Special Conditions: Delta Flight Products, Boeing Model No. 757-200 Series Airplane; Seats With Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels, 18108-18110 [2020-06339]
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18108
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 63 / Wednesday, April 1, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
through March 13, 2021. This is a
revision to the current policy that states
Express Bridge Pilot loans can only be
made up to six months after the date of
the applicable Presidential disaster
declaration. This revision will allow
small businesses that experience
delayed impacts resulting from the
COVID–19 emergency to benefit from
the pilot program.
Finally, SBA is extending the term of
the Express Bridge Pilot. The Express
Bridge Pilot is set to expire September
30, 2020. With this Notice, SBA is
extending the pilot program through
March 13, 2021. This extension will
provide time for small businesses that
may experience delayed effects resulting
from the COVID–19 emergency to
benefit from the Express Bridge Pilot
and to allow SBA to continue its
evaluation of the program in accordance
with the criteria set forth in the October
16, 2017 Federal Register notice.
All other SBA terms and conditions
and regulatory waivers related to the
Express Bridge Pilot remain unchanged,
including that loans made under the
Express Bridge Pilot may be eligible to
be repaid with the proceeds of an SBA
direct disaster loan, including loans
made under the Economic Injury
Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program. All
references to disasters in the Express
Bridge Pilot program requirements will
include the COVID–19 emergency.
SBA has provided more detailed
guidance in the form of a program
guide, which has been updated to
conform to this Notice and is available
on SBA’s website, https://www.sba.gov/
document/support--express-bridge-loanpilot-program-guide. SBA will also
provide additional guidance, if needed,
through SBA notices, which also will be
published on SBA’s website, https://
www.sba.gov.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(25); 13 CFR
120.3.
Dated: March 19, 2020.
Jovita Carranza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020–06356 Filed 3–30–20; 8:45 am]
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VerDate Sep<11>2014
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2020–0273; Special
Conditions No. 25–767–SC]
Special Conditions: Delta Flight
Products, Boeing Model No. 757–200
Series Airplane; Seats With NonTraditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Boeing Model No. 757–
200 series airplane. This airplane, as
modified by Delta Flight Products, 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
includes seats with large, nontraditional, non-metallic panels on
Boeing 757–200 series airplanes. 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 Delta
Flight Products on April 1, 2020. Send
comments on or before May 18, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by Docket No. FAA–2020–0273 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
SUMMARY:
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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: John
Shelden, Airframe & 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–
3214; email john.shelden@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
substance of these special conditions
previously has been published in the
Federal Register for public comment.
These special conditions have 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 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 September 3, 2019, Delta applied
for a supplemental type certificate for an
interior reconfiguration that includes
seats containing large, non-traditional,
non-metallic panels on Boeing 757–200
series airplanes. The Boeing 757–200
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series airplane is a twin-engine,
transport category airplane with seating
provisions for up to 239 passengers.
The applicable regulations to
airplanes currently approved under
Type Certificate No. A2NM do not
require seats to meet the more-stringent
flammability standards required of
large, non-traditional, non-metallic
panels in the cabin interior. At the time
the applicable rules were written, seats
were designed with a metal frame
covered by fabric, not with large, nontraditional, non-metallic panels. Seats
also met the then-recently adopted
standards for flammability of seat
cushions. With the seat design being
mostly fabric and metal, their
contribution to a fire in the cabin had
been minimized and was not considered
a threat. For these reasons, seats did not
need to be tested to heat-release and
smoke-emission requirements.
Seat designs have now evolved to
occasionally include large, nontraditional, non-metallic panels. Taken
in total, the surface area of these panels
is on the same order as the sidewall and
overhead-stowage-bin interior panels.
To provide the level of passenger
protection established by the
airworthiness standards, these large,
non-traditional, non-metallic panels in
the cabin must meet the standards of
Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) part 25, Appendix F, parts IV and
V, heat-release and smoke-emission
requirements.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101,
Delta Flight Products must show that
the Model 757–200 series airplane, as
changed, continues to meet the
applicable provisions of the regulations
listed in Type Certificate No. A2NM 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 757–200 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 applicant apply
for a supplemental type certificate to
modify any other model included on the
same type certificate to incorporate the
same novel or unusual design feature,
these special conditions would also
apply to the other model under § 21.101.
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16:27 Mar 31, 2020
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In addition to the applicable
airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Boeing Model 757–200
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 757–200 series airplane
will incorporate the following novel or
unusual design feature:
This model offers interior
arrangements that include passenger
seats that incorporate large, nontraditional, non-metallic panels in lieu
of the traditional metal frame covered
by fabric. The flammability properties of
these panels have been shown to
significantly affect the survivability of
cabin occupants in the event of fire.
These seats are considered a novel
design for transport-category airplanes
that include Amendment 25–61 and
Amendment 25–66 in the certification
basis, and were not considered when
those airworthiness standards were
established.
The existing regulations do not
provide adequate or appropriate safety
standards for seat designs that
incorporate large, non-traditional, nonmetallic panels in their designs. To
provide a level of safety that is
equivalent to that afforded to the
balance of the cabin, additional
airworthiness standards, in the form of
special conditions, are necessary. These
special conditions supplement 14 CFR
25.853. The requirements contained in
these special conditions consist of
applying the identical test conditions,
required of all other large panels in the
cabin, to seats with large, nontraditional, non-metallic panels.
Discussion
In the early 1980s, the Federal
Aviation Administration (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 larger surfacearea 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 to post-crash fire-survival
time. The materials that comply with
the standards (e.g., § 25.853,
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18109
‘‘Compartment Interiors,’’ as amended
by Amendments 25–61 and 25–66) were
found to extend survival time by
approximately two minutes over
materials that do not comply.
At the time Amendment 25–61 was
written, the potential application of the
requirement to seats was explored. The
seat frame itself was not a concern
because it was primarily made of
aluminum and incorporated only small
amounts of non-metallic materials (for
example, a food-tray table and armrest
closeout). The FAA determined that the
overall effect on survivability was
negligible, whether or not these panels
met the heat-release and smokeemission requirements. The
requirements therefore did not address
seats, and the preambles to both Notice
of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) 85–10
and the final rule (Amendment 25–61)
specifically note that they were
excluded ‘‘. . . because the recently
adopted standards for flammability of
seat cushions will greatly inhibit
involvement of the seats’’ in their postcrash fire.
In the late 1990s, when it became
clear that seat designs were evolving to
include large non-metallic panels with
surface area that would impact
survivability during a cabin-fire event
compared to partitions or galleys, the
FAA issued Policy Memorandum 97–
112–39. This memo 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 would have been an
exception to the airworthiness
standards, which could result in an
unacceptable decrease in survivability
during a cabin fire event.
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.
Definition of ‘‘Large, Non-Traditional,
Non-Metallic Panel’’
A large, non-traditional, 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 nontraditional areas include, but are not
limited to, seat backs, bottoms and leg/
foot rests, kick panels, back shells, and
associated furniture. Examples of
traditional, exempted areas include, but
are not limited to, arm caps, armrest
close-outs, and items such as end-bays
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 63 / Wednesday, April 1, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
and center consoles, food trays, video
monitors, and shrouds.
Clarification of ‘‘Exposed’’
‘‘Exposed’’ is considered to include
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 the special conditions.
These materials must still comply with
§ 25.853(a) and (c) if used as a covering
for a seat cushion, or § 25.853(a) if
installed elsewhere on the seat. Large,
non-metallic panels covered with
traditional fabrics or leathers will be
tested without their coverings or
covering attachments.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special
conditions are applicable to the Boeing
Model 757–200 series airplane. Should
Delta Flight Products apply at a later
date for a supplemental type certificate
to modify any other model included on
Type Certificate No. A2NM to
incorporate 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 and affects only
the applicant who applied to the FAA
for approval of these features on the
airplane.
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BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 61
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notification of enforcement
policy.
AGENCY:
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
757–200 series airplanes, as modified by
Delta Flight Products.
1. Compliance with 14 CFR part 25,
Appendix F, parts IV and V, heat release
and smoke emission, is required for
seats that incorporate large, nontraditional, 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 1.5 square feet of non-
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[FR Doc. 2020–06339 Filed 3–31–20; 8:45 am]
Enforcement Policy for Expired Airman
Medical Certificates
Authority Citation
The authority citation for these
special conditions is as follows:
16:27 Mar 31, 2020
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on
March 12, 2020.
James E. Wilborn,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[Docket No.: FAA–2020–0312]
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
traditional, non-metallic panel material
per seat place that does not have to
comply with No. 1. A triple seat
assembly may have a total of 4.5 square
feet excluded on any portion of the
assembly (e.g., outboard seat place 1 sq.
ft., middle 1 sq. ft., and inboard 2.5 sq.
ft.).
3. Seats need not meet the test
requirements of part 25 Appendix F,
parts IV and V when installed in
compartments that are not otherwise
required to meet these requirements.
Examples include:
a. Airplanes with passenger capacities
of 19 or fewer.
b. Airplanes that do not have smoke
emission and heat release in their
certification basis and do not need to
comply with the requirements of 14 CFR
121.312.
c. Airplanes exempted from heatrelease and smoke-emission
requirements.
Due to extraordinary
circumstances related to the Novel
Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19)
pandemic, until June 30, 2020, the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
will not take legal enforcement action
against any person serving as a required
pilot flight crewmember or flight
engineer based on noncompliance with
medical certificate duration standards
when expiration of the required medical
certificate occurs from March 31, 2020,
through June 30, 2020.
DATES: The policy described herein is
effective from March 31, 2020, through
June 30, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Barry, Manager, Policy/Audit/
SUMMARY:
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Evaluation, Enforcement Division,
Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8198;
email: james.barry@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FAA regulations set forth the
requirements for, and duration of,
medical certificates issued under 14
CFR part 67. A person may serve as a
required pilot flight crewmember of a
civil aircraft only if that person holds
the appropriate unexpired medical
certificate issued under 14 CFR part 67
(or other documentation acceptable to
the FAA).1 The duration of a medical
certificate issued to a required pilot
flight crewmember depends on the age
of the applicant at the date of the
examination, the type of operation, and
class of certificate.2 In addition, a
person may serve as a flight engineer of
a civil aircraft only if that person holds
an unexpired second-class (or higher)
medical certificate issued under 14 CFR
part 67 (or other documentation
acceptable to the FAA).3 To receive a
new medical certificate, a person must
submit to a medical examination given
by an aviation medical examiner.4
Regardless of whatever day a medical
certificate is issued, all medical
certificates expire at the end of the last
day of the month of expiration.5
On March 11, 2020, the World Health
Organization (WHO) characterized
COVID–19 as a pandemic, as the rates
of infection continued to rise in many
locations around the world and across
the United States. On March 13, 2020,
the President declared that the COVID–
19 outbreak in the United States
constitutes a national emergency.
COVID–19 cases have been reported in
all 50 States as well as the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the
U.S. Virgin Islands.
The President’s March 13, 2020,
declaration observed that the spread of
COVID–19 within our Nation’s
communities threatens to strain our
Nation’s healthcare systems.
Widespread transmission of COVID–19
could translate into large numbers of
people needing medical care at the same
time. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) advises that
healthcare facilities and clinicians
should prioritize urgent and emergency
visits and procedures now and for the
1 See
14 CFR 61.2(a)(5), 61.3(c)(1).
14 CFR 61.23.
3 See 14 CFR 63.3(b).
4 See 14 CFR 67.3, 67.4, 67.405.
5 See 14 CFR 61.23(d).
2 See
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 1, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18108-18110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06339]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0273; Special Conditions No. 25-767-SC]
Special Conditions: Delta Flight Products, Boeing Model No. 757-
200 Series Airplane; 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 Boeing Model No.
757-200 series airplane. This airplane, as modified by Delta Flight
Products, 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 includes seats with
large, non-traditional, non-metallic panels on Boeing 757-200 series
airplanes. 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 Delta Flight Products on April 1,
2020. Send comments on or before May 18, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2020-0273 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: John Shelden, Airframe & 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 206-231-3214; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions
previously has been published in the Federal Register for public
comment. These special conditions have 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 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 September 3, 2019, Delta applied for a supplemental type
certificate for an interior reconfiguration that includes seats
containing large, non-traditional, non-metallic panels on Boeing 757-
200 series airplanes. The Boeing 757-200
[[Page 18109]]
series airplane is a twin-engine, transport category airplane with
seating provisions for up to 239 passengers.
The applicable regulations to airplanes currently approved under
Type Certificate No. A2NM do not require seats to meet the more-
stringent flammability standards required of large, non-traditional,
non-metallic panels in the cabin interior. At the time the applicable
rules were written, seats were designed with a metal frame covered by
fabric, not with large, non-traditional, non-metallic panels. Seats
also met the then-recently adopted standards for flammability of seat
cushions. With the seat design being mostly fabric and metal, their
contribution to a fire in the cabin had been minimized and was not
considered a threat. For these reasons, seats did not need to be tested
to heat-release and smoke-emission requirements.
Seat designs have now evolved to occasionally include large, non-
traditional, non-metallic panels. Taken in total, the surface area of
these panels is on the same order as the sidewall and overhead-stowage-
bin interior panels. To provide the level of passenger protection
established by the airworthiness standards, these large, non-
traditional, non-metallic panels in the cabin must meet the standards
of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 25, Appendix F,
parts IV and V, heat-release and smoke-emission requirements.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Delta Flight Products must show that the Model 757-200
series airplane, as changed, continues to meet the applicable
provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A2NM 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 757-200 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 applicant apply for a supplemental type
certificate to modify any other model included on the same type
certificate 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 Boeing Model 757-200 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 757-200 series airplane will incorporate the following
novel or unusual design feature:
This model offers interior arrangements that include passenger
seats that incorporate large, non-traditional, non-metallic panels in
lieu of the traditional metal frame covered by fabric. The flammability
properties of these panels have been shown to significantly affect the
survivability of cabin occupants in the event of fire. These seats are
considered a novel design for transport-category airplanes that include
Amendment 25-61 and Amendment 25-66 in the certification basis, and
were not considered when those airworthiness standards were
established.
The existing regulations do not provide adequate or appropriate
safety standards for seat designs that incorporate large, non-
traditional, non-metallic panels in their designs. To provide a level
of safety that is equivalent to that afforded to the balance of the
cabin, additional airworthiness standards, in the form of special
conditions, are necessary. These special conditions supplement 14 CFR
25.853. The requirements contained in these special conditions consist
of applying the identical test conditions, required of all other large
panels in the cabin, to seats with large, non-traditional, non-metallic
panels.
Discussion
In the early 1980s, the Federal Aviation Administration (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 larger 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 to post-crash fire-survival
time. The materials that comply with the standards (e.g., Sec. 25.853,
``Compartment Interiors,'' as amended by Amendments 25-61 and 25-66)
were found to extend survival time by approximately two minutes over
materials that do not comply.
At the time Amendment 25-61 was written, the potential application
of the requirement to seats was explored. The seat frame itself was not
a concern because it was primarily made of aluminum and incorporated
only small amounts of non-metallic materials (for example, a food-tray
table and armrest closeout). The FAA determined that the overall effect
on survivability was negligible, whether or not these panels met the
heat-release and smoke-emission requirements. The requirements
therefore did not address seats, and the preambles to both Notice of
Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) 85-10 and the final rule (Amendment 25-61)
specifically note that they were excluded ``. . . because the recently
adopted standards for flammability of seat cushions will greatly
inhibit involvement of the seats'' in their post-crash fire.
In the late 1990s, when it became clear that seat designs were
evolving to include large non-metallic panels with surface area that
would impact survivability during a cabin-fire event compared to
partitions or galleys, the FAA issued Policy Memorandum 97-112-39. This
memo 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 would have been an
exception to the airworthiness standards, which could result in an
unacceptable decrease in survivability during a cabin fire event.
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.
Definition of ``Large, Non-Traditional, Non-Metallic Panel''
A large, non-traditional, 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
non-traditional areas include, but are not limited to, seat backs,
bottoms and leg/foot rests, kick panels, back shells, and associated
furniture. Examples of traditional, exempted areas include, but are not
limited to, arm caps, armrest close-outs, and items such as end-bays
[[Page 18110]]
and center consoles, food trays, video monitors, and shrouds.
Clarification of ``Exposed''
``Exposed'' is considered to include 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 the special conditions. These
materials must still comply with Sec. 25.853(a) and (c) if used as a
covering for a seat cushion, or Sec. 25.853(a) if installed elsewhere
on the seat. Large, non-metallic panels covered with traditional
fabrics or leathers will be tested without their coverings or covering
attachments.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Boeing Model 757-200 series airplane. Should Delta Flight Products
apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any
other model included on Type Certificate No. A2NM to incorporate 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 and affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for
approval of these features on the airplane.
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 757-200 series airplanes,
as modified by Delta Flight Products.
1. Compliance with 14 CFR part 25, Appendix F, parts IV and V, heat
release and smoke emission, is required for seats that incorporate
large, non-traditional, 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 1.5 square feet
of non-traditional, non-metallic panel material per seat place that
does not have to comply with No. 1. A triple seat assembly may have a
total of 4.5 square feet excluded on any portion of the assembly (e.g.,
outboard seat place 1 sq. ft., middle 1 sq. ft., and inboard 2.5 sq.
ft.).
3. Seats need not meet the test requirements of part 25 Appendix F,
parts IV and V when installed in compartments that are not otherwise
required to meet these requirements. Examples include:
a. Airplanes with passenger capacities of 19 or fewer.
b. Airplanes that do not have smoke emission and heat release in
their certification basis and do not need to comply with the
requirements of 14 CFR 121.312.
c. Airplanes exempted from heat-release and smoke-emission
requirements.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on March 12, 2020.
James E. Wilborn,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-06339 Filed 3-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
