Special Conditions: Bombardier Aerospace, Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Airplanes; Sidestick Controllers, 69568-69569 [2012-28131]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69568-69569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28131]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 69568]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1236; Notice No. 25-12-14-SC]


Special Conditions: Bombardier Aerospace, Model BD-500-1A10 and 
BD-500-1A11 Airplanes; Sidestick Controllers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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

SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Bombardier 
Aerospace Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. These airplanes 
will have a novel or unusual design feature, specifically sidestick 
controllers designed to be operated with only one hand. The applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for this design feature. These proposed 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: Send your comments on or before January 4, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number [FAA-2012-1236] 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for sending 
your comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal 
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the 
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all 
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the 
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as well as at https://DocketsInfo.dot.gov/.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
https://www.regulations.gov/ at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Martin, FAA, Airframe and Cabin 
Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone 425-227-1178; facsimile 425-227-1232.

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 December 10, 2009, Bombardier Aerospace applied for a type 
certificate for their new Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. 
The Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes are swept-wing 
monoplanes with pressurized cabins, and they share an identical 
supplier base and significant common design elements. The fuselages are 
aluminum alloy material, blended double-bubble fuselages, sized for 
nominal five-abreast seating. Each airplane's powerplant includes two 
under-wing Pratt and Whitney PW1524G ultra-high bypass, geared turbofan 
engines. The flight controls are fly-by-wire flight with two passive/
uncoupled sidesticks. Avionics include five landscape primary cockpit 
displays. The dimension of the aircraft encompasses a wingspan of 115 
feet; height of 37.75 feet; and length of 114.75 feet for the Model BD-
500-1A10 and length of 127 feet for the Model BD-500-1A11. Passenger 
capacity is designated as 110 for the Model BD-500-1A10 and 125 for the 
Model BD-500-1A11. Maximum takeoff weight is 131,000 pounds for the 
Model BD-500-1A10 and 144,000 pounds for the Model BD-500-1A11. Maximum 
takeoff thrust is 21,000 pounds for the Model BD-500-1A10 and 23,300 
pounds for the Model BD-500-1A11. The range is 5,463 kilometres for 
both model airplanes. The maximum operating altitude is 41,000 feet for 
both model airplanes.
    Bombardier Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes will be 
equipped with a sidestick controller instead of a conventional control 
column and wheel. This kind of controller is designed for only one-hand 
operation.
    The requirement of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 
25.397(c)), which defines limit pilot forces and torques for 
conventional wheel or stick controls, is not adequate for a sidestick 
controller. A special condition is necessary to specify the appropriate 
loading conditions for this kind of controller.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Bombardier Aerospace must 
show that the Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes meet the 
applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 
25-129 thereto.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards

[[Page 69569]]

for the Bombardier Aerospace Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 
airplanes 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 or similar 
novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would also 
apply to the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Bombardier Aerospace Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 
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 and the FAA must issue a finding of regulatory 
adequacy under Sec.  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 Bombardier Aerospace Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 
airplanes will incorporate the following novel or unusual design 
feature: A sidestick controller instead of a conventional control 
column and wheel. This kind of controller is designed for one-hand 
operation.

Discussion

    The Bombardier Aerospace Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 
airplanes are equipped with a sidestick controller instead of a 
conventional wheel or control stick. This kind of controller is 
designed to be operated using only one hand. The requirement of 14 CFR 
25.397(c), which defines limit pilot forces and torques for 
conventional wheel or stick controls, is not adequate for a sidestick 
controller, because pilot forces are applied to sidestick controllers 
with only the wrist, not arms. A special condition is necessary to 
specify the appropriate loading conditions for a sidestick controller. 
These proposed 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 Aerospace Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. 
Should Bombardier Aerospace apply at a later date for a change to the 
type certificate to include another model 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 Bombardier Aerospace Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. 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 Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the 
following special conditions as part of the type certification basis 
for Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes by Bombardier 
Aerospace:

Limit Pilot Forces for Sidestick Control

    In lieu of the pilot forces specified in Sec.  25.397(c), for the 
Bombardier Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes equipped with 
sidestick controls designed for forces to be applied 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 November 14, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-28131 Filed 11-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P