Rules and Regulations. Final special conditions; request for comments

Agency: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT
Action: Final special conditions; request for comments
Citation: FR Doc. 2016-21123 · Docket No. FAA-2016-4135; Special Conditions No. 25-636-SC · 14 CFR 25

Summary

These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Aerospace Inc. (Bombardier) Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is a sidestick controller, designed to be operated with only one hand, in lieu of the conventional wheel or stick controls. 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 on September 1, 2016. We must receive your comments by October 17, 2016.

Supplementary Information

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 on or before the closing date for comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments we receive. Background On May 30, 2012, Bombardier applied for an amendment to type certificate no. T00003NY to include the new Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. These airplanes are derivatives of the Model BD-700 series of airplanes currently approved under type certificate no. T00003NY, and are marketed as the Bombardier Global 7000 (Model BD-700-2A12) and Global 8000 (Model BD-700-2A13). These airplanes are ultra-long-range, executive-interior business jets. Type Certification Basis Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101, Bombardier must show that the Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes meet the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in type certificate no. T00003NY, 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 BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 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 § 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. The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in accordance with § 11.38, and they become part of the type-certification basis under § 21.101. Novel or Unusual Design Features The Bombardier Inc. Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with sidestick controllers designed to be operated with only one hand. Discussion The Bombardier Aerospace Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes are equipped with sidestick controllers instead of the conventional wheel or control stick. This controller is designed to be operated using only one hand. The requirements of § 25.397(c), which define limit pilot forces and torques for conventional wheel or stick controls, are not adequate for sidestick controllers because pilot forces are applied to sidestick controllers with only the wrist, not arms. Special conditions are necessary to specify the appropriate loading conditions for sidestick controllers. 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 BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. Should Bombardier 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 the other model as well. Conclusion This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on two model series of 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, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary, 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. In lieu of the pilot forces specified in § 25.397(c), for airplanes equipped with sidestick controls designed for force application by one wrist and not arms, the limit pilot forces are as follows: 1. For all components between and including the handle and its control stops. Pitch Roll Nose up: 200 pounds force (lbf) Nose left: 100 lbf. Nose down: 200 lbf Nose right: 100 lbf. 2. For all other components of the sidestick control assembly, excluding the internal components of the electrical sensor assemblies, to avoid damage as a result of an in-flight jam. Pitch Roll Nose up: 125 lbf Nose left: 50 lbf. Nose down: 125 lbf Nose right: 50 lbf. Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 23, 2016. John P. Piccola, Jr., Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2016-21123 Filed 8-31-16; 8:45 am]