Special Conditions: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Model MRJ-200 Airplane; Passenger Seats With Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels, 53166-53168 [2018-22922]
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53166
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
between the pelvis and shoulders
during impact, including rebound, is
not acceptable. During this type of
contact, the interval for any rearward (X
direction) acceleration exceeding 20g
must be less than 3 milliseconds as
measured by the thoracic
instrumentation specified in 49 CFR
part 572, subpart E, filtered in
accordance with SAE recommended
practice J211/1, ‘‘Instrumentation for
Impact Test–Part 1–Electronic
Instrumentation.’’
c. The occupant must not interact
with the armrest or other seat
components in any manner significantly
different than would be expected for a
forward-facing seat installation.
5. Pelvis Criteria
Any part of the load-bearing portion
of the bottom of the ATD pelvis must
not translate beyond the edges of the
seat bottom seat-cushion supporting
structure.
6. Femur Criteria
7. ATD and Test Conditions
Longitudinal tests conducted to
measure the injury criteria above must
be performed with the FAA Hybrid III
ATD, as described in SAE 1999–01–
1609, ‘‘A Lumbar Spine Modification to
the Hybrid III ATD for Aircraft Seat
Tests.’’ The tests must be conducted
with an undeformed floor, at the mostcritical yaw cases for injury, and with
all lateral structural supports (e.g.,
armrests or walls) installed.
Note: Boeing must demonstrate that the
installation of seats via plinths or pallets
meets all applicable requirements.
Compliance with the guidance contained in
policy memorandum PS–ANM–100–2000–
00123, ‘‘Guidance for Demonstrating
Compliance with Seat Dynamic Testing for
Plinths and Pallets,’’ dated February 2, 2000,
is acceptable to the FAA.
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8. Inflatable Airbag Restraint Systems
Special Conditions
If inflatable airbag restraint systems
are installed, the airbag systems must
meet the requirements in one of the
airbag (inflatable restraint) special
conditions applicable to the Boeing
Model 777 series airplanes.
16:28 Oct 19, 2018
[FR Doc. 2018–22933 Filed 10–19–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2018–0932; Special
Conditions No. 25–733–SC]
Special Conditions: Mitsubishi Aircraft
Corporation Model MRJ–200 Airplane;
Passenger Seats With Non-Traditional,
Large, Non-Metallic Panels
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Mitsubishi Aircraft
Corporation Model MRJ–200 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 passenger seats
that incorporate non-traditional, large,
non-metallic panels in lieu of the
traditional metal frame covered by
fabric. 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
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation on
October 22, 2018. Send comments on or
before December 6, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by Docket No. FAA–2018–0932 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
SUMMARY:
Axial rotation of the upper leg (about
the z-axis of the femur per SAE
Recommended Practice J211/1) must be
limited to 35 degrees from the nominal
seated position. Evaluation during
rebound does not need to be considered.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on
October 4, 2018.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy
and Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
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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 website, 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).
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 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:
Nicholas Wilson, International Section,
AIR–676, Transport Standards Branch,
Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th
Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206–231–3230; email
Nicholas.Wilson@faa.gov.
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. The FAA, therefore,
finds it unnecessary to delay the
effective date and finds that good cause
exists for making these special
conditions effective upon publication in
the Federal Register.
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 by the closing date for
comments. We may change these special
conditions based on the comments we
receive.
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
Background
On August 19, 2009, Mitsubishi
Aircraft Corporation applied for a type
certificate for their new Model MRJ–200
airplane. The Mitsubishi Aircraft
Corporation Model MRJ–200 airplane is
a low-wing, conventional-tail design
with two wing-mounted turbofan
engines. The primary structure is metal
with an aluminum wing and composite
empennage. The airplane is equipped
with an electronic flight control system.
The airplane has seating for 96
passengers and a maximum takeoff
weight of 98,800 lbs.
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Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17,
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation must
show that the Model MRJ–200 airplane
meets the applicable provisions of part
25, as amended by amendments 25–1
through 25–141; part 36, as amended by
amendments 36–1 through 36–30; and
part 34, as amended by amendments
34–1 through the amendment effective
at the time of design approval.
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 Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
Model MRJ–200 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 type certificate
for that model be amended later to
include any other model that
incorporates 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 Mitsubishi Aircraft
Corporation Model MRJ–200 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
§ 21.17(a)(2).
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
Model MRJ–200 airplane will
incorporate the following novel or
unusual design features:
Passenger seats that incorporate nontraditional, large, non-metallic panels in
lieu of the traditional metal frame
covered by fabric.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:28 Oct 19, 2018
Jkt 247001
Definition of ‘‘Non-Traditional, Large,
Non-Metallic Panel’’
A non-traditional, large, non-metallic
panel, in this case, is defined as a panel
with exposed surface areas greater than
1.5 square feet installed per seat place.
The panel may consist of either a single
component or multiple components in a
concentrated area. Examples of parts of
the seat where these non-traditional
panels are installed include, but are not
limited to: seat backs, bottoms and leg/
foot rests, kick panels, back shells,
credenzas and associated furniture.
Examples of traditional exempted parts
of the seat include: arm caps, armrest
close-outs such as end bays and armreststyled center consoles, food trays, video
monitors and shrouds.
Clarification of ‘‘Exposed’’
‘‘Exposed’’ includes those panels
directly exposed to the passenger cabin
in the traditional sense, plus those
panels enveloped such as by a dress
cover. Traditional fabrics or leathers
currently used on seats are excluded
from these special conditions. These
materials must still comply with 14 CFR
25.853(a) and (c) if used as a covering
for a seat cushion, or 14 CFR 25.853(a)
if installed elsewhere on the seat. Nontraditional, large, non-metallic panels
covered with traditional fabrics or
leathers will be tested without their
coverings or covering attachments.
Discussion
In the early 1980s, the FAA
conducted extensive research on the
effects of post-crash flammability in the
passenger cabin. As a result of this
research and service experience, the
FAA adopted new standards for interior
surfaces associated with large surface
area parts. Specifically, the rules require
measurement of heat release and smoke
emission (part 25, appendix F, parts IV
and V) for the affected parts. Heat
release has been shown to have a direct
correlation with post-crash fire survival
time. Materials that comply with the
standards (i.e., § 25.853, Compartment
interiors, as amended by amendment
25–61 and amendment 25–66) extend
survival time by approximately two
minutes over materials that do not
comply.
At the time these standards were
written, the potential application of the
requirements of heat release and smoke
emission to seats was explored. The seat
frame itself was not a concern because
it was primarily made of aluminum and
there were only small amounts of nonmetallic materials. It was determined
that the overall effect on survivability
was negligible, whether or not the food
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53167
trays met the heat release and smoke
requirements. The requirements,
therefore, did not address seats. The
preambles to both the Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, Notice No. 85–
10, 50 FR 15038, April 16, 1985, and the
Final Rule, amendment 25–61, 51 FR
26206, July 21, 1986, specifically note
that seats were excluded because the
recently-adopted standards for
flammability of seat cushions will
greatly inhibit involvement of the seats.
Subsequently, the Final Rule,
amendment 25–83, 60 FR 6615, March
6, 1995, clarified the definition of
minimum panel size by stating that it is
not possible to cite a specific size that
will apply in all installations; however,
as a general rule, components with
exposed surface areas of one square foot
or less may be considered small enough
that they do not have to meet the new
standards. Components with exposed
surface areas greater than two square
feet may be considered large enough
that they do have to meet the new
standards. Those with exposed surface
areas greater than one square foot, but
less than two square feet, must be
considered in conjunction with the
areas of the cabin in which they are
installed before a determination could
be made.
The FAA issued Policy Statement PS–
ANM100–97–112–39, Guidance for
Flammability Testing of Seat/Console
Installations, on October 17, 1997
(https://rgl.faa.gov). That document was
issued when it became clear that seat
designs were evolving to include large,
non-metallic panels with surface areas
that would impact survivability during
a cabin fire event, comparable to
partitions or galleys. The document
noted that large surface area panels
must comply with heat release and
smoke emission requirements, even if
they were attached to a seat. If the FAA
had not issued such policy, seat designs
could have been viewed as a loophole
to the airworthiness standards that
would result in an unacceptable
decrease in survivability during a cabin
fire event.
In October of 2004, an issue was
raised regarding the appropriate
flammability standards for passenger
seats that incorporated non-traditional,
large, non-metallic panels in lieu of the
traditional metal covered by fabric. The
FAA determined that special conditions
would be promulgated to apply the
standards defined in 14 CFR 25.853(d)
to seats with large, non-metallic panels
in their design.
These special conditions contain the
additional safety standards that the
Administrator considers necessary to
establish a level of safety equivalent to
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
that established by the existing
airworthiness standards.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special
conditions are applicable to the
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Model
MRJ–200 airplane. Should Mitsubishi
Aircraft Corporation 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
that model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain
novel or unusual design feature on one
model of 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 Special Conditions
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2018–0714; Special
Conditions No. 25–734–SC]
Special Conditions: Bombardier, Inc.,
BD–700–2A12 and BD–700–2A13
Airplanes; Multiple-Place Side-Facing
Seats With Active Leg-Flail Restraint
Device and Shoulder-Belt Airbags
These special conditions are
issued for the Bombardier, Inc.,
(Bombardier) BD–700–2A12 and BD–
700–2A13 airplanes, marketed
respectively as Global 7000 and Global
8000. These airplanes, as modified by
Bombardier, will have novel or unusual
design features when compared to the
state of technology envisioned in the
airworthiness standards for transportcategory airplanes. These design
features are multiple-place side-facing
seats with active leg-flail restraint
devices and shoulder-belt airbags. 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 October 22, 2018. Send
comments on or before December 6,
2018.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by Docket No. FAA–2018–0714 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.
SUMMARY:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113,
44701, 44702, 44704.
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 Mitsubishi
Aircraft Company Model MRJ–200
airplanes.
1. Except as provided in paragraph 3
of these special conditions, compliance
with 14 CFR part 25, appendix F, part
IV, Heat Release and part V, Smoke
Emission, is required for seats that
incorporate non-traditional, large, nonmetallic panels that may either be a
single component or multiple
components in a concentrated area in
their design.
2. The applicant may designate up to
and including 0.139 square meter (1.5
square feet of non-traditional, nonmetallic panel material per seat place
that does not have to comply with
paragraph 1 of these special conditions.
A double seat assembly may have a total
of 0.278 square meter (3.0 square feet)
excluded on any portion of the assembly
(e.g., outboard seat place 0.093 square
meter [1 square foot] and inboard 0.185
square meter [2.0 square feet]).
3. Seats do not have to meet the test
requirements of 14 CFR part 25,
appendix F, parts IV and V, when
installed in compartments defined in 14
CFR 25.853(e).
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BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
The authority citation for these
special conditions is as follows:
16:28 Oct 19, 2018
[FR Doc. 2018–22922 Filed 10–19–18; 8:45 am]
AGENCY:
Authority Citation
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on
October 16, 2018.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy
and Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
• 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 website, 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).
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 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:
Alan Sinclair, Airframe and Cabin
Safety Section, AIR–675, Transport
Standards Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th
Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206–231–3215; email
alan.sinclair@faa.gov.
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. The FAA therefore
finds it unnecessary to delay the
effective date and 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
E:\FR\FM\22OCR1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53166-53168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22922]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0932; Special Conditions No. 25-733-SC]
Special Conditions: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Model MRJ-200
Airplane; Passenger Seats With Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic
Panels
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Mitsubishi
Aircraft Corporation Model MRJ-200 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 passenger seats that
incorporate non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels in lieu of the
traditional metal frame covered by fabric. 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 Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation on
October 22, 2018. Send comments on or before December 6, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2018-0932 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 website, 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).
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 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: Nicholas Wilson, International
Section, AIR-676, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3230; email [email protected].
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. The FAA,
therefore, finds it unnecessary to delay the effective date and 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.
[[Page 53167]]
Background
On August 19, 2009, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation applied for a
type certificate for their new Model MRJ-200 airplane. The Mitsubishi
Aircraft Corporation Model MRJ-200 airplane is a low-wing,
conventional-tail design with two wing-mounted turbofan engines. The
primary structure is metal with an aluminum wing and composite
empennage. The airplane is equipped with an electronic flight control
system. The airplane has seating for 96 passengers and a maximum
takeoff weight of 98,800 lbs.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.17, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation must show that the Model
MRJ-200 airplane meets the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended
by amendments 25-1 through 25-141; part 36, as amended by amendments
36-1 through 36-30; and part 34, as amended by amendments 34-1 through
the amendment effective at the time of design approval.
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 Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
Model MRJ-200 airplane 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 feature, these special conditions would also apply to
the other model under Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Model MRJ-200 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 Sec. 11.38, and they become part of the type
certification basis under Sec. 21.17(a)(2).
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Model MRJ-200 airplane will
incorporate the following novel or unusual design features:
Passenger seats that incorporate non-traditional, large, non-
metallic panels in lieu of the traditional metal frame covered by
fabric.
Definition of ``Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panel''
A non-traditional, large, non-metallic panel, in this case, is
defined as a panel with exposed surface areas greater than 1.5 square
feet installed per seat place. The panel may consist of either a single
component or multiple components in a concentrated area. Examples of
parts of the seat where these non-traditional panels are installed
include, but are not limited to: seat backs, bottoms and leg/foot
rests, kick panels, back shells, credenzas and associated furniture.
Examples of traditional exempted parts of the seat include: arm caps,
armrest close-outs such as end bays and armrest-styled center consoles,
food trays, video monitors and shrouds.
Clarification of ``Exposed''
``Exposed'' includes those panels directly exposed to the passenger
cabin in the traditional sense, plus those panels enveloped such as by
a dress cover. Traditional fabrics or leathers currently used on seats
are excluded from these special conditions. These materials must still
comply with 14 CFR 25.853(a) and (c) if used as a covering for a seat
cushion, or 14 CFR 25.853(a) if installed elsewhere on the seat. Non-
traditional, large, non-metallic panels covered with traditional
fabrics or leathers will be tested without their coverings or covering
attachments.
Discussion
In the early 1980s, the FAA conducted extensive research on the
effects of post-crash flammability in the passenger cabin. As a result
of this research and service experience, the FAA adopted new standards
for interior surfaces associated with large surface area parts.
Specifically, the rules require measurement of heat release and smoke
emission (part 25, appendix F, parts IV and V) for the affected parts.
Heat release has been shown to have a direct correlation with post-
crash fire survival time. Materials that comply with the standards
(i.e., Sec. 25.853, Compartment interiors, as amended by amendment 25-
61 and amendment 25-66) extend survival time by approximately two
minutes over materials that do not comply.
At the time these standards were written, the potential application
of the requirements of heat release and smoke emission to seats was
explored. The seat frame itself was not a concern because it was
primarily made of aluminum and there were only small amounts of non-
metallic materials. It was determined that the overall effect on
survivability was negligible, whether or not the food trays met the
heat release and smoke requirements. The requirements, therefore, did
not address seats. The preambles to both the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, Notice No. 85-10, 50 FR 15038, April 16, 1985, and the
Final Rule, amendment 25-61, 51 FR 26206, July 21, 1986, specifically
note that seats were excluded because the recently-adopted standards
for flammability of seat cushions will greatly inhibit involvement of
the seats.
Subsequently, the Final Rule, amendment 25-83, 60 FR 6615, March 6,
1995, clarified the definition of minimum panel size by stating that it
is not possible to cite a specific size that will apply in all
installations; however, as a general rule, components with exposed
surface areas of one square foot or less may be considered small enough
that they do not have to meet the new standards. Components with
exposed surface areas greater than two square feet may be considered
large enough that they do have to meet the new standards. Those with
exposed surface areas greater than one square foot, but less than two
square feet, must be considered in conjunction with the areas of the
cabin in which they are installed before a determination could be made.
The FAA issued Policy Statement PS-ANM100-97-112-39, Guidance for
Flammability Testing of Seat/Console Installations, on October 17, 1997
(https://rgl.faa.gov). That document was issued when it became clear
that seat designs were evolving to include large, non-metallic panels
with surface areas that would impact survivability during a cabin fire
event, comparable to partitions or galleys. The document noted that
large surface area panels must comply with heat release and smoke
emission requirements, even if they were attached to a seat. If the FAA
had not issued such policy, seat designs could have been viewed as a
loophole to the airworthiness standards that would result in an
unacceptable decrease in survivability during a cabin fire event.
In October of 2004, an issue was raised regarding the appropriate
flammability standards for passenger seats that incorporated non-
traditional, large, non-metallic panels in lieu of the traditional
metal covered by fabric. The FAA determined that special conditions
would be promulgated to apply the standards defined in 14 CFR 25.853(d)
to seats with large, non-metallic panels in their design.
These special conditions contain the additional safety standards
that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of
safety equivalent to
[[Page 53168]]
that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Model MRJ-200 airplane. Should
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation 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 that model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability.
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 Mitsubishi Aircraft Company Model MRJ-
200 airplanes.
1. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of these special conditions,
compliance with 14 CFR part 25, appendix F, part IV, Heat Release and
part V, Smoke Emission, is required for seats that incorporate non-
traditional, large, non-metallic panels that may either be a single
component or multiple components in a concentrated area in their
design.
2. The applicant may designate up to and including 0.139 square
meter (1.5 square feet of non-traditional, non-metallic panel material
per seat place that does not have to comply with paragraph 1 of these
special conditions. A double seat assembly may have a total of 0.278
square meter (3.0 square feet) excluded on any portion of the assembly
(e.g., outboard seat place 0.093 square meter [1 square foot] and
inboard 0.185 square meter [2.0 square feet]).
3. Seats do not have to meet the test requirements of 14 CFR part
25, appendix F, parts IV and V, when installed in compartments defined
in 14 CFR 25.853(e).
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on October 16, 2018.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-22922 Filed 10-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
