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. 2021-05293 · Docket No. FAA-2020-1207; Special Conditions No. 25-782-SC · 14 CFR 25

Summary

These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane. This airplane, as modified by Rockwell Collins, 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 the installation of a system that allows connection to airplane electronic systems and networks, and access from sources internal to the airplane to the previously isolated internal airplane electronic assets. 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. DATE: This action is effective on Rockwell Collins on March 15, 2021. Send comments on or before April 29, 2021.

Supplementary Information

The substance of these special conditions has been published in the Federal Register for public comment in several prior instances with no substantive comments received. Therefore, the FAA finds, pursuant to 14 CFR 11.38(b), that new comments are unlikely, and public notice and comment prior to this publication are unnecessary. Comments Invited The FAA invites 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. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date for comments. The FAA may change these special conditions based on the comments received. Background On May 3, 2019, Rockwell Collins applied for a supplemental type certificate for installation of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion System in the Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane, requiring security protection from unauthorized internal access. The Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane is a twin-engine, transport-category airplane with a passenger capacity of 19 and a maximum takeoff weight of 40,600 pounds. Type Certification Basis Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101, Rockwell Collins must show that the Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane, as changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. T00005NY, 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 Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane 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 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 § 21.101. In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 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 § 11.38, and they become part of the type certification basis under § 21.101. Novel or Unusual Design Features The Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane, as modified by Rockwell Collins, will incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature: Installation of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion System, which allows connection to airplane electronic systems and networks, and access from sources internal to the airplane to the previously isolated internal airplane electronic assets. Discussion The Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane architecture is novel or unusual for commercial transport airplanes because it allows connection to previously isolated data networks connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe operation and maintenance of the airplane. This data network and design integration 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 errors, and intentional sabotage of airplane electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases) critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane. The existing FAA regulations did not anticipate these networked airplane system architectures. Furthermore, these regulations and the current guidance material do not address potential security vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by unauthorized access to airplane networks, data buses, and servers. Therefore, these special conditions ensure that the security ( i.e., confidentiality, integrity, and availability) of airplane systems will not be compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless connections from within the airplane. These special conditions also require the applicant to provide appropriate instructions to the operator to maintain all electronic-system safeguards that have been implemented as part of the original network design so that this feature does not allow or reintroduce security threats. 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 Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane. Should Rockwell Collins apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. T00005NY 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, as modified by Rockwell Collins. It is not a rule of general applicability and affects only the applicant. 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 Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes, as modified by Rockwell Collins, for electronic-system security protection from unauthorized internal access. 1. The applicant must ensure that the design provides isolation from, or airplane electronic-system security protection against, access by unauthorized sources internal to the airplane. The design must prevent inadvertent and malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts upon, airplane equipment, systems, networks, or other assets required for safe flight and operations. 2. 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 Des Moines, Washington, on February 9, 2021. Suzanne Masterson, Manager, Transport Airplane Strategic Policy Section, Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2021-05293 Filed 3-12-21; 8:45 am]