Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic Flight Control System Mode Annunciation., 14795-14796 [2011-6333]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2011 / Rules and Regulations Model 747–8 airplanes. Should Boeing apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same novel or unusual design features, the special conditions would apply to that model as well. Conclusion This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features of the Boeing Model 747–8 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(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 the Boeing Model 747–8 airplane. The design must prevent all inadvertent or malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts upon, all systems, networks, hardware, software, and data in the Aircraft Control Domain and in the Airline Information Domain from all points within the Passenger Information and Entertainment Domain. Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2011. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2011–6323 Filed 3–17–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 25 [Docket No. NM437; Special Conditions No. 25–422–SC] Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic Flight Control System Mode Annunciation. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final special conditions. WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with RULES AGENCY: These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream GVI airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features include an electronic SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:29 Mar 17, 2011 Jkt 223001 flight control system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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: Effective Date: April 18, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Jacobsen, FAA, Airplane and Flight Crew Interface Branch, ANM–111, Transport Standards Staff, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425) 227–2011; facsimile (425) 227–1320. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On March 29, 2005, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (hereafter referred to as ‘‘Gulfstream’’) applied for an FAA type certificate for its new Gulfstream Model GVI passenger airplane. Gulfstream later applied for, and was granted, an extension of time for the type certificate, which changed the effective application date to September 28, 2006. The Gulfstream Model GVI airplane will be an all-new, two-engine jet transport airplane with an executive cabin interior. The maximum takeoff weight will be 99,600 pounds, with a maximum passenger count of 19 passengers. Type Certification Basis Under provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, Gulfstream must show that the Gulfstream Model GVI airplane (hereafter referred to as ‘‘the GVI’’) meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25–1 through 25–119, 25–122 and 25–124. 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 GVI 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 features, the special conditions would also apply to the other model under the provisions of § 21.101. In addition to complying with the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the GVI must PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 14795 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 must also issue a finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to section 611 of Public Law 92–574, the ‘‘Noise Control Act of 1972.’’ 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 § 21.17(a)(2). Novel or Unusual Design Features The GVI will have a fly-by-wire electronic flight control system. This system provides an electronic interface between the pilot’s flight controls and the flight control surfaces for both normal and failure states, and it generates the actual surface commands that provide for stability augmentation and control about all three airplane axes. Because electronic flight control system technology has outpaced existing regulations (primarily §§ 25.671 and 25.672), a special condition is needed to ensure appropriate mode recognition by the flight crew for events which significantly change the operating mode of the electronic flight control system. Discussion of Comments Notice of proposed special conditions No. 25–10–02–SC for Gulfstream GVI airplanes was published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2010 (75 FR 77569). Only one comment was received. Clarification of Conditions That Should Be Annunciated The commenter, Gulfstream, requested that the special conditions be revised to clarify the conditions in which the mode annunciation should occur. Gulfstream suggested that additional annunciation should not be required when transitioning from one normal operation mode to another in response to flight crew actions, such as extending flaps or landing gear. We do not agree with the commenter’s recommendation. The current verbiage clearly states that the mode annunciation is only required when ‘‘normal handling or operational characteristics’’ of the airplane are significantly changed or degraded. In the scenario that Gulfstream refers to, there would be no change to the ‘‘normal handling or operational characteristics.’’ Therefore, no annunciation would be required. No changes were made as a result of this comment and the special conditions are adopted as proposed. E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM 18MRR1 14796 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2011 / Rules and Regulations Applicability As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the GVI. Should Gulfstream apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another model on the same type certificate incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would apply to that model as well. Conclusion This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on one airplane model. 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(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 Gulfstream GVI airplanes. If the design of the flight control system has multiple modes of operation, a means must be provided to indicate to the flight crew any mode that significantly changes or degrades the normal handling or operational characteristics of the airplane. Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2011. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2011–6333 Filed 3–17–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA–2006–24145; Directorate Identifier 2006–NE–06–AD; Amendment 39– 16638; AD 2011–07–01] WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with RULES RIN 2120–AA64 Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6–45 and CF6–50 Series Turbofan Engines Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF6–45 SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:29 Mar 17, 2011 Jkt 223001 and CF6–50 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires replacing certain forward and aft centerbodies of the long fixed core exhaust nozzle (LFCEN) assembly. This AD adds certain new forward and aft centerbody part numbers (P/Ns) to the list requiring replacement. This AD was prompted by the discovery of more LFCEN forward and aft centerbody P/Ns that require replacement. We are issuing this AD to prevent the forward and aft centerbody of the LFCEN assembly from separating from the engine, causing damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane. DATES: This AD is effective April 22, 2011. ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact GE– Aviation M/D Rm. 285, One Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215, telephone 513–552–3272; e-mail: geae.aoc@ge.com. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M–30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tomasz Rakowski, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate; phone: 781– 238–7735; fax: 781–238–7199; e-mail: tomasz.rakowski@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Discussion We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2009–04–17, Amendment 39–15823 (74 FR 8735, February 26, 2009). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2011 (76 FR 292). That NPRM proposed to add forward centerbody P/Ns 9076M28G05, G06, and G08, P/Ns PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 9076M82G01 and G03, and aft centerbody P/Ns 9076M46G02 and G04 to the P/Ns in AD 2009–04–17 that are required to be removed from service. Comments We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal and the FAA’s response to the comment. Request One commenter, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, pointed out that the McDonnell Douglas airplanes affected by the proposed AD should be listed out as DC–10–15, DC–10–30, DC–10–30F, KC–10, KDC–10, and MD–10–30F. The commenter stated that the proposed AD only listed these airplanes as a series. We agree. We revised this AD as requested, except we listed KC–10 as KC–10A as it appears in the Type Certificate Data Sheet. Conclusion We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously. Costs of Compliance We estimate that this AD will affect 383 GE CF6–45 and CF6–50 series turbofan engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 44 work hours per engine to perform the actions required by this AD, and that the average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $11,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this AD to U.S. operators to be $5,645,420. Authority for This Rulemaking Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA’s authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency’s authority. We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM 18MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14795-14796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6333]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM437; Special Conditions No. 25-422-SC]


Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic 
Flight Control System Mode Annunciation.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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

SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream GVI 
airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when 
compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness 
standards for transport category airplanes. These design features 
include an electronic flight control system. The applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for these design features. 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: Effective Date: April 18, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Jacobsen, FAA, Airplane and Flight 
Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Standards Staff, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2011; facsimile 
(425) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On March 29, 2005, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (hereafter 
referred to as ``Gulfstream'') applied for an FAA type certificate for 
its new Gulfstream Model GVI passenger airplane. Gulfstream later 
applied for, and was granted, an extension of time for the type 
certificate, which changed the effective application date to September 
28, 2006. The Gulfstream Model GVI airplane will be an all-new, two-
engine jet transport airplane with an executive cabin interior. The 
maximum takeoff weight will be 99,600 pounds, with a maximum passenger 
count of 19 passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
21.17, Gulfstream must show that the Gulfstream Model GVI airplane 
(hereafter referred to as ``the GVI'') meets the applicable provisions 
of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-119, 25-122 
and 25-124. 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 GVI 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 features, the special conditions would also apply to the 
other model under the provisions of Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to complying with the applicable airworthiness 
regulations and special conditions, the GVI 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 must also issue a 
finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to section 611 of Public Law 
92-574, the ``Noise Control Act of 1972.''
    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 GVI will have a fly-by-wire electronic flight control system. 
This system provides an electronic interface between the pilot's flight 
controls and the flight control surfaces for both normal and failure 
states, and it generates the actual surface commands that provide for 
stability augmentation and control about all three airplane axes. 
Because electronic flight control system technology has outpaced 
existing regulations (primarily Sec. Sec.  25.671 and 25.672), a 
special condition is needed to ensure appropriate mode recognition by 
the flight crew for events which significantly change the operating 
mode of the electronic flight control system.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of proposed special conditions No. 25-10-02-SC for 
Gulfstream GVI airplanes was published in the Federal Register on 
December 13, 2010 (75 FR 77569). Only one comment was received.

Clarification of Conditions That Should Be Annunciated

    The commenter, Gulfstream, requested that the special conditions be 
revised to clarify the conditions in which the mode annunciation should 
occur. Gulfstream suggested that additional annunciation should not be 
required when transitioning from one normal operation mode to another 
in response to flight crew actions, such as extending flaps or landing 
gear.
    We do not agree with the commenter's recommendation. The current 
verbiage clearly states that the mode annunciation is only required 
when ``normal handling or operational characteristics'' of the airplane 
are significantly changed or degraded. In the scenario that Gulfstream 
refers to, there would be no change to the ``normal handling or 
operational characteristics.'' Therefore, no annunciation would be 
required. No changes were made as a result of this comment and the 
special conditions are adopted as proposed.

[[Page 14796]]

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
GVI. Should Gulfstream apply at a later date for a change to the type 
certificate to include another model on the same type certificate 
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, the special 
conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one airplane model. 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(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 Gulfstream GVI airplanes.

    If the design of the flight control system has multiple modes of 
operation, a means must be provided to indicate to the flight crew 
any mode that significantly changes or degrades the normal handling 
or operational characteristics of the airplane.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6333 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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