Special Conditions: Airbus Model A321neo ACF Airplane; Dynamic Test Requirements for Single-Occupant Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats With 3-Point Restraints, 14234-14237 [2021-05307]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 48 / Monday, March 15, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
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.
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Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Bombardier Model BD–100–1A10
airplane, as modified by Rockwell
Collins, will incorporate the following
novel or unusual design feature:
Installation of the Rockwell Collins
Pro Line Fusion System, which allows
connection to airplane electronic
systems and networks, and access from
sources internal to the airplane to the
previously isolated internal airplane
electronic assets.
Discussion
The Bombardier Model BD–100–1A10
airplane architecture is novel or unusual
for commercial transport airplanes
because it allows connection to
previously isolated data networks
connected to systems that perform
functions required for the safe operation
and maintenance of the airplane. This
data network and design integration
creates a potential for unauthorized
persons to access the aircraft-control
domain and airline information-services
domain, and presents security
vulnerabilities related to the
introduction of computer viruses and
worms, user errors, and intentional
sabotage of airplane electronic assets
(networks, systems, and databases)
critical to the safety and maintenance of
the airplane.
The existing FAA regulations did not
anticipate these networked airplane
system architectures. Furthermore, these
regulations and the current guidance
material do not address potential
security vulnerabilities, which could be
exploited by unauthorized access to
airplane networks, data buses, and
servers. Therefore, these special
conditions ensure that the security (i.e.,
confidentiality, integrity, and
availability) of airplane systems will not
be compromised by unauthorized wired
or wireless connections from within the
airplane. These special conditions also
require the applicant to provide
appropriate instructions to the operator
to maintain all electronic-system
safeguards that have been implemented
as part of the original network design so
that this feature does not allow or
reintroduce security threats.
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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that established by the existing
airworthiness standards.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special
conditions are applicable to the
Bombardier Model BD–100–1A10
airplane. Should Rockwell Collins apply
at a later date for a supplemental type
certificate to modify any other model
included on Type Certificate No.
T00005NY to incorporate the same
novel or unusual design feature, these
special conditions would apply to that
model as well.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on
February 9, 2021.
Suzanne Masterson,
Manager, Transport Airplane Strategic Policy
Section, Policy and Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–05293 Filed 3–12–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
Conclusion
[Docket No. FAA–2020–0817; Special
Conditions No. 25–779–SC]
This action affects only a certain
novel or unusual design feature on one
model of airplane, as modified by
Rockwell Collins. It is not a rule of
general applicability and affects only
the applicant.
Special Conditions: Airbus Model
A321neo ACF Airplane; Dynamic Test
Requirements for Single-Occupant
Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats With 3Point Restraints
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
The authority citation for these
special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(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 Bombardier Model
BD–100–1A10 airplanes, as modified by
Rockwell Collins, for electronic-system
security protection from unauthorized
internal access.
1. The applicant must ensure that the
design provides isolation from, or
airplane electronic-system security
protection against, access by
unauthorized sources internal to the
airplane. The design must prevent
inadvertent and malicious changes to,
and all adverse impacts upon, airplane
equipment, systems, networks, or other
assets required for safe flight and
operations.
2. The applicant must establish
appropriate procedures to allow the
operator to ensure that continued
airworthiness of the airplane is
maintained, including all post-typecertification modifications that may
have an impact on the approved
electronic-system security safeguards.
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These special conditions are
issued for the Airbus Model A321neo
Cabin Flex (ACF) airplane. This airplane
will have a novel or unusual design
feature when compared to the state of
technology envisioned in the
airworthiness standards for transportcategory airplanes. This design feature
is single-occupant oblique seats with 3point restraints. 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
on March 15, 2021. Send comments on
or before April 29, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by Docket No. FAA–2020–0817 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
SUMMARY:
Authority Citation
PO 00000
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 48 / Monday, March 15, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: Fax comments to Docket
Operations at 202–493–2251.
Privacy: Except for Confidential
Business Information (CBI) as described
in the following paragraph, and other
information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments
received without change, to https://
www.regulations.gov/, including any
personal information you provide. The
FAA will also post a report
summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this proposal.
Confidential Business Information:
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
is commercial or financial information
that is both customarily and actually
treated as private by its owner. Under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
(5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from
public disclosure. If your comments
responsive to this Notice contain
commercial or financial information
that is customarily treated as private,
that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this
Notice, it is important that you clearly
designate the submitted comments as
CBI. Please mark each page of your
submission containing CBI as
‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such
marked submissions as confidential
under the FOIA, and the indicated
comments will not be placed in the
public docket of this Notice.
Submissions containing CBI should be
sent to Shannon Lennon, HumanMachine Interface Section, AIR–626,
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. Comments
the FAA receives, which are not
specifically designated as CBI, will be
placed in the public docket for this
rulemaking.
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:
Shannon Lennon, Human-Machine
Interface Section, AIR–626, Transport
Standards Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th
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Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206–231–3209; email
shannon.lennon@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 you to send any
written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send
your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No.
FAA–2020–0817’’ at the beginning of
your comments. 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 and may
amend these special conditions because
of those comments.
Background
On December 19, 2019, Airbus
applied for a change to Type Certificate
No. A28NM for single-occupant oblique
seats with 3-point restraints in the
Airbus Model A321neo ACF airplane.
This airplane, which is a derivative of
the Airbus Model A321–200 airplane
currently approved under Type
Certificate No. A28NM, is a twin-engine,
transport-category airplane with seating
for 244 passengers and a maximum
takeoff weight of 213,848 pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101,
Airbus must show that the Model
A321neo ACF airplane, as changed,
continues to meet the applicable
provisions of the regulations listed in
Type Certificate No. A28NM 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 Airbus Model A321neo ACF
airplane because of a novel or unusual
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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, 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 § 21.101.
In addition to the applicable
airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Airbus Model A321neo
ACF 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 Airbus Model A321neo ACF
airplane will incorporate the following
novel or unusual design features:
Single-occupant oblique seats with 3point restraints.
Discussion
The FAA has been conducting and
sponsoring research on appropriate
injury criteria for oblique seat
installations. However, the FAA
research program is not complete, and
the FAA may update these criteria as
further research results are obtained. To
reflect current research findings, the
FAA issued policy statement PS–ANM–
25–03–R1, ‘‘Technical Criteria for
Approving Side-Facing Seats,’’
November 5, 2012, which updates
injury criteria for fully side-facing seats;
and policy statement PS–AIR–25–27,
‘‘Technical Criteria for Approving
Oblique Seats,’’ July 11, 2018, to define
injury criteria for oblique seats. These
policies provide background and
technical information, as well as
applicable injury criteria.
The installation of obliquely oriented
passenger seats is novel such that the
current certification basis does not
adequately address protection of the
occupant’s neck and spine for seat
configurations that are oriented at an
angle greater than 18 degrees from the
airplane longitudinal centerline.
The installation of passenger seats at
angles of 18 to 45 degrees to the airplane
centerline is unusual in transport-
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 48 / Monday, March 15, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
category airplanes due to the seat and
occupant interface with the surrounding
furniture that introduces occupant
alignment and loading concerns with or
without the installation of a 3-point
restraint system or additional airbag
restraint system. Note that, while the
applicant did not specifically cite airbag
systems as part of the seat restraint
system, this discussion and related
special conditions address airbag
information in the event that an airbag
system is installed as part of the seat
restraint system.
FAA-sponsored research has found
that an unrestrained flailing of the
upper torso, even when the pelvis and
torso are nearly aligned, can produce
serious spinal and torso injuries. At
lower-impact severities, including with
significant misalignment between the
torso and pelvis, the injuries did not
occur. Tests with an FAA Hybrid III
anthropomorphic test device (ATD)
have identified a level of lumbar spinal
tension corresponding to the no-injury
impact severity. This level of tension is
included as a limit in the special
conditions. The spine-tension limit
selected is conservative with respect to
other aviation injury criteria because it
corresponds to a no-injury loading
condition.
Shoulder harnesses (3-point restraint
systems) have been widely used on
flight-attendant seats, flight-deck seats,
business jets, and general aviation
airplanes to reduce occupant head
injury in the unlikely event of an
emergency landing. The use of 3-point
restraint systems on transport-category
airplane passenger seats is rare;
however, pertinent regulations and
published guidance for this type of
restraint system exist.
The existing regulations, however, do
not adequately address the proposed
business-class seating configuration of
oblique seats with 3-point restraints
because they do not consider unique
occupant alignment and loading
concerns due to obliquely oriented
passengers. Therefore, special
conditions are required.
These special conditions provide
head injury criteria, neck injury criteria,
spine injury criteria, and body-to-wall
contact criteria. 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
Model A321neo ACF airplane. Should
Airbus apply at a later date for a change
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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 Airbus Model
A321neo ACF airplane.
In addition to the requirements of
§ 25.562, passenger seats installed at an
angle between 18 degrees and 45
degrees from the aircraft bow-to-stern
centerline must meet the following:
1. Head Injury Criteria (HIC):
Compliance with § 25.562(c)(5) is
required, except that, when an airbag
device is present in addition to the 3point restraint system, and the
anthropomorphic test device (ATD) has
no apparent contact with the seat or
structure but has contact with an airbag,
the HIC unlimited scored in excess of
1000 is acceptable, provided the HIC15
score (calculated in accordance with 49
CFR 571.208) for that contact is less
than 700.
ATD head contact with the seat or
other structure, through the airbag, or
contact subsequent to contact with the
airbag, requires a HIC value that does
not exceed 1000.
2. Body-to-Wall/Furnishing Contact:
If a seat is installed aft of structure
(e.g., interior wall or furnishings) that
does not provide a homogenous contact
surface for the expected range of
occupants and yaw angles, then
additional analysis and tests may be
required to demonstrate that the injury
criteria are met for the area that an
occupant could contact. For example, if
an airbag device is present, and different
yaw angles could result in different
airbag-device performance, then
additional analysis or separate test(s)
may be necessary to evaluate
performance.
3. Neck Injury Criteria:
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a. The seating system must protect the
occupant from experiencing serious
neck injury. If an airbag device is
present, the assessment of neck injury
must be conducted with the airbag
device activated, unless there is reason
to also consider that the neck injury
potential would be higher for impacts
below the airbag-device deployment
threshold.
b. The Nij (calculated in accordance
with 49 CFR 571.208) must be below
1.0, where Nij = Fz/Fzc + My/Myc, and Nij
critical values are:
i. Fzc = 1530 lbs. for tension
ii. Fzc = 1385 lbs. for compression
iii. Myc = 229 lb-ft in flexion
iv. Myc = 100 lb-ft in extension
c. In addition, peak Fz must be below
937 lb. in tension and 899 lb. in
compression.
d. Rotation of the head about its
vertical axis relative to the torso is
limited to 105 degrees in either
direction from forward-facing.
e. The neck must not impact any
surface that would produce
concentrated loading on the neck.
4. Spine and Torso Injury Criteria:
a. The lumbar spine tension (Fz)
cannot exceed 1200 lb.
b. Significant concentrated loading on
the occupant’s spine, in the area
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 three (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:
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.
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–
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1609. The tests must be conducted with
an undeformed floor, at the most-critical
yaw cases for injury, and with all lateral
structural supports (e.g., armrests or
walls) installed.
Note: Airbus must demonstrate that
the installation of seats via plinths or
pallets meet 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.
8. Inflatable Airbag Restraint Systems
Special Conditions:
If inflatable airbag-restraint systems
are also installed, the airbag systems
must meet the requirements in the
airbag (inflatable restraint) special
conditions applicable to the Airbus
Model A321 series airplanes.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on
January 11, 2021.
Suzanne Masterson,
Manager, Transport Airplane Strategic Policy
Section, Policy and Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–05307 Filed 3–12–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2020–1206; Special
Conditions No. 25–781–SC]
Special Conditions: Rockwell Collins,
Bombardier Model BD–100–1A10
Airplane; Electronic-System Security
Protection From Unauthorized External
Access
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Bombardier Model BD–
100–1A10 airplane. This airplane, as
modified by Rockwell Collins, will have
a novel or unusual design feature when
compared to the state of technology
envisioned in the airworthiness
standards for transport category
airplanes. This design feature is the
installation of a system that allows
connection to airplane electronic
systems and networks, and access from
aircraft external to the previously
isolated internal airplane electronic
assets. The applicable airworthiness
regulations do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for this
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SUMMARY:
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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
Rockwell Collins on March 15, 2021.
Send comments on or before April 29,
2021.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by Docket No. FAA–2020–1206 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: Except for Confidential
Business Information (CBI) as described
in the following paragraph, and other
information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments
received without change, to https://
www.regulations.gov/, including any
personal information you provide. The
FAA will also post a report
summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this proposal.
Confidential Business Information:
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
is commercial or financial information
that is both customarily and actually
treated as private by its owner. Under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
(5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from
public disclosure. If your comments
responsive to this Notice contain
commercial or financial information
that is customarily treated as private,
that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this
Notice, it is important that you clearly
designate the submitted comments as
CBI. Please mark each page of your
submission containing CBI as
‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such
marked submissions as confidential
under the FOIA, and the indicated
comments will not be placed in the
public docket of this Notice. Send
submissions containing CBI to the
person indicated in the Contact section
below. Comments the FAA receives,
PO 00000
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14237
which are not specifically designated as
CBI, will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
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:
Varun Khanna, Aircraft Information
Systems Section, AIR–622, Technical
Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th
Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206–231–3159; email
varun.khanna@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. Therefore, the FAA
finds, pursuant to 14 CFR 11.38(b), that
new comments are unlikely, and notice
and comment prior to this publication
are unnecessary.
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 May 3, 2019, Rockwell Collins
applied for a supplemental type
certificate for installation of the
Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion
System in the Bombardier Model BD–
100–1A10 airplane, requiring security
protection from unauthorized external
access. The Bombardier Model BD–100–
1A10 airplane is a twin-engine,
transport-category airplane with a
passenger capacity of 19 and a
maximum takeoff weight of 40,600
pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101,
Rockwell Collins must show that the
Bombardier Model BD–100–1A10
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 48 (Monday, March 15, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14234-14237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05307]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0817; Special Conditions No. 25-779-SC]
Special Conditions: Airbus Model A321neo ACF Airplane; Dynamic
Test Requirements for Single-Occupant Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats With
3-Point Restraints
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model
A321neo Cabin Flex (ACF) airplane. This airplane will have a novel or
unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology
envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category
airplanes. This design feature is single-occupant oblique seats with 3-
point restraints. 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 on March 15, 2021. Send
comments on or before April 29, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2020-0817 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
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a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
Privacy: Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as
described in the following paragraph, and other information as
described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received
without change, to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal
information you provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing
each substantive verbal contact received about this proposal.
Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from
public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this Notice contain
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or
responsive to this Notice, it is important that you clearly designate
the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission
containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked
submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and the indicated comments
will not be placed in the public docket of this Notice. Submissions
containing CBI should be sent to Shannon Lennon, Human-Machine
Interface Section, AIR-626, 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]. Comments
the FAA receives, which are not specifically designated as CBI, will be
placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
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: Shannon Lennon, Human-Machine
Interface Section, AIR-626, 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: 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 you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0817'' at the beginning
of your comments. 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 and
may amend these special conditions because of those comments.
Background
On December 19, 2019, Airbus applied for a change to Type
Certificate No. A28NM for single-occupant oblique seats with 3-point
restraints in the Airbus Model A321neo ACF airplane. This airplane,
which is a derivative of the Airbus Model A321-200 airplane currently
approved under Type Certificate No. A28NM, is a twin-engine, transport-
category airplane with seating for 244 passengers and a maximum takeoff
weight of 213,848 pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Airbus must show that the Model A321neo ACF airplane, as
changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations
listed in Type Certificate No. A28NM 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 Airbus Model A321neo ACF 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 Model A321neo ACF 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 Airbus Model A321neo ACF airplane will incorporate the
following novel or unusual design features:
Single-occupant oblique seats with 3-point restraints.
Discussion
The FAA has been conducting and sponsoring research on appropriate
injury criteria for oblique seat installations. However, the FAA
research program is not complete, and the FAA may update these criteria
as further research results are obtained. To reflect current research
findings, the FAA issued policy statement PS-ANM-25-03-R1, ``Technical
Criteria for Approving Side-Facing Seats,'' November 5, 2012, which
updates injury criteria for fully side-facing seats; and policy
statement PS-AIR-25-27, ``Technical Criteria for Approving Oblique
Seats,'' July 11, 2018, to define injury criteria for oblique seats.
These policies provide background and technical information, as well as
applicable injury criteria.
The installation of obliquely oriented passenger seats is novel
such that the current certification basis does not adequately address
protection of the occupant's neck and spine for seat configurations
that are oriented at an angle greater than 18 degrees from the airplane
longitudinal centerline.
The installation of passenger seats at angles of 18 to 45 degrees
to the airplane centerline is unusual in transport-
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category airplanes due to the seat and occupant interface with the
surrounding furniture that introduces occupant alignment and loading
concerns with or without the installation of a 3-point restraint system
or additional airbag restraint system. Note that, while the applicant
did not specifically cite airbag systems as part of the seat restraint
system, this discussion and related special conditions address airbag
information in the event that an airbag system is installed as part of
the seat restraint system.
FAA-sponsored research has found that an unrestrained flailing of
the upper torso, even when the pelvis and torso are nearly aligned, can
produce serious spinal and torso injuries. At lower-impact severities,
including with significant misalignment between the torso and pelvis,
the injuries did not occur. Tests with an FAA Hybrid III
anthropomorphic test device (ATD) have identified a level of lumbar
spinal tension corresponding to the no-injury impact severity. This
level of tension is included as a limit in the special conditions. The
spine-tension limit selected is conservative with respect to other
aviation injury criteria because it corresponds to a no-injury loading
condition.
Shoulder harnesses (3-point restraint systems) have been widely
used on flight-attendant seats, flight-deck seats, business jets, and
general aviation airplanes to reduce occupant head injury in the
unlikely event of an emergency landing. The use of 3-point restraint
systems on transport-category airplane passenger seats is rare;
however, pertinent regulations and published guidance for this type of
restraint system exist.
The existing regulations, however, do not adequately address the
proposed business-class seating configuration of oblique seats with 3-
point restraints because they do not consider unique occupant alignment
and loading concerns due to obliquely oriented passengers. Therefore,
special conditions are required.
These special conditions provide head injury criteria, neck injury
criteria, spine injury criteria, and body-to-wall contact criteria.
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 Model A321neo ACF airplane. Should Airbus 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 Airbus Model A321neo ACF airplane.
In addition to the requirements of Sec. 25.562, passenger seats
installed at an angle between 18 degrees and 45 degrees from the
aircraft bow-to-stern centerline must meet the following:
1. Head Injury Criteria (HIC):
Compliance with Sec. 25.562(c)(5) is required, except that, when
an airbag device is present in addition to the 3-point restraint
system, and the anthropomorphic test device (ATD) has no apparent
contact with the seat or structure but has contact with an airbag, the
HIC unlimited scored in excess of 1000 is acceptable, provided the
HIC15 score (calculated in accordance with 49 CFR 571.208) for that
contact is less than 700.
ATD head contact with the seat or other structure, through the
airbag, or contact subsequent to contact with the airbag, requires a
HIC value that does not exceed 1000.
2. Body-to-Wall/Furnishing Contact:
If a seat is installed aft of structure (e.g., interior wall or
furnishings) that does not provide a homogenous contact surface for the
expected range of occupants and yaw angles, then additional analysis
and tests may be required to demonstrate that the injury criteria are
met for the area that an occupant could contact. For example, if an
airbag device is present, and different yaw angles could result in
different airbag-device performance, then additional analysis or
separate test(s) may be necessary to evaluate performance.
3. Neck Injury Criteria:
a. The seating system must protect the occupant from experiencing
serious neck injury. If an airbag device is present, the assessment of
neck injury must be conducted with the airbag device activated, unless
there is reason to also consider that the neck injury potential would
be higher for impacts below the airbag-device deployment threshold.
b. The Nij (calculated in accordance with 49 CFR 571.208) must be
below 1.0, where Nij = Fz/Fzc +
My/Myc, and Nij critical values are:
i. Fzc = 1530 lbs. for tension
ii. Fzc = 1385 lbs. for compression
iii. Myc = 229 lb-ft in flexion
iv. Myc = 100 lb-ft in extension
c. In addition, peak Fz must be below 937 lb. in tension
and 899 lb. in compression.
d. Rotation of the head about its vertical axis relative to the
torso is limited to 105 degrees in either direction from forward-
facing.
e. The neck must not impact any surface that would produce
concentrated loading on the neck.
4. Spine and Torso Injury Criteria:
a. The lumbar spine tension (Fz) cannot exceed 1200 lb.
b. Significant concentrated loading on the occupant's spine, in the
area 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
three (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:
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.
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-
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1609. The tests must be conducted with an undeformed floor, at the
most-critical yaw cases for injury, and with all lateral structural
supports (e.g., armrests or walls) installed.
Note: Airbus must demonstrate that the installation of seats via
plinths or pallets meet 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.
8. Inflatable Airbag Restraint Systems Special Conditions:
If inflatable airbag-restraint systems are also installed, the
airbag systems must meet the requirements in the airbag (inflatable
restraint) special conditions applicable to the Airbus Model A321
series airplanes.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on January 11, 2021.
Suzanne Masterson,
Manager, Transport Airplane Strategic Policy Section, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-05307 Filed 3-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
