Special Conditions: The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 777-9 Series Airplane; Interior Design To Facilitate Searches Above Passenger Cabin High Wall Suites, 12864-12865 [2020-03474]

Download as PDF 12864 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 44 / Thursday, March 5, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 2014–2018. The net savings to potential disaster loan applicants is $47,145 per year in current dollars, or less than a dollar per applicant. Therefore, SBA hereby certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. List of Subjects in 13 CFR Part 123 Disaster assistance, Loan programsbusiness, Small businesses, Terrorism. Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the preamble, SBA is amending 13 CFR part 123 as follows: PART 123—DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM 1. The authority citation for part 123 is revised to read as follows: ■ Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632, 634(b)(6), 636(b), 636(d), and 657n. § 123.21 [Amended] 2. Amend § 123.21 by removing the last sentence. ■ Subpart E—[Removed and Reserved] 3. Remove and reserve subpart E, consisting of §§ 123.400 through 123.412. ■ Subpart G—[Removed and Reserved] 4. Remove and reserve subpart G, consisting of §§ 123.600 through 123.606. ■ Dated: February 11, 2020. Jovita Carranza, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2020–03657 Filed 3–4–20; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 25 [Docket No. FAA–2019–0329; Special Conditions No. 25–760–SC] Special Conditions: The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 777–9 Series Airplane; Interior Design To Facilitate Searches Above Passenger Cabin High Wall Suites Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final special conditions. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES AGENCY: These special conditions are issued for The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 777–9 series airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:45 Mar 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 Background On April 24, 2018, Boeing applied for an amendment to Type Certificate No. T00001SE to include the new Model 777–9 series airplane. The Boeing Model 777–9 series airplane, which is a derivative of the 777–300ER currently approved under Type Certificate No. T00001SE, is a twin-engine, transport category airplane with seating for up to 495 passengers depending upon airplane configuration, and a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 775,000 lbs. Type Certification Basis BILLING CODE 8025–01–P SUMMARY: to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features are passenger cabins with high wall suites (HWS). 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 April 6, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Lennon, 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 206–231–3209; email shannon.lennon@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101, Boeing must show that the Model 777– 9 series airplane continues to meet the applicable provisions of part 25, through amendment 139, and the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. T00001SE, 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 (e.g., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Boeing Model 777–9 series 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 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 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 Boeing Model 777–9 series 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 § 21.101. Novel or Unusual Design Features The Boeing Model 777–9 series airplane will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features: This airplane will include a passenger cabin with six HWS arranged in two rows of three suites each in a 1–1–1 configuration. Each HWS has a door and walls that extend from the floor to the ceiling or close to the ceiling. The characteristics of the HWS design are novel or unusual in that the suites are within, but not fully open to the cabin (such as for conventional mini-suites with partial height surrounds). They are not remote from the main cabin, as are overhead crew rest areas. Discussion This Boeing Model 777–9 series airplane HWS with interfacing ceiling design is novel or unusual since its design was not specifically considered during the development of § 25.795(c)(3), which requires that certain areas of the airplane incorporate features that deter the concealment, or promote the discovery, of weapons, explosives, or other objects. The areas regulated by that rule are toilets, life preservers and their storage areas, and the areas above overhead bins. These areas are not readily visible, but are readily accessible. For example, areas above overhead bins may not be easily visible when conducting a search due to light fixtures that could inhibit both the visual and physical inspection, but these areas could be accessible places to hide an explosive device. The wall-to-ceiling interface presented in the HWS design in this application is similar to overhead bin designs with respect to such challenges associated with conducting searches. These special conditions address those challenges. However, as opposed to areas above overhead bins, which often exist in continuous sections in the passenger E:\FR\FM\05MRR1.SGM 05MRR1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 44 / Thursday, March 5, 2020 / Rules and Regulations khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES cabin, the search challenges associated with HWS designs, and therefore the particular conditions necessary, may be limited when there are a relatively small number of installed suites, and therefore a smaller amount of area in which objects could be concealed. In consideration of the HWS design and ceiling interface, an installation incorporating six suites or less limits the search challenge due to the limited overhead area involved, which is similar to the search area presented by installation of a combined galley and lavatory area. Installations incorporating more than six suites present a large overhead area that more closely resembles the search challenges presented by the large overhead bin areas currently addressed by the rule. Since the development of HWS designs such as this one were not specifically considered during development of the rule, special conditions are needed for interior configurations incorporating HWS. Special Conditions 25–703–SC were previously issued for HWS installations on Model 777–300ER. Those special conditions, however, did not address the novel wall-to-ceiling interface design proposed for Model 777–9 HWS installations. In order to ensure that the Model 777–9 design facilitates a search for dangerous objects, these additional special conditions were proposed for Boeing Model 777–9 airplanes. The associated guidance material presented in Advisory Circular 25.795– 8, Interior Design to Facilitate Searches, dated October 24, 2008, specific to overhead bins designs can also be applied to the Model 777–9 HWS designs. The 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 of Comments The FAA issued Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25–19–06–SC for The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 777–9 series airplane, which was published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2019 (84 FR 39234). No comments were received, and the special conditions are adopted as proposed, except that information about the availability of AC 25.795–8 as a method of compliance was moved from required text to the preceding general discussion. Applicability As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the Boeing VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:45 Mar 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 Model 777–9 series airplanes with HWS installations that interface with the ceiling. Should Boeing apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well. Conclusion 12865 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 71 [Docket No. FAA–2019–0799; Airspace Docket No. 19–AGL–13] RIN 2120–AA66 This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on one model series of airplanes. It is not a rule of general applicability. Amendment of VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V–71 and Area Navigation Route T–285 Due to the Decommissioning of the Winner, SD, VOR List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25 Correction 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. 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 Boeing Model 777–9 series airplanes with HWS installed. These conditions are in addition to existing FAA Special Condition No. 25–703–SC published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2017 (82 FR 49492). Interior Design To Facilitate Searches Above Passenger Cabin High Wall Suites 1. The area above each HWS must be designed such that there should be no hazards to a person performing a physical search above the HWS (e.g., no hot surfaces, no sharp edges, and no corners). 2. Where there are more than six (6) HWS installed on the aircraft, design features must be incorporated that will deter concealment or promote discovery of weapons, explosives, or objects from a simple inspection. Areas above the HWS must be designed to prevent objects from being hidden from view in a simple, visual search from the aisle. Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on February 14, 2020. James E. Wilborn, Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2020–03474 Filed 3–4–20; 8:45 am] PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 § 71.1 [Corrected] On page 10053, in the table, on the final line, ‘‘\(Lat. 44°26′24.30″ N, long. 98°18′39.89″ W)’’ should read ‘‘(Lat. 44°26′24.30″ N, long. 98°18′39.89″ W)’’. ■ The Special Conditions BILLING CODE 4910–13–P Rule document C1–2020–03280, appearing on page 11841 in the issue of Friday, February 28, 2020 is withdrawn. In rule document 2020–03280, appearing on pages 10052 through 10053 in the issue of Friday, February 21, 2020 make the following correction. [FR Doc. C2–2020–03280 Filed 3–4–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1301–00–D DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 97 [Docket No. 31298; Amdt. No. 3893] Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05MRR1.SGM 05MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 44 (Thursday, March 5, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12864-12865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03474]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0329; Special Conditions No. 25-760-SC]


Special Conditions: The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 777-9 
Series Airplane; Interior Design To Facilitate Searches Above Passenger 
Cabin High Wall Suites

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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

SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for The Boeing Company 
(Boeing) Model 777-9 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. These design features are passenger cabins with high wall 
suites (HWS). 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 April 6, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Lennon, 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 206-231-3209; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On April 24, 2018, Boeing applied for an amendment to Type 
Certificate No. T00001SE to include the new Model 777-9 series 
airplane. The Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane, which is a derivative 
of the 777-300ER currently approved under Type Certificate No. 
T00001SE, is a twin-engine, transport category airplane with seating 
for up to 495 passengers depending upon airplane configuration, and a 
maximum takeoff weight of approximately 775,000 lbs.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Boeing must show that the Model 777-9 series airplane 
continues to meet the applicable provisions of part 25, through 
amendment 139, and the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. 
T00001SE, 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 (e.g., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Boeing Model 777-9 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, 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 Boeing Model 777-9 series 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.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design features:
    This airplane will include a passenger cabin with six HWS arranged 
in two rows of three suites each in a 1-1-1 configuration. Each HWS has 
a door and walls that extend from the floor to the ceiling or close to 
the ceiling. The characteristics of the HWS design are novel or unusual 
in that the suites are within, but not fully open to the cabin (such as 
for conventional mini-suites with partial height surrounds). They are 
not remote from the main cabin, as are overhead crew rest areas.

Discussion

    This Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane HWS with interfacing 
ceiling design is novel or unusual since its design was not 
specifically considered during the development of Sec.  25.795(c)(3), 
which requires that certain areas of the airplane incorporate features 
that deter the concealment, or promote the discovery, of weapons, 
explosives, or other objects. The areas regulated by that rule are 
toilets, life preservers and their storage areas, and the areas above 
overhead bins. These areas are not readily visible, but are readily 
accessible. For example, areas above overhead bins may not be easily 
visible when conducting a search due to light fixtures that could 
inhibit both the visual and physical inspection, but these areas could 
be accessible places to hide an explosive device.
    The wall-to-ceiling interface presented in the HWS design in this 
application is similar to overhead bin designs with respect to such 
challenges associated with conducting searches. These special 
conditions address those challenges.
    However, as opposed to areas above overhead bins, which often exist 
in continuous sections in the passenger

[[Page 12865]]

cabin, the search challenges associated with HWS designs, and therefore 
the particular conditions necessary, may be limited when there are a 
relatively small number of installed suites, and therefore a smaller 
amount of area in which objects could be concealed.
    In consideration of the HWS design and ceiling interface, an 
installation incorporating six suites or less limits the search 
challenge due to the limited overhead area involved, which is similar 
to the search area presented by installation of a combined galley and 
lavatory area. Installations incorporating more than six suites present 
a large overhead area that more closely resembles the search challenges 
presented by the large overhead bin areas currently addressed by the 
rule. Since the development of HWS designs such as this one were not 
specifically considered during development of the rule, special 
conditions are needed for interior configurations incorporating HWS.
    Special Conditions 25-703-SC were previously issued for HWS 
installations on Model 777-300ER. Those special conditions, however, 
did not address the novel wall-to-ceiling interface design proposed for 
Model 777-9 HWS installations. In order to ensure that the Model 777-9 
design facilitates a search for dangerous objects, these additional 
special conditions were proposed for Boeing Model 777-9 airplanes.
    The associated guidance material presented in Advisory Circular 
25.795-8, Interior Design to Facilitate Searches, dated October 24, 
2008, specific to overhead bins designs can also be applied to the 
Model 777-9 HWS designs.
    The 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 of Comments

    The FAA issued Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25-19-06-
SC for The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 777-9 series airplane, which 
was published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2019 (84 FR 39234). 
No comments were received, and the special conditions are adopted as 
proposed, except that information about the availability of AC 25.795-8 
as a method of compliance was moved from required text to the preceding 
general discussion.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Boeing Model 777-9 series airplanes with HWS installations that 
interface with the ceiling. Should Boeing apply at a later date for a 
change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating 
the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions 
would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one model series of airplanes. 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 Boeing Model 777-9 series airplanes 
with HWS installed. These conditions are in addition to existing FAA 
Special Condition No. 25-703-SC published in the Federal Register on 
October 26, 2017 (82 FR 49492).

Interior Design To Facilitate Searches Above Passenger Cabin High Wall 
Suites

    1. The area above each HWS must be designed such that there should 
be no hazards to a person performing a physical search above the HWS 
(e.g., no hot surfaces, no sharp edges, and no corners).
    2. Where there are more than six (6) HWS installed on the aircraft, 
design features must be incorporated that will deter concealment or 
promote discovery of weapons, explosives, or objects from a simple 
inspection. Areas above the HWS must be designed to prevent objects 
from being hidden from view in a simple, visual search from the aisle.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on February 14, 2020.
James E. Wilborn,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-03474 Filed 3-4-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.