Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 6X Airplane; Hydrophobic Windshield Coatings in Lieu of Windshield Wipers, 1066-1068 [2022-00129]
Download as PDF
1066
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 6 / Monday, January 10, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
to make conforming changes to the Call
Report instructions in coordination with
the Federal Financial Institutions
Examination Council.5
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
The agent or nominee is ‘‘engaged in the
business of placing’’ customer funds at IDIs,
in a custodial capacity, based upon
instructions received from a depositor or
depositor’s agent specific to each IDI and
deposit account, and the agent or nominee
neither plays any role in determining at
which IDI(s) to place any customers’ funds,
nor negotiates or set rates, terms, fees, or
conditions, for the deposit account.
Over the past several months, in
response to questions received, the FDIC
has been considering the role that
certain custodial agents play in various
deposit placement arrangements.
Specifically, in some deposit placement
arrangements, a depositor, or a
depositor’s agent, uses a custodial agent
in placing depositor or customer funds
at IDIs. Based on the ‘‘deposit broker’’
definition, these agents likely meet the
‘‘engaged in the business of placing’’
part of the definition because they
receive third party funds and place
those funds at more than one IDI.6
The FDIC recognizes, however, that in
certain arrangements, the agent or
nominee, in a custodial capacity, places
deposits but has no discretion over
where the deposits are placed and acts
solely upon instructions given by the
depositor or the depositor’s agent
specific to each deposit account.
Moreover, in these arrangements, when
the agent or nominee, acting in a
custodial capacity, places deposits
based upon instructions received from a
depositor or depositor’s agent, it does so
without playing any role in determining
at which banks the depositor’s funds are
to be placed nor does the agent negotiate
or set rates, terms, fees, or conditions for
the deposit account.
As such, in these specific
arrangements, it is the FDIC’s view that
the agent or nominee’s primary purpose
in placing deposits at IDIs is to provide
non-discretionary custodial services on
behalf of the depositor or depositor’s
agent. Therefore, such entities will be
deemed to meet the primary purpose
exception. Accordingly, through this
Notice, the FDIC is identifying this
specific business relationship as a
designated business relationship that
meets the primary purpose exception.
Entities that meet the criteria described
in this Notice will be permitted to rely
5 The additional designated exception will be
posted to the FDIC’s Banker Resource Center
(Brokered Deposits web page), available at: https://
www.fdic.gov/resources/bankers/brokered-deposits/
, will be updated to reflect this additional
designated business exception.
6 12 CFR 337.6(a)(5)(i)(A).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:53 Jan 07, 2022
Jkt 256001
upon the exception without the
submission of an application or notice.
As noted above, a custodial agent that
plays any role in determining at which
IDI(s) to place any customers’ funds will
not be eligible for the designated
exception. As an example, a custodial
agent that plays any role in creating,
operating, or using an algorithm that is
used to determine or recommend at
which IDI(s) any customer funds are
placed would be viewed as playing a
role in determining at which banks the
depositor’s funds are to be placed and
thus not eligible for the designated
exception.
Involvement of Additional Third Party
Deposit Brokers
The FDIC notes that a depositor or
depositor’s agent that meets the deposit
broker definition and uses the services
of a custodial agent that meets this
designated exception to place deposits
would result in such deposits being
classified as brokered deposits. The
involvement of the non-discretionary
custodial agent does not change the
classification of deposits placed by, or
through the facilitation of, an entity that
otherwise meets the deposit broker
definition.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Dated at Washington, DC, on December 29,
2021.
James P. Sheesley,
Assistant Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–28540 Filed 1–7–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6714–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2014–1075; Special
Conditions No. 25–599A–SC]
Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation
Model Falcon 6X Airplane;
Hydrophobic Windshield Coatings in
Lieu of Windshield Wipers
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions,
amendment.
AGENCY:
These amended special
conditions are issued for the Dassault
Model Falcon 6X 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 hydrophobic windshield coatings in
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
lieu of windshield wipers. 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
Dassault on January 10, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
Pellicano, AIR–625, Performance and
Environment Section, Technical
Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Federal Aviation
Administration, 1701 Columbia Avenue,
College Park, GA 30337; telephone and
fax 404–474–5558, email
Paul.Pellicano@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 1, 2012, Dassault Aviation
applied for a type certificate for their
new Model Falcon 5X airplane. Special
conditions were issued for that design
on September 15, 2015 (80 FR 55226).
However, Dassault has decided not to
release an airplane under the model
designation Falcon 5X, instead choosing
to change that model designation to
Falcon 6X.
In February of 2018, due to engine
supplier issues, Dassault extended the
type certificate application date for their
Model Falcon 5X airplane under new
Model Falcon 6X. This amendment to
the original special conditions reflects
the model-name change. This airplane is
a twin-engine business jet with seating
for 19 passengers and a maximum
takeoff weight of 77,460 pounds. The
Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane
design remains unchanged from the
Model Falcon 5X in all material respects
other than different engines.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17,
Dassault Aviation must show that the
Model Falcon 6X airplane meets the
applicable provisions of part 25, as
amended by Amendments 25–1 through
25–146.
If the Administrator finds that the
applicable airworthiness regulations
(i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain
adequate or appropriate safety standards
for the Dassault Model Falcon 6X
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
E:\FR\FM\10JAR1.SGM
10JAR1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 6 / Monday, January 10, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
are issued. Should the type certificate
for that model be amended later to
include any other model that
incorporates the same novel or unusual
design feature, these special conditions
would also apply to the other model
under § 21.101.
In addition to the applicable
airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Model Falcon 6X
airplane must comply with the fuel-vent
and exhaust-emission requirements of
14 CFR part 34, and the noisecertification requirements of 14 CFR
part 36.
The FAA issues special conditions, as
defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in accordance
with § 11.38, and they become part of
the type-certification basis under
§ 21.17(a)(2).
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Dassault Model Falcon 6X
airplane flight deck design incorporates
a hydrophobic coating as a primary
means to provide adequate windshield
view in the presence of atmospheric
precipitation. Reliance on such a
coating, in lieu of wipers, constitutes a
novel or unusual design feature for
which the applicable airworthiness
regulations do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards.
Discussion
Section 25.773(b)(1) requires a means
to maintain a clear portion of the
windshield for both pilots operating a
transport-category airplane to have a
sufficiently extensive view along the
flight path during precipitation
conditions. The regulations require this
means to maintain such an area of clear
vision during heavy-rain precipitation at
airplane speeds up to 1.5 VSR1.
This requirement has existed in
principle since 1953 in part 4b of the
‘‘Civil Air Regulations’’ (CAR). Section
4b.351(b)(1) required that ‘‘Means shall
be provided for maintaining a sufficient
portion of the windshield clear so that
both pilots are afforded a sufficiently
extensive view along the flight path in
all normal flight attitudes of the
airplane. Such means shall be designed
to function under the following
conditions without continuous attention
on the part of the crew: (i) In heavy rain
at speeds up to 1.6 VS1, flaps retracted.’’
Effective December 26, 2002,
Amendment 25–108 changed the speed
for effectiveness of the means to
maintain an area of clear vision from up
to 1.6 VS1 to 1.5 VSR1 to accommodate
the redefinition of the reference stall
speed from the minimum speed in the
stall, VS1, to greater than or equal to the
1g stall speed, VSR1. As noted in the
preamble to the final rule for that
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:53 Jan 07, 2022
Jkt 256001
amendment, the reduced factor of 1.5 on
VSR1 is to maintain approximately the
same speed as the 1.6 factor on VS1.
The requirement that the means to
maintain a clear area of forward vision
must function at high speeds and high
precipitation rates is based on the use of
windshield wipers as the means to
maintain an adequate area of clear
vision in precipitation conditions. The
requirement in 14 CFR 121.313(b) and
125.213(b) to provide ‘‘. . . a
windshield wiper or equivalent for each
pilot station . . .’’ has remained
unchanged since at least 1953.
The effectiveness of windshield
wipers to maintain an area of clear
vision normally degrades as airspeed
and precipitation rates increase. It is
assumed that because high speeds and
high precipitation rates represent
limiting conditions for windshield
wipers, they will also be effective at
lower speeds and precipitation levels.
Accordingly, § 25.773(b)(1)(i) does not
require maintenance of a clear area of
forward vision at lower speeds or lower
precipitation rates.
A forced airflow blown directly over
the windshield has also been used to
maintain an area of clear vision in
precipitation. The limiting conditions
for this technology are comparable to
those for windshield wipers.
Accordingly, introduction of this
technology did not present a need for
special conditions to maintain the level
of safety embodied in the existing
regulations.
Hydrophobic windshield coatings
may depend to some degree on airflow
to maintain a clear-vision area. The
heavy rain and high speed conditions
specified in the current rule do not
necessarily represent the limiting
condition for this new technology. For
example, airflow over the windshield,
which may be necessary to remove
moisture from the windshield, may not
be adequate to maintain a sufficiently
clear-vision area of the windshield in
low-speed flight or during surface
operations. Alternatively, airflow over
the windshield may be disturbed during
such critical times as the approach to
land, where the airplane is at a higherthan-normal pitch attitude. In these
cases, areas of airflow disturbance or
separation on the windshield could
cause failure to maintain a clear-vision
area on the windshield.
In addition to potentially depending
on airflow to function effectively,
hydrophobic coatings may also be
dependent on water-droplet size for
effective precipitation removal. For
example, precipitation in the form of a
light mist may not be sufficient for the
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
1067
coating’s properties to result in
maintaining a clear area of vision.
The current regulations identify speed
and precipitation rate requirements that
represent limiting conditions for
windshield wipers and blowers, but not
for hydrophobic coatings. Likewise, it is
necessary to issue special conditions to
maintain the level of safety represented
by the current regulations.
These special conditions provide an
appropriate safety standard for the
hydrophobic-coating technology as the
means to maintain a clear area of vision
by requiring the coating to be effective
at low speeds and low precipitation
rates, as well as at the higher speeds and
precipitation rates identified in the
current regulation.
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.
Discussion of Comments
The FAA issued Final special
conditions, request for comment Special
Conditions No. 25–599–SC for the
Dassault Model Falcon 5X airplane,
which was published in the Federal
Register on September 15, 2015 (80 FR
55226). No comments were received,
and the special conditions are adopted
as proposed, with amendments.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special
conditions are applicable to the Dassault
Model Falcon 6X airplane. Should
Dassault apply at a later date for a
change to the type certificate to include
another model incorporating the same
novel or unusual design feature, the
special conditions would apply to that
model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel
or unusual design features on the
Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane. It is
not a rule of general applicability.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
The 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 typecertification basis for Dassault Model
Falcon 6X airplanes.
E:\FR\FM\10JAR1.SGM
10JAR1
1068
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 6 / Monday, January 10, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
The airplane must have a means to
maintain a clear portion of the
windshield, during precipitation
conditions, enough for both pilots to
have a sufficiently extensive view along
the ground or flight path in normal taxi
and flight attitudes of the airplane. This
means must be designed to function,
without continuous attention on the
part of the flightcrew, in conditions
from light misting precipitation to heavy
rain, at speeds from fully stopped in
still air, to 1.5 VSR1 with lift and drag
devices retracted.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January
4, 2022.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–00129 Filed 1–7–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 27
[Docket No. FAA–2021–0705; Special
Conditions No. 27–056–SC]
Special Conditions: Vector Aerospace
Helicopter Services USA, Airbus
Helicopters Model AS350B2 and
AS350B3 Helicopters; Stability
Augmentation System and Automatic
Flight Control System
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Airbus Helicopters
(Airbus) Model AS350B2 and AS350B3
helicopters. These helicopters, as
modified by Vector Aerospace
Helicopter Services USA (Vector), will
have a novel or unusual design feature
when compared to the state of
technology envisioned in the
airworthiness standards for helicopters.
This design feature is the installation of
a stability augmentation system and
automatic flight control system (SAS/
AFCS). 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: These special conditions are
effective January 10, 2022. Send
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:53 Jan 07, 2022
Jkt 256001
comments on or before February 24,
2022.
Send comments identified
by Docket No. FAA–2021–0705 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 document.
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 document
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 document, 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 document.
Submissions containing CBI should be
sent to Marie Hogestad, Aircraft
Information Systems Section, AIR–620,
Technical Innovation Policy Branch,
Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 S 216th Street,
Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206–
231–3157; email Marie.Hogestad@
faa.gov. Comments the FAA receives,
which are not specifically designated as
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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:
Marie Hogestad, Aircraft Information
Systems Section, AIR–620, Technical
Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 S 216th Street,
Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206–
231–3157; email Marie.Hogestad@
faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Reason for No Prior Notice and
Comment Before Adoption
The FAA has determined, in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B)
and 553(d)(3), that notice of, and
opportunity for prior public comment
hereon are unnecessary because
substantially identical special
conditions have been previously subject
to the public comment process in
several prior instances such that the
FAA is satisfied that new comments are
unlikely. For the same reason, the FAA
finds that good cause exists for adopting
these special conditions upon issuance.
The FAA is requesting comments to
allow interested persons to submit
views that may not have been submitted
in response to the prior opportunities
for comment.
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 February 21, 2019, Vector applied
for a supplemental type certificate for
the installation of SAS/AFCS on the
Airbus Model AS350B2 and AS350B3
helicopters. The Airbus Model AS350B2
and AS350B3 helicopters are 14 CFR
part 27 normal category, single turbine
E:\FR\FM\10JAR1.SGM
10JAR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1066-1068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00129]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2014-1075; Special Conditions No. 25-599A-SC]
Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 6X Airplane;
Hydrophobic Windshield Coatings in Lieu of Windshield Wipers
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions, amendment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These amended special conditions are issued for the Dassault
Model Falcon 6X 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 hydrophobic windshield coatings in lieu of windshield
wipers. 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 Dassault on January 10, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Pellicano, AIR-625, Performance
and Environment Section, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 Columbia
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; telephone and fax 404-474-5558, email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 1, 2012, Dassault Aviation applied for a type certificate
for their new Model Falcon 5X airplane. Special conditions were issued
for that design on September 15, 2015 (80 FR 55226). However, Dassault
has decided not to release an airplane under the model designation
Falcon 5X, instead choosing to change that model designation to Falcon
6X.
In February of 2018, due to engine supplier issues, Dassault
extended the type certificate application date for their Model Falcon
5X airplane under new Model Falcon 6X. This amendment to the original
special conditions reflects the model-name change. This airplane is a
twin-engine business jet with seating for 19 passengers and a maximum
takeoff weight of 77,460 pounds. The Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane
design remains unchanged from the Model Falcon 5X in all material
respects other than different engines.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.17, Dassault Aviation must show that the Model Falcon 6X
airplane meets the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by
Amendments 25-1 through 25-146.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for the Dassault Model Falcon 6X 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
[[Page 1067]]
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 Model Falcon 6X airplane must comply with the fuel-vent
and exhaust-emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34, and the noise-
certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in
accordance with Sec. 11.38, and they become part of the type-
certification basis under Sec. 21.17(a)(2).
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane flight deck design
incorporates a hydrophobic coating as a primary means to provide
adequate windshield view in the presence of atmospheric precipitation.
Reliance on such a coating, in lieu of wipers, constitutes a novel or
unusual design feature for which the applicable airworthiness
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards.
Discussion
Section 25.773(b)(1) requires a means to maintain a clear portion
of the windshield for both pilots operating a transport-category
airplane to have a sufficiently extensive view along the flight path
during precipitation conditions. The regulations require this means to
maintain such an area of clear vision during heavy-rain precipitation
at airplane speeds up to 1.5 VSR1.
This requirement has existed in principle since 1953 in part 4b of
the ``Civil Air Regulations'' (CAR). Section 4b.351(b)(1) required that
``Means shall be provided for maintaining a sufficient portion of the
windshield clear so that both pilots are afforded a sufficiently
extensive view along the flight path in all normal flight attitudes of
the airplane. Such means shall be designed to function under the
following conditions without continuous attention on the part of the
crew: (i) In heavy rain at speeds up to 1.6 VS1, flaps
retracted.''
Effective December 26, 2002, Amendment 25-108 changed the speed for
effectiveness of the means to maintain an area of clear vision from up
to 1.6 VS1 to 1.5 VSR1 to accommodate the
redefinition of the reference stall speed from the minimum speed in the
stall, VS1, to greater than or equal to the 1g stall speed,
VSR1. As noted in the preamble to the final rule for that
amendment, the reduced factor of 1.5 on VSR1 is to maintain
approximately the same speed as the 1.6 factor on VS1.
The requirement that the means to maintain a clear area of forward
vision must function at high speeds and high precipitation rates is
based on the use of windshield wipers as the means to maintain an
adequate area of clear vision in precipitation conditions. The
requirement in 14 CFR 121.313(b) and 125.213(b) to provide ``. . . a
windshield wiper or equivalent for each pilot station . . .'' has
remained unchanged since at least 1953.
The effectiveness of windshield wipers to maintain an area of clear
vision normally degrades as airspeed and precipitation rates increase.
It is assumed that because high speeds and high precipitation rates
represent limiting conditions for windshield wipers, they will also be
effective at lower speeds and precipitation levels. Accordingly, Sec.
25.773(b)(1)(i) does not require maintenance of a clear area of forward
vision at lower speeds or lower precipitation rates.
A forced airflow blown directly over the windshield has also been
used to maintain an area of clear vision in precipitation. The limiting
conditions for this technology are comparable to those for windshield
wipers. Accordingly, introduction of this technology did not present a
need for special conditions to maintain the level of safety embodied in
the existing regulations.
Hydrophobic windshield coatings may depend to some degree on
airflow to maintain a clear-vision area. The heavy rain and high speed
conditions specified in the current rule do not necessarily represent
the limiting condition for this new technology. For example, airflow
over the windshield, which may be necessary to remove moisture from the
windshield, may not be adequate to maintain a sufficiently clear-vision
area of the windshield in low-speed flight or during surface
operations. Alternatively, airflow over the windshield may be disturbed
during such critical times as the approach to land, where the airplane
is at a higher-than-normal pitch attitude. In these cases, areas of
airflow disturbance or separation on the windshield could cause failure
to maintain a clear-vision area on the windshield.
In addition to potentially depending on airflow to function
effectively, hydrophobic coatings may also be dependent on water-
droplet size for effective precipitation removal. For example,
precipitation in the form of a light mist may not be sufficient for the
coating's properties to result in maintaining a clear area of vision.
The current regulations identify speed and precipitation rate
requirements that represent limiting conditions for windshield wipers
and blowers, but not for hydrophobic coatings. Likewise, it is
necessary to issue special conditions to maintain the level of safety
represented by the current regulations.
These special conditions provide an appropriate safety standard for
the hydrophobic-coating technology as the means to maintain a clear
area of vision by requiring the coating to be effective at low speeds
and low precipitation rates, as well as at the higher speeds and
precipitation rates identified in the current regulation.
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.
Discussion of Comments
The FAA issued Final special conditions, request for comment
Special Conditions No. 25-599-SC for the Dassault Model Falcon 5X
airplane, which was published in the Federal Register on September 15,
2015 (80 FR 55226). No comments were received, and the special
conditions are adopted as proposed, with amendments.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane. Should Dassault apply at a later
date for a change to the type certificate to include another model
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, the special
conditions would apply to that model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on the Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane. It is not a rule of general
applicability.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
The 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 Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplanes.
[[Page 1068]]
The airplane must have a means to maintain a clear portion of the
windshield, during precipitation conditions, enough for both pilots to
have a sufficiently extensive view along the ground or flight path in
normal taxi and flight attitudes of the airplane. This means must be
designed to function, without continuous attention on the part of the
flightcrew, in conditions from light misting precipitation to heavy
rain, at speeds from fully stopped in still air, to 1.5 VSR1
with lift and drag devices retracted.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 4, 2022.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00129 Filed 1-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P