-SC]


Special Conditions: TC Inter-Informatics A.S., Airbus Model A330-
243 Airplane; Single-Occupant, Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats With 
Inflatable Lap Belts

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final special conditions; amendment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: These amended special conditions are issued for the Airbus 
Model A330-243 series airplane, as modified by TC Inter-Informatics 
A.S. (TC Inter-Informatics). 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 single-occupant, oblique, B/E Aerospace Super Diamond 
seats, equipped with inflatable lap belts. 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 TC Inter-Informatics on August 29, 
2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Sinclair, Human-Machine Interface 
Section, AIR-626, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and 
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; 
telephone and fax 206-231-3215; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 21, 2017, TC Inter-Informatics applied for a supplemental 
type certificate to install B/E Aerospace Super Diamond specific Model 
1031301 seats, equipped with inflatable restraint systems, at oblique 
angles of 27.25 and 30 degrees to the longitudinal centerline on Airbus 
Model A330-243 airplanes. The Airbus Model A330-243 airplane, which is 
a derivative of the Airbus Model A330 airplane currently approved under 
Type Certificate No. A46NM, is a twin-engine, transport-category 
airplane with a maximum takeoff weight of 507,063 pounds and seating 
for 375 passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR), Sec.  21.101, TC Inter-Informatics must show that the Airbus 
Model A330-243 airplane, as changed, continues to meet the applicable 
provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A46NM 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 (e.g., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Airbus Model A330-243 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 Airbus Model A330-243 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 Airbus Model A330-243 airplane, as modified by TC Inter-
Informatics, will incorporate the following novel or unusual design 
feature:
    Single-occupant, oblique seats equipped with inflatable lapbelts.

Discussion

    Amendment 25-15 to part 25, dated October 24, 1967, introduced the 
subject of side-facing seats, and a requirement that each occupant in a 
side-facing seat must be protected from head injury by a safety belt 
and a cushioned rest that will support the arms, shoulders, head, and 
spine.
    Subsequently, amendment 25-20, dated April 23, 1969, clarified the 
definition of side-facing seats to require that each occupant of a 
seat, positioned at more than an 18-degree angle to the vertical plane 
of the airplane longitudinal centerline, must be protected from head 
injury by a safety belt and an energy-absorbing rest that will support 
the arms, shoulders, head, and spine; or by a safety belt and shoulder 
harness that will prevent the head from contacting any injurious 
object. The FAA concluded that an 18-degree angle would provide an 
adequate level of safety based on tests that were performed at that 
time, and thus adopted that standard.
    Part 25 was amended June 16, 1988, by amendment 25-64, to revise 
the emergency-landing conditions that must be considered in the design 
of the airplane. Amendment 25-64 revised the static-load conditions in 
14 CFR 25.561, and added the new Sec.  25.562 that requires dynamic 
testing for all seats approved for occupancy during takeoff and 
landing. The intent of amendment 25-64 is to provide an improved level 
of safety for occupants on transport-category airplanes. Because most 
seating is forward-facing on transport-category airplanes, the pass/
fail criteria developed in amendment 25-64 focused primarily on these 
seats. As a result, the FAA issued Policy Statement ANM-03-115-30, 
``Side-facing Seats on Transport Category Airplanes,'' and Policy 
Memorandum PS-ANM100-2000-00123, ``Guidance for Demonstrating 
Compliance with Seat Dynamic Testing for Plinths and Pallets,'' to 
provide the

[[Page 52662]]

additional guidance necessary to demonstrate the level of safety 
required by the regulations for side-facing seats.
    To reflect current research findings, the FAA issued Policy 
Statement PS-ANM-25-03-R1, ``Technical Criteria for Approving Side-
Facing Seats,'' on November 5, 2012, which updates injury criteria for 
fully side-facing seats. This policy statement was issued to define 
revised injury criteria associated with neck and leg injuries.
    The proposed Airbus Model A330-243 airplane, with an oblique 
seating configuration by TC Inter-Informatics, is novel such that the 
Airbus Model A330-243 airplane certification basis does not adequately 
address protection of the occupant's neck and spine for seat 
configurations that are positioned at an angle greater than 18 degrees 
from the airplane centerline. Therefore, the TC Inter-Informatics 
proposed configuration requires new special conditions.
    These special conditions will provide head-injury criteria, neck-
injury criteria, spine-injury criteria, and body-to-wall contact 
criteria. They 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. 25-780-SC for the Airbus Model A330-243 
airplane, as modified by TC Inter-Informatics, which was published in 
the Federal Register on February 2, 2021 (86 FR 7799). The FAA received 
responses from two commenters.
    One commenter recommended changing Condition no. 5 to require 
longitudinal tests to be conducted with the Hybrid III anthropomorphic 
test dummy (ATD), versus tests ``as necessary,'' stating that, as 
written, the wording implies that the tests are optional. The FAA 
concurs with the comment and has changed ``as necessary'' to ``as 
required.''
    The Boeing Company submitted eight comments, each requesting 
clarification in keeping with corresponding text from FAA Policy PS-
AIR-25-27, ``Technical Criteria for Approving Oblique Seats,'' dated 
July 11, 2018. The certification project to which these Special 
Conditions apply is a validation of a supplemental type certificate 
issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) prior to the 
issuance of FAA Policy PS-AIR-25-27. The certification basis for the 
project is based on the date of application for the EASA design 
approval in accordance with the Technical Implementation Procedures for 
Airworthiness and Environmental Certification between the FAA and the 
EASA.
    The FAA agrees to incorporate six comments affecting Condition nos. 
1, 2, 3, 3.a, 3.b, and 3.d., and has made the changes. These six 
comments better align the wording of these Conditions with FAA Policy 
PS-AIR-25-27, but do not alter the criteria or intent of the 
Conditions, thus do not affect the certification basis of this 
supplemental type certificate.
    Boeing recommended changing the Condition no. 4.a, Lumbar Spine, to 
include, ``The lumbar spine tension (Fz) cannot exceed 1,200 
lbs.'' Boeing also recommended adding conditions for pelvis criteria 
and femur criteria.
    The FAA does not concur because these criteria were established by 
FAA Policy PS-AIR-25-27, and, as mentioned previously, the 
certification basis for the project is based on the date of application 
for the EASA design approval pursuant to the Technical Implementation 
Procedures for Airworthiness and Environmental Certification between 
the FAA and the EASA, which is before that policy was established.
    These special conditions are being amended as discussed above. All 
other special conditions are adopted as issued.

Applicability

    These special conditions are applicable to Airbus Model A330-243 
airplanes with B/E Aerospace Super Diamond business class seats 
installed, per TC Inter-Informatics project-specific certification plan 
JD-45AC01-1. Should TC Inter-Informatics apply at a later date for a 
supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on 
Type Certificate No. A46NM to incorporate 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 one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability, 
and affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of 
this feature on the airplane.

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

    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 A330-243 airplanes, as 
modified by TC Inter-Informatics.

Single-Occupant, Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats Special Conditions

1. Existing Criteria
    All injury protection criteria of Sec.  25.562(c)(1) through (6) 
apply to the occupant of an oblique (side-facing) seat. Head-injury 
criterion (HIC) assessments are only required for head contact with the 
seat and adjacent structures. If the ATD has no apparent contact with a 
seat or structure, but does have contact with an airbag, a HIC 
unlimited score in excess of 1000 is acceptable, provided that the 
HIC15 score for that contact is less than 700.
2. Body-to-Wall/Furnishing Contact Criteria
    If an oblique seat is installed aft of structure (e.g., an interior 
wall or furnishing) that does not provide a homogenous contact surface 
for the expected range of occupants and yaw angles, then additional 
analysis or tests may be required to demonstrate that the injury 
criteria are met for the area which an occupant could contact. For 
example, if different yaw angles could result in different airbag 
performance, then additional analysis or separate tests may be 
necessary to evaluate performance.
3. Neck-Injury Criteria
    The seating system must protect the occupant from experiencing 
serious neck injury. The assessment of neck injury must be conducted 
with the airbag activated, unless there is reason to also consider that 
the neck-injury potential would be higher below the inflatable 
restraint threshold. If so, additional tests may be required.
    a. The Nij (calculated in accordance with 49 CFR 
571.208) must be below 1.0, where Nij =Fz/
Fzc + My/Myc, and Nij 
intercepts limited to:

i. Fzc = 1530 lb. for tension
ii. Fzc = 1385 lb. for compression
iii. Myc = 229 lb-ft in flexion
iv. Myc = 100 lb-ft in extension

    b. In addition, peak upper-neck Fz must be below 937 lb. 
in tension and 899 lb. in compression.
    c. Rotation of the head about its vertical axis relative to the 
torso is limited to 105 degrees in either direction from forward-
facing.

[[Page 52663]]

    d. The neck must not impact any surface.
4. Spine and Torso Injury Criteria
    a. The shoulders must remain aligned with the hips throughout the 
impact sequence, or support for the upper torso must be provided to 
prevent forward or lateral flailing beyond 45 degrees from the vertical 
during significant spinal loading.
    b. Significant concentrated loading on the occupant's spine, in the 
area between the pelvis and shoulders during impact, including rebound, 
is not acceptable.
    c. Occupant must not interact with the armrest or other seat 
components in any manner significantly different than would be expected 
for a forward-facing seat installation.
5. Longitudinal Tests
    These must be performed, as required, with the Hybrid III ATD, as 
described in SAE 1999-01-1609, ``A Lumbar Spine Modification to the 
Hybrid III ATD for Aircraft Seat Tests.'' The tests must be conducted 
with an undeformed floor, most critical yaw cases for injury, and with 
all lateral structural supports (armrests and walls) installed. For the 
pass/fail injury assessments, see the criteria listed in special 
conditions 1 through 4, above.

    Note:  TC Inter-Informatics A.S. must demonstrate that the 
installation of seats via plinths or pallets meets all applicable 
requirements. Compliance with the guidance contained in FAA Policy 
Memorandum PS-ANM-100-2000-00123, dated February 2, 2000, titled 
``Guidance for Demonstrating Compliance with Seat Dynamic Testing 
for Plinths and Pallets,'' is acceptable to the FAA.

Inflatable Lapbelt Conditions

    If inflatable lapbelts are installed on single-place side-facing 
seats, the inflatable lapbelts must meet the requirements of Special 
Conditions No. 25-395-SC.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 24, 2022.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-18568 Filed 8-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P