Special Conditions: Airbus Defense and Space Model C-295 Series Airplane; Electronic System Security Protection From Unauthorized External Access, 6025-6026 [2020-01228]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 4, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6025-6026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01228]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0032; Special Conditions No. 25-765-SC]


Special Conditions: Airbus Defense and Space Model C-295 Series 
Airplane; Electronic System Security Protection From Unauthorized 
External Access

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Defense and 
Space (Airbus DS) C-295 series 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. This design feature is airplane electronic systems and 
networks that allow access from external sources (e.g., wireless 
devices, internet connectivity) to the airplane's previously isolated, 
internal electronic components. 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 Airbus DS on February 4, 2020. Send 
comments on or before March 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2020-0032 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: Thuan Nguyen, Airplane and Flight Crew 
Interface Section, AIR-671, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and 
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; 
telephone and fax 206-231-3365; 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. 
Therefore, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment 
are unnecessary, and finds that, for the same reason, good cause exists 
for adopting these special conditions upon publication in the Federal 
Register.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested people to take part in this rulemaking 
by sending written comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments 
reference a specific portion of the special conditions, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data.
    The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date for 
comments. The FAA may change these special conditions based on the 
comments received.

Background

    On August 2, 2018 Airbus DS applied for a change to Type 
Certificate No. A21NM to update the Avionics System Rockwell Collins 
Proline II to the Avionics System based on Proline Fusion in the Airbus 
DS C-295 series airplane. The Airbus DS C-295 series airplane, 
currently approved under Type Certificate No. A21NM, is a twin-engine, 
transport category airplane configured for freighter use, with a 
maximum takeoff weight of 46,300 pounds.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Airbus DS must show that the C-295 series airplane, as 
changed, meets the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in 
Type Certificate No. A21NM, or the applicable regulations in effect on 
the date of application for the change, except for earlier amendments 
as agreed upon by the FAA.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Airbus DS C-295 series 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, or should any other model already included on 
the same type certificate be modified to incorporate 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 Airbus DS C-295 series airplane must comply with the 
fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of

[[Page 6026]]

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.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Airbus DS C-295 series airplane will incorporate the following 
novel or unusual design feature:
    Airplane electronic systems and networks that allow access from 
external sources (e.g., wireless devices, internet connectivity) to the 
airplane's previously isolated, internal electronic components.

Discussion

    The Airbus DS C-295 series airplane architecture and network 
configuration may allow increased connectivity to, and access from, 
external network sources and airline operations and maintenance 
networks to the airplane control domain and airline information 
services domain. The airplane control domain and airline information 
services domain perform functions required for the safe operation and 
maintenance of the airplane. Previously, these domains had very limited 
connectivity with external network sources. The architecture and 
network configuration may allow the exploitation of network security 
vulnerabilities resulting in intentional or unintentional destruction, 
disruption, degradation, or exploitation of data, systems, and networks 
critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane.
    The existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate 
these types of airplane system architectures. Furthermore, 14 CFR 
regulations and the current system safety assessment policy and 
techniques do not address potential security vulnerabilities, which 
could be exploited by unauthorized access to airplane networks, data 
buses, and servers. Therefore, these special conditions are to ensure 
that the security (i.e., confidentiality, integrity, and availability) 
of airplane systems is not compromised by unauthorized wired or 
wireless electronic connections.
    These special conditions contain the additional safety standards 
that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of 
safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness 
standards.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Airbus DS C-295 series airplane. Should Airbus DS 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 Airbus DS C-295 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

0
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 Airbus DS C-295 series airplane.
    1. The applicant must ensure that the airplane electronic systems 
are protected from access by unauthorized sources external to the 
airplane, including those possibly caused by maintenance activity.
    2. The applicant must ensure that electronic system-security 
threats are identified and assessed, and that effective electronic 
system-security protection strategies are implemented to protect the 
airplane from all adverse impacts on safety, functionality, and 
continued airworthiness.
    3. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the 
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the airplane is 
maintained, including all post type certification modifications that 
may have an impact on the approved electronic system security 
safeguards.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on January 17, 2020.
James E. Wilborn,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-01228 Filed 2-3-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P