Special Conditions: Bombardier Aerospace, Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes; Operation Without Normal Electrical Power, 30132-30134 [2015-12698]
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30132
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
Register (80 FR 3142, January 22, 2015)
will tend to effectuate the declared
policy of the Act.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 985
Marketing agreements, Oils and fats,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Spearmint oil.
Accordingly, the interim rule that
amended 7 CFR part 985 and that was
published at 80 FR 3142 on January 22,
2015, is adopted as a final rule, without
change.
Dated: May 21, 2015.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–12758 Filed 5–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2015–1819; Special
Conditions No. 25–583–SC]
Special Conditions: Bombardier
Aerospace, Models BD–500–1A10 and
BD–500–1A11 Series Airplanes;
Operation Without Normal Electrical
Power
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Bombardier Aerospace
Models BD–500–1A10 and BD–500–
1A11 series airplanes. These airplanes
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 are electrical and electronic
systems that perform critical functions,
the loss of which could be catastrophic
to the airplane. 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: This action is effective on
Bombardier Aerospace on May 27, 2015.
We must receive your comments by
June 26, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by docket number FAA–2015–1819
using any of the following methods:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:50 May 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
• 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 9
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:
Massoud Sadeghi, FAA, Airplane and
Flight Crew Interface Branch, ANM–
111, Transport Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, Washington,
98057–3356; telephone 425–227–2117;
facsimile 425–227–1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA
has determined that notice of, and
opportunity for prior public comment
on, these special conditions is
impracticable because these procedures
would significantly delay issuance of
the design approval and thus delivery of
the affected airplanes. In addition, the
substance of these special conditions
has been subject to the public comment
process in several prior instances with
no substantive comments received. The
FAA therefore finds that good cause
exists for making these special
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Frm 00004
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
conditions effective upon publication in
the Federal Register.
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 by 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 Models BD–500–1A10 and
BD–500–1A11 series airplanes (hereafter
collectively referred to as ‘‘CSeries’’).
The CSeries airplanes are swept-wing
monoplanes with an aluminum alloy
fuselage, sized for 5-abreast seating.
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.
The CSeries airplanes will have an
electronic flight control system.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17,
Bombardier Aerospace must show that
the CSeries airplanes meet the
applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25
as amended by Amendments 25–1
through 25–129.
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 CSeries 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 or similar novel
or unusual design feature, the special
conditions would also apply to the other
model.
In addition to the applicable
airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the CSeries 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
E:\FR\FM\27MYR1.SGM
27MYR1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
adequacy under 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).
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The CSeries will incorporate the
following novel or unusual design
features: Electrical and electronic flight
control systems that perform critical
functions, the loss of which may result
in loss of flight controls and other
critical systems and may be catastrophic
to the airplane.
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.
Discussion
The CSeries airplanes have a fly-bywire flight control system that requires
a continuous source of electrical power
in order to maintain an operable flight
control system. Section 25.1351(d),
Operation without normal electrical
power, requires safe operation in visual
flight rule (VFR) conditions for at least
five minutes after loss of normal
electrical power excluding the battery.
This rule was structured around a
traditional design using mechanical
control cables and linkages for flight
control. These manual controls allowed
the crew to maintain aerodynamic
control of the airplane for an indefinite
period of time after loss of all electrical
power. Under these conditions, a
mechanical flight control system
provided the crew with the ability to fly
the airplane while attempting to identify
the cause of the electrical failure, restart
engine(s) if necessary, and attempt to reestablish some of the electrical power
generation capability.
A critical assumption in § 25.1351(d)
is that the airplane is in VFR conditions
at the time of the failure. This is not a
valid assumption in today’s airline
operating environment where airplanes
fly much of the time in instrument
meteorological conditions on air traffic
control defined flight paths. Another
assumption in the existing rule is that
the loss of all normal electrical power is
the result of the loss of all engines. The
five-minute period in the rule is to
allow at least one engine to be restarted
following an all-engine power loss in
order to continue the flight to a safe
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17:50 May 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
landing. However, service experience on
airplane models with similar electrical
power-system architecture as the
CSeries has shown that at least the
temporary loss of all electrical power for
causes other than all-engine failure is
not extremely improbable. In addition,
Bombardier is applying for extended
operations (ETOPS) type design
approval. In order to meet the
applicable ETOPS requirements, the
electrical power generation system must
be able to power all of the electrically
powered equipment required for a
maximum-length ETOPS diversion.
In order to maintain the same level of
safety envisioned by the existing rule
with traditional mechanical flight
controls in a non-ETOPS operating
environment, the CSeries design must
not be time-limited in its operation
under all reasonably foreseeable
conditions, including loss of all normal
sources of engine or auxiliary-powerunit (APU)-generated electrical power.
Unless Bombardier can show that the
non-restorable loss of the engine and
APU power sources is extremely
improbable, Bombardier must
demonstrate that the airplanes can
maintain safe flight and landing
(including steering and braking on the
ground for airplanes using steer/brakeby-wire and/or fly-by-wire speed brake
panels) with the use of its emergency/
alternate electrical power systems.
These electrical power systems, or the
minimum restorable electrical power
sources, must be able to power loads
that are essential for continued safe
flight and landing, including those
required for a maximum length ETOPS
diversion.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special
conditions are applicable to the Model
No. BD–500–1A10 and BD–500–1A11
series 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 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
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
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30133
contained herein. Therefore, the FAA
has determined that prior public notice
and comment are unnecessary and
impracticable, and good cause exists for
adopting these special conditions upon
issuance. 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 BD–
500–1A10 and BD–500–1A11 series
airplanes.
Operation Without Normal Electrical
Power
In lieu of Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) 25.1351(d) the
following special conditions apply:
1. Bombardier must show by test or a
combination of test and analysis that the
airplane is capable of continued safe
flight and landing with all normal
electrical power sources inoperative, as
prescribed by paragraphs 1a and 1b
below. For purposes of these special
conditions, normal sources of electrical
power generation do not include any
alternate power sources such as the
battery, ram air turbine, or independent
power systems such as the flight-control
permanent magnet generating system. In
showing capability for continued safe
flight and landing, Bombardier must
account for systems capability, effects
on crew workload and operating
conditions, and the physiological needs
of the flightcrew and passengers for the
longest diversion time for which
Bombardier is seeking approval.
a. In showing compliance with this
requirement, Bombardier must account
for common-cause failures, cascading
failures, and zonal physical threats.
b. Bombardier may consider the
ability to restore operation of portions of
the electrical power generation and
distribution system if it can be shown
that unrecoverable loss of those portions
of the system is extremely improbable.
The design must provide an alternative
source of electrical power for the time
required to restore the minimum
electrical power generation capability
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27MYR1
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
required for safe flight and landing.
Bombardier may exclude unrecoverable
loss of all engines when showing
compliance with this requirement.
2. Regardless of any electrical
generation and distribution system
recovery capability shown under
paragraph 1 of these special conditions,
sufficient electrical system capability
must be provided to:
a. Allow time to descend, with all
engines inoperative, at the speed that
provides the best glide distance, from
the maximum operating altitude to the
top of the engine restart envelope, and
b. Subsequently allow multiple start
attempts of the engines and auxiliary
power unit (APU). The design must
provide this capability in addition to the
electrical capability required by existing
part 25 requirements related to
operation with all engines inoperative.
3. The airplane emergency electrical
power system must be designed to
supply:
a. Electrical power required for
immediate safety, which must continue
to operate without the need for crew
action following the loss of the normal
electrical power, for a duration
sufficient to allow reconfiguration to
provide a non-time-limited source of
electrical power.
b. Electrical power required for
continued safe flight and landing for the
maximum diversion time.
4. If Bombardier uses APU-generated
electrical power to satisfy the
requirements of these special
conditions, and if reaching a suitable
runway for landing is beyond the
capacity of the battery systems, then the
APU must be able to be started under
any foreseeable flight condition prior to
the depletion of the battery or the
restoration of normal electrical power,
whichever occurs first. Flight test must
demonstrate this capability at the most
critical condition.
a. Bombardier must show that the
APU will provide adequate electrical
power for continued safe flight and
landing.
b. The operating limitations section of
the airplane flight manual (AFM) must
incorporate non-normal procedures that
direct the pilot to take appropriate
actions to activate the APU after loss of
normal engine-driven generated
electrical power.
5. As part of showing compliance
with these special conditions, the tests
to demonstrate loss of all normal
electrical power must also take into
account the following:
a. The assumption that the failure
condition occurs during night
instrument meteorological conditions
(IMC) at the most critical phase of the
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17:50 May 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
flight, relative to the worst possible
electrical power distribution and
equipment-loads-demand condition.
b. After the un-restorable loss of
normal engine generator power, the
airplane engine restart capability is
provided and operations continued in
IMC.
c. The airplane is demonstrated to be
capable of continued safe flight and
landing. The length of time must be
computed based on the maximum
diversion time capability for which the
airplane is being certified. Bombardier
must account for airspeed reductions
resulting from the associated failure or
failures.
d. The airplane must provide
adequate indication of loss of normal
electrical power to direct the pilot to the
non-normal procedures, and the
operating limitations section of the AFM
must incorporate non-normal
procedures that will direct the pilot to
take appropriate actions.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 15,
2015.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–12698 Filed 5–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2015–0455; Special
Conditions No. 25–584–SC]
Special Conditions: Bombardier
Aerospace, Models BD–500–1A10 and
BD–500–1A11; Electronic Flight
Control System: Lateral-Directional
and Longitudinal Stability and LowEnergy Awareness
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Bombardier Aerospace
Models BD–500–1A10 and BD–500–
1A11 series airplanes. These airplanes
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 a fly-by-wire electronic flight control
system that provides an electronic
interface between the pilot’s flight
controls and the flight control surfaces
for both normal and failure states. The
system generates the actual surface
commands that provide for stability
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
augmentation and control about all
three airplane axes. 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: Effective July 13, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe
Jacobsen, FAA, Airplane and Flight
Crew Interface Branch, ANM–111,
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 December 10, 2009, Bombardier
Aerospace applied for a type certificate
for their new Models BD–500–1A10 and
BD–500–1A11 series airplanes (hereafter
collectively referred to as ‘‘CSeries’’).
The CSeries airplanes are swept-wing
monoplanes with an aluminum alloy
fuselage, sized for 5-abreast seating.
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.
The CSeries flight control system
design incorporates normal load factor
limiting on a full time basis that will
prevent the pilot from inadvertently or
intentionally exceeding the positive or
negative airplane limit load factor. The
FAA considers this feature to be novel
and unusual in that the current
regulations do not provide standards for
maneuverability and controllability
evaluations for such systems.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17,
Bombardier Aerospace must show that
the CSeries airplanes meet the
applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25
as amended by Amendments 25–1
through 25–129.
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 CSeries 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
E:\FR\FM\27MYR1.SGM
27MYR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30132-30134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12698]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2015-1819; Special Conditions No. 25-583-SC]
Special Conditions: Bombardier Aerospace, Models BD-500-1A10 and
BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes; Operation Without Normal Electrical Power
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier
Aerospace Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. These
airplanes 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 are electrical and
electronic systems that perform critical functions, the loss of which
could be catastrophic to the airplane. 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: This action is effective on Bombardier Aerospace on May 27,
2015. We must receive your comments by June 26, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2015-1819
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 9 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: Massoud Sadeghi, FAA, Airplane and
Flight Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington, 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2117; facsimile 425-227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is
impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay
issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected
airplanes. In addition, the substance of these special conditions has
been subject to the public comment process in several prior instances
with no substantive comments received. The FAA therefore finds that
good cause exists for making these special conditions effective upon
publication in the Federal Register.
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 by 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 Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series
airplanes (hereafter collectively referred to as ``CSeries''). The
CSeries airplanes are swept-wing monoplanes with an aluminum alloy
fuselage, sized for 5-abreast seating. 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. The CSeries airplanes will
have an electronic flight control system.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.17, Bombardier Aerospace must show that the CSeries airplanes
meet the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25 as amended by
Amendments 25-1 through 25-129.
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 CSeries 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.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the CSeries 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
[[Page 30133]]
adequacy under 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 CSeries will incorporate the following novel or unusual design
features: Electrical and electronic flight control systems that perform
critical functions, the loss of which may result in loss of flight
controls and other critical systems and may be catastrophic to the
airplane.
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.
Discussion
The CSeries airplanes have a fly-by-wire flight control system that
requires a continuous source of electrical power in order to maintain
an operable flight control system. Section 25.1351(d), Operation
without normal electrical power, requires safe operation in visual
flight rule (VFR) conditions for at least five minutes after loss of
normal electrical power excluding the battery. This rule was structured
around a traditional design using mechanical control cables and
linkages for flight control. These manual controls allowed the crew to
maintain aerodynamic control of the airplane for an indefinite period
of time after loss of all electrical power. Under these conditions, a
mechanical flight control system provided the crew with the ability to
fly the airplane while attempting to identify the cause of the
electrical failure, restart engine(s) if necessary, and attempt to re-
establish some of the electrical power generation capability.
A critical assumption in Sec. 25.1351(d) is that the airplane is
in VFR conditions at the time of the failure. This is not a valid
assumption in today's airline operating environment where airplanes fly
much of the time in instrument meteorological conditions on air traffic
control defined flight paths. Another assumption in the existing rule
is that the loss of all normal electrical power is the result of the
loss of all engines. The five-minute period in the rule is to allow at
least one engine to be restarted following an all-engine power loss in
order to continue the flight to a safe landing. However, service
experience on airplane models with similar electrical power-system
architecture as the CSeries has shown that at least the temporary loss
of all electrical power for causes other than all-engine failure is not
extremely improbable. In addition, Bombardier is applying for extended
operations (ETOPS) type design approval. In order to meet the
applicable ETOPS requirements, the electrical power generation system
must be able to power all of the electrically powered equipment
required for a maximum-length ETOPS diversion.
In order to maintain the same level of safety envisioned by the
existing rule with traditional mechanical flight controls in a non-
ETOPS operating environment, the CSeries design must not be time-
limited in its operation under all reasonably foreseeable conditions,
including loss of all normal sources of engine or auxiliary-power-unit
(APU)-generated electrical power. Unless Bombardier can show that the
non-restorable loss of the engine and APU power sources is extremely
improbable, Bombardier must demonstrate that the airplanes can maintain
safe flight and landing (including steering and braking on the ground
for airplanes using steer/brake-by-wire and/or fly-by-wire speed brake
panels) with the use of its emergency/alternate electrical power
systems. These electrical power systems, or the minimum restorable
electrical power sources, must be able to power loads that are
essential for continued safe flight and landing, including those
required for a maximum length ETOPS diversion.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Model No. BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series 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 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 impracticable,
and good cause exists for adopting these special conditions upon
issuance. 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 BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11
series airplanes.
Operation Without Normal Electrical Power
In lieu of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 25.1351(d)
the following special conditions apply:
1. Bombardier must show by test or a combination of test and
analysis that the airplane is capable of continued safe flight and
landing with all normal electrical power sources inoperative, as
prescribed by paragraphs 1a and 1b below. For purposes of these special
conditions, normal sources of electrical power generation do not
include any alternate power sources such as the battery, ram air
turbine, or independent power systems such as the flight-control
permanent magnet generating system. In showing capability for continued
safe flight and landing, Bombardier must account for systems
capability, effects on crew workload and operating conditions, and the
physiological needs of the flightcrew and passengers for the longest
diversion time for which Bombardier is seeking approval.
a. In showing compliance with this requirement, Bombardier must
account for common-cause failures, cascading failures, and zonal
physical threats.
b. Bombardier may consider the ability to restore operation of
portions of the electrical power generation and distribution system if
it can be shown that unrecoverable loss of those portions of the system
is extremely improbable. The design must provide an alternative source
of electrical power for the time required to restore the minimum
electrical power generation capability
[[Page 30134]]
required for safe flight and landing. Bombardier may exclude
unrecoverable loss of all engines when showing compliance with this
requirement.
2. Regardless of any electrical generation and distribution system
recovery capability shown under paragraph 1 of these special
conditions, sufficient electrical system capability must be provided
to:
a. Allow time to descend, with all engines inoperative, at the
speed that provides the best glide distance, from the maximum operating
altitude to the top of the engine restart envelope, and
b. Subsequently allow multiple start attempts of the engines and
auxiliary power unit (APU). The design must provide this capability in
addition to the electrical capability required by existing part 25
requirements related to operation with all engines inoperative.
3. The airplane emergency electrical power system must be designed
to supply:
a. Electrical power required for immediate safety, which must
continue to operate without the need for crew action following the loss
of the normal electrical power, for a duration sufficient to allow
reconfiguration to provide a non-time-limited source of electrical
power.
b. Electrical power required for continued safe flight and landing
for the maximum diversion time.
4. If Bombardier uses APU-generated electrical power to satisfy the
requirements of these special conditions, and if reaching a suitable
runway for landing is beyond the capacity of the battery systems, then
the APU must be able to be started under any foreseeable flight
condition prior to the depletion of the battery or the restoration of
normal electrical power, whichever occurs first. Flight test must
demonstrate this capability at the most critical condition.
a. Bombardier must show that the APU will provide adequate
electrical power for continued safe flight and landing.
b. The operating limitations section of the airplane flight manual
(AFM) must incorporate non-normal procedures that direct the pilot to
take appropriate actions to activate the APU after loss of normal
engine-driven generated electrical power.
5. As part of showing compliance with these special conditions, the
tests to demonstrate loss of all normal electrical power must also take
into account the following:
a. The assumption that the failure condition occurs during night
instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at the most critical phase
of the flight, relative to the worst possible electrical power
distribution and equipment-loads-demand condition.
b. After the un-restorable loss of normal engine generator power,
the airplane engine restart capability is provided and operations
continued in IMC.
c. The airplane is demonstrated to be capable of continued safe
flight and landing. The length of time must be computed based on the
maximum diversion time capability for which the airplane is being
certified. Bombardier must account for airspeed reductions resulting
from the associated failure or failures.
d. The airplane must provide adequate indication of loss of normal
electrical power to direct the pilot to the non-normal procedures, and
the operating limitations section of the AFM must incorporate non-
normal procedures that will direct the pilot to take appropriate
actions.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 15, 2015.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-12698 Filed 5-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P