Special Conditions: Northwest Aerospace Technologies, Inc (NAT), Boeing Model 787-9 Airplane; Installation of High Wall Suites, 83617-83619 [2024-23936]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
2. Amend appendix C1 to subpart B of
part 430 by revising the introductory
note to read as follows:
■
Appendix C1 to Subpart B of Part 430—
Uniform Test Method for Measuring the
Energy Consumption of Dishwashers
Note: Manufacturers must use the results of
testing under this appendix to determine
compliance with the relevant standards
provided at § 430.32(f)(1).
Manufacturers must use the results of
testing under appendix C2 to this subpart to
determine compliance with the amended
standards for dishwashers provided at
§ 430.32(f)(2). Manufacturers may use
appendix C2 to certify compliance with the
standards provided at § 430.32(f)(2) prior to
the applicable compliance date for those
standards.
Any representations related to energy or
water consumption of dishwashers must be
made in accordance with the appropriate
appendix that applies (i.e., appendix C1 or
appendix C2) when determining compliance
with the relevant standards.
The regulation at 10 CFR 429.19(b)(3)
provides instructions regarding the
combination of detergent and detergent
dosing, specified in section 2.5 of this
appendix, used for certification.
*
*
*
*
*
3. Amend appendix C2 to subpart B of
part 430 by revising the introductory
note to read as follows:
■
Appendix C2 to Subpart B of Part 430—
Uniform Test Method for Measuring the
Energy Consumption of Dishwashers
Note: Manufacturers must use the results of
testing under this appendix to determine
compliance with the relevant standards
provided at § 430.32(f)(2). Manufacturers may
use this appendix to certify compliance with
the standards provided at § 430.32(f)(2) prior
to the applicable compliance date for those
standards.
Any representations related to energy or
water consumption of dishwashers must be
made in accordance with the appropriate
appendix that applies (i.e., appendix C1 or
appendix C2) when determining compliance
with the relevant standards.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
*
*
*
*
Your request was submitted under Section
325(o)(2)(B)(i)(V) of the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), 42
U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(V) and 42 U.S.C.
6316(a), which requires the Attorney General
to make a determination of the impact of any
lessening of competition that is likely to
result from the imposition of proposed
energy conservation standards. The Attorney
General’s responsibility for responding to
requests from other departments about the
effect of a program on competition has been
delegated to the Assistant Attorney General
for the Antitrust Division in 28 CFR 0.40(g).
The Assistant Attorney General for the
Antitrust Division has authorized me, as the
Policy Director for the Antitrust Division, to
provide the Antitrust Division’s views
regarding the potential impact on
competition of proposed energy conservation
standards on his behalf.
In conducting its analysis, the Antitrust
Division examines whether a proposed
standard may lessen competition, for
example, by substantially limiting consumer
choice or increasing industry concentration.
A lessening of competition could result in
higher prices to manufacturers and
consumers.
We have studied in detail the Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking regarding dishwashers,
as well as the Technical Support Document
(TSD) that accompanied it, both of which you
transmitted to us under cover of your April
24 letter. We also have reviewed the one
public comment and reviewed the docket.
Based on this review, our conclusion is
that the proposed energy conservation
standards for dishwashers are unlikely to
have a significant adverse impact on
competition.
Sincerely,
David G.B. Lawrence,
Policy Director.
[FR Doc. 2024–23908 Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
*
Note: The following appendix will not
appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.
[Docket No. FAA–2024–0988; Special
Conditions No. 25–869–SC]
Appendix A
Special Conditions: Northwest
Aerospace Technologies, Inc (NAT),
Boeing Model 787–9 Airplane;
Installation of High Wall Suites
June 21, 2024
Ami Grace-Tardy
Assistant General Counsel for Legislation,
Regulation and Energy Efficiency
U.S. Department of Energy
Ami.Grace-Tardy@hq.doe.gov
Re: Energy Conservation Standards for
Dishwashers Docket EERE–2019–BT–STD–
0039
Dear Assistant General Counsel Grace-Tardy:
I am responding to your April 24, 2024
letter seeking the views of the Attorney
General about the potential impact on
competition of proposed energy conservation
standards for dishwashers.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:01 Oct 16, 2024
Jkt 265001
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Boeing Model 787–9
series airplanes. These airplanes, as
modified by NAT, will have a novel or
unusual design feature when compared
to the state of technology envisioned in
the airworthiness standards for
SUMMARY:
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83617
transport category airplanes. This design
feature is the installation of high wall
suites in the passenger cabin. The
applicable airworthiness regulations do
not contain adequate or appropriate
safety standards for this design feature.
These special conditions contain the
additional safety standards that the
Administrator considers necessary to
establish a level of safety equivalent to
that established by the existing
airworthiness standards.
DATES: Effective October 17, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Artiom Kostiouk, Cabin Safety, AIR–
624, Technical Policy Branch, Policy
and Standards Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Ave.
SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone
and fax (202) 267–5446; email
artiom.m.kostiouk@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NAT has applied for an amended
supplemental type certificate for the
installation of suites in the passenger
cabin in Boeing Model 787–9 series
airplanes. The Boeing Model 787–9
airplane, currently approved under
Type Certificate No. T00021SE, is a
twin-engine transport category airplane,
with a maximum seating capacity for
420 passengers, and a maximum take-off
weight of 553,000 pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR
21.101, NAT must show that the Boeing
Model 787–9 airplane, as changed,
continues to meet the applicable
provisions of the regulations listed in
Type Certificate No. T00021SE or the
applicable regulations in effect on the
date of application for the change,
except for earlier amendments as agreed
upon by the FAA.
If the Administrator finds that the
applicable airworthiness regulations
(i.e.,14 CFR part 25) do not contain
adequate or appropriate safety standards
for the Boeing Model 787–9 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.
In addition to the applicable
airworthiness regulations and special
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83618
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
conditions, the Boeing Model 787–9
airplane must comply with the exhaustemission requirements of 14 CFR part
34, and the noise-certification
requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
The FAA issues special conditions, as
defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in accordance
with § 11.38, and they become part of
the type-certification basis under
§ 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Boeing Model 787–9 airplane will
incorporate the following novel or
unusual design feature:
Single-passenger suites with high
walls that diminish occupant’s
awareness of their surroundings in
emergency situations. These suites are
considered a novel design for transport
category airplanes and were not
considered when applicable
airworthiness standards were created.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Discussion
For the Model 787–9 airplane, NAT
has proposed a customer option for the
installation of six high wall suites
(HWS) arranged in two rows of three
suites each in a 1–1–1 configuration.
The characteristics of this HWS design
are unique such that the suite walls are
higher than conventional mini-suites
with partial height surroundings. While
the walls for these suites do not extend
fully up from the floor to the ceiling,
such as those found in traditional ‘‘high
wall’’ suites, their wall height of 60
inches is greater than the eye level of a
5th percentile female, impeding visual
awareness and egress. These suites are
also not remote from the main cabin
(such as overhead crew rests).
Additionally, the design of these suites
is novel in the inclusion of berths that
are accessible to the occupant of the
suite during flight, unlike previous high
wall suite designs.
Part 25 in its current form does not
have regulations that address suite
installations in the cabin with walls of
height that reduce occupant visibility
and situational awareness.
Due to the novel design features of
these HWS, suitable passenger alerting,
supplemental oxygen, and firefighting
equipment and procedures are needed
for this configuration to ensure
occupant awareness in emergency
situations. Furthermore, the proposed
suite design necessitates the
development of additional special
conditions, including, but not limited to
crew procedures for managing hazards
and suite occupants, as well as
maintaining cabin-egress route
dimensions after deformation of the
walls and seats.
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17:01 Oct 16, 2024
Jkt 265001
The special conditions contain the
additional safety standards that the
Administrator considers necessary to
establish a level of safety equivalent to
that established by the existing
airworthiness standards.
Discussion of Comments
The FAA issued Notice of Proposed
Special Conditions No. 25–24–03–SC
for the Boeing Model 787–9 series
airplane, which was published in the
Federal Register on August 6, 2024 (89
FR 63845).
The FAA received three comments
from Boeing.
Boeing requests to change the
description of the suites to remove the
single criterion of impending visual
awareness and egress of a 5th percentile
female. Instead, Boeing requests FAA to
use multifaceted criteria (i.e., oxygen
masks, smoke detection, and
firefighting), which would categorize
the suites as mini-suites instead of high
wall suites. Boeing further asserts that a
height of 60 inches to demarcate
between high wall suites and minisuites is not consistent with industry,
FAA, or European Union Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) practice. The
FAA disagrees that the proposed suites
are mini-suites. These suites are
described as high wall suites because
the height of the walls, in this case 60
inches, exceeds the eye height of shorter
stature occupants such that they are
unable to see the emergency exits from
within the suites, which increases safety
risk associated with actions expected of
the occupants in an emergency. This
description is consistent with the FAA
Grant of Exemption 17635B, issued to
The Boeing Company for high wall
suites installed on Model 777 airplanes
which states, ‘‘In most previous
approvals, the low-wall mini-suite door
did not obscure the passenger’s view of
the airplane’s emergency exit. However,
in this case, the high walls create long
corridors that could obscure view of the
emergency exits, and impede the overall
egress capability of the cabin, creating a
new safety risk.’’ This description is
also consistent with discussion of high
wall suites at industry meetings where
the FAA has maintained the position
discussed in the noted exemption.
Boeing also proposes to change the
discussion section regarding part 25
which states that part 25 does not
specifically address suites with walls
that reduce occupant visibility and
situational awareness. Boeing asserts
that commercial aircraft commonly
include architectural elements that are
addressed by existing regulations that
may also potentially reduce visibility
and situational awareness. The FAA
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infers that Boeing is maintaining that
existing regulations already address
suites with high walls, and the FAA
disagrees with Boeing’s comment. While
current regulations are sufficient to
address a high wall architectural
element such as a partition, they do not
address the safety risk posed by
surrounding an occupant with high
walls. The discussion section is
intended to convey that part 25 did not
previously consider safety factors
associated with high walls surrounding
seats that were previously installed in
an open seating environment. Among
these factors is the safety risk associated
with walls that diminish visibility of
emergency exits and awareness of
emergency conditions, which must be
addressed by special conditions.
Finally, Boeing proposes to remove
conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7, which are
associated with high wall suites, and
place condition 5 which relates to
berths, in an exemption regarding minisuites. The FAA disagrees with Boeing’s
proposal since the suites in question are
not mini-suites but high wall suites.
Furthermore, incorporating beds into
the suites requires conditions specific to
decompression alerting and maintaining
availability of supplemental oxygen for
bed occupants to mitigate the safety risk
associated with diminished situational
awareness.
The special conditions are adopted as
proposed.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special
conditions are applicable to the Boeing
Model 787–9 airplane. Should
Northwest Aerospace Technologies, Inc
apply at a later date for a supplemental
type certificate to modify any other
model included on Type Certificate No.
T00021SE to incorporate the same novel
or unusual design feature, these special
conditions would apply to that model as
well.
Under standard practice, the effective
date of final special conditions would
be 30 days after the date of publication
in the Federal Register. However, as the
certification date for the Boeing Model
787–9, as modified by Northwest
Aerospace Technologies, Inc., is
imminent, the FAA finds that good
cause exists to make these special
conditions effective upon publication.
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 and affects only
the applicant who applied to the FAA
for approval of these features on the
airplane.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
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:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
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
787–9 series airplanes, as modified by
NAT.
The suites must have the following
features:
1. A supplemental oxygen system
with the following:
a. Oxygen masks for each seat and
berth installed in the suite that meet the
same 14 CFR part 25 regulations as the
supplemental oxygen system for the
main passenger-cabin occupants.
b. An aural and visual alert system to
warn occupants and to indicate the need
to don oxygen masks in the event of
decompression. The aural alert must
activate concurrently with the
deployment of the oxygen masks in the
main passenger cabin and must be loud
enough to be heard and clearly
understood from each suite berth and
seat location.
c. When an occupant needs to locate
and don a deployed oxygen mask,
sufficient levels of lighting to perform
this task must be automatically
activated within the suite.
d. Automatic presentation of oxygen
for occupants lying in the berth.
e. If a chemical oxygen generator is
used as the oxygen supply source, the
suite oxygen installation must meet
§§ 25.795(d) and 25.1450 at amendment
25–138 or higher.
2. The design approval holder must
provide operating procedures to move
suite occupants when smoke is present,
or firefighting is occurring near or in the
suites, for incorporation into the
operator’s training programs and
appropriate operational manuals:
a. A limitation must be included in
the airplane flight manual (AFM)
requiring that crewmembers be trained
in the operating procedures related to
the suites.
3. The design of each suite, and the
location of the firefighting equipment
where suites are installed, must allow
the crewmembers to conduct effective
firefighting in the suite. For a manual,
hand-held extinguishing system
(designed as the sole means to fight a
fire) for the suite:
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17:01 Oct 16, 2024
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a. A limitation must be included in
the AFM requiring that crewmembers be
trained in the firefighting procedures.
b. Each suite design must allow
crewmembers equipped for firefighting
to have unrestricted access to all parts
of the suite compartment.
4. Approved procedures describing
the methods for searching the suite
compartment for fire sources must be
established. These procedures should
include a drawing or photo clearly
indicating the location of the stowage
drawer and other potential sources of
smoke (e.g., the monitor). They must be
transmitted to the operator for
incorporation into their training
programs and appropriate operations
manuals.
5. If a berth is installed, occupancy of
each suite is limited to a single
passenger.
a. Each berth installed in the suite
must incorporate a safety belt that meets
§ 25.785(f).
b. Each berth must be placarded to
indicate the appropriate orientation of
the occupant’s head direction.
c. Each berth cushion must meet
§ 25.853(c).
6. If waste-disposal receptacles are
fitted in the suite, the suite must be
equipped with an automatic fireextinguishing system that meets the
performance requirements of
§ 25.854(b).
7. The design of each suite must:
a. Maintain minimum main aisle(s),
cross aisle(s), and passageway(s)
required by 14 CFR part 25
requirements when subjected to the
ultimate inertia forces listed in
§ 25.561(d).
b. Prevent structural failure or
deformation of components that could
block access to the available evacuation
routes (e.g., seats, doors, contents of
stowage compartments, etc.).
8. In addition to the requirements of
§ 25.562 for seat systems, which are
occupiable during taxi, takeoff, and
landing, the suite structure must be
designed for the additional loads
imposed by the seats as a result of the
conditions specified in § 25.562(b).
83619
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
15 CFR Part 764
[Docket No. 240911–0236]
RIN 0694–AJ84
Administrative and Enforcement
Provisions; Correction
Bureau of Industry and
Security, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; correction.
AGENCY:
On September 16, 2024, the
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
published a final rule amending
administrative and enforcement
provisions in the Export Administration
Regulations (EAR). The rule contained
an error in an amendatory instruction.
This document corrects that error.
DATES: This correction is effective
October 17, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general questions, contact Tracy Martin,
Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of
Industry and Security, U.S. Department
of Commerce at (202) 482–1208 or by
email: Tracy.Martin@bis.doc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BIS
published a final rule entitled
‘‘Administrative and Enforcement
Provisions’’ in the Federal Register on
September 16, 2024, at 89 FR 75477,
which contained an error in instruction
number 2 amending 15 CFR 764.5. The
instruction cited revisions to paragraphs
(a) and (b) through (f), as well as adding
paragraph (g). However, the intended
revisions should have been to
paragraphs (a) and (c) through (f) and
adding a paragraph (g). Paragraph (b)
was not intended to be revised. This
document corrects instruction 2 for the
record.
SUMMARY:
Correction
In FR Doc. No. 2024–21013, appearing
on page 75477 in the Federal Register
of Friday, September 16, 2024, make the
following correction:
§ 764.5
[Corrected]
1. On page 75482, in the third column,
instruction 2 reading ‘‘2. Section 764.5
is amended by revising paragraphs (a)
and (b) through (f) and adding
paragraph (g) to read as follows:’’ is
corrected to read ‘‘2. Section 764.5 is
amended by revising paragraphs (a) and
(c) through (f) and adding paragraph (g)
to read as follows:’’.
■
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on
October 11, 2024.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and
Standards Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
Karen H. Nies-Vogel,
Director, Office of Exporter Services.
[FR Doc. 2024–23936 Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am]
[FR Doc. 2024–23887 Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
BILLING CODE 3510–33–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 83617-83619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23936]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0988; Special Conditions No. 25-869-SC]
Special Conditions: Northwest Aerospace Technologies, Inc (NAT),
Boeing Model 787-9 Airplane; Installation of High Wall Suites
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 787-9
series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by NAT, 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 high
wall suites in the passenger cabin. The applicable airworthiness
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for
this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional
safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to
establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the
existing airworthiness standards.
DATES: Effective October 17, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Artiom Kostiouk, Cabin Safety, AIR-
624, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone and fax (202)
267-5446; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NAT has applied for an amended supplemental type certificate for
the installation of suites in the passenger cabin in Boeing Model 787-9
series airplanes. The Boeing Model 787-9 airplane, currently approved
under Type Certificate No. T00021SE, is a twin-engine transport
category airplane, with a maximum seating capacity for 420 passengers,
and a maximum take-off weight of 553,000 pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, NAT must show that the
Boeing Model 787-9 airplane, as changed, continues to meet the
applicable provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No.
T00021SE or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of
application for the change, except for earlier amendments as agreed
upon by the FAA.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (i.e.,14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for the Boeing Model 787-9 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
[[Page 83618]]
conditions, the Boeing Model 787-9 airplane must comply with the
exhaust-emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34, and the noise-
certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in
accordance with Sec. 11.38, and they become part of the type-
certification basis under Sec. 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Boeing Model 787-9 airplane will incorporate the following
novel or unusual design feature:
Single-passenger suites with high walls that diminish occupant's
awareness of their surroundings in emergency situations. These suites
are considered a novel design for transport category airplanes and were
not considered when applicable airworthiness standards were created.
Discussion
For the Model 787-9 airplane, NAT has proposed a customer option
for the installation of six high wall suites (HWS) arranged in two rows
of three suites each in a 1-1-1 configuration. The characteristics of
this HWS design are unique such that the suite walls are higher than
conventional mini-suites with partial height surroundings. While the
walls for these suites do not extend fully up from the floor to the
ceiling, such as those found in traditional ``high wall'' suites, their
wall height of 60 inches is greater than the eye level of a 5th
percentile female, impeding visual awareness and egress. These suites
are also not remote from the main cabin (such as overhead crew rests).
Additionally, the design of these suites is novel in the inclusion of
berths that are accessible to the occupant of the suite during flight,
unlike previous high wall suite designs.
Part 25 in its current form does not have regulations that address
suite installations in the cabin with walls of height that reduce
occupant visibility and situational awareness.
Due to the novel design features of these HWS, suitable passenger
alerting, supplemental oxygen, and firefighting equipment and
procedures are needed for this configuration to ensure occupant
awareness in emergency situations. Furthermore, the proposed suite
design necessitates the development of additional special conditions,
including, but not limited to crew procedures for managing hazards and
suite occupants, as well as maintaining cabin-egress route dimensions
after deformation of the walls and seats.
The special conditions contain the additional safety standards that
the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety
equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Discussion of Comments
The FAA issued Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25-24-03-
SC for the Boeing Model 787-9 series airplane, which was published in
the Federal Register on August 6, 2024 (89 FR 63845).
The FAA received three comments from Boeing.
Boeing requests to change the description of the suites to remove
the single criterion of impending visual awareness and egress of a 5th
percentile female. Instead, Boeing requests FAA to use multifaceted
criteria (i.e., oxygen masks, smoke detection, and firefighting), which
would categorize the suites as mini-suites instead of high wall suites.
Boeing further asserts that a height of 60 inches to demarcate between
high wall suites and mini-suites is not consistent with industry, FAA,
or European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) practice. The FAA
disagrees that the proposed suites are mini-suites. These suites are
described as high wall suites because the height of the walls, in this
case 60 inches, exceeds the eye height of shorter stature occupants
such that they are unable to see the emergency exits from within the
suites, which increases safety risk associated with actions expected of
the occupants in an emergency. This description is consistent with the
FAA Grant of Exemption 17635B, issued to The Boeing Company for high
wall suites installed on Model 777 airplanes which states, ``In most
previous approvals, the low-wall mini-suite door did not obscure the
passenger's view of the airplane's emergency exit. However, in this
case, the high walls create long corridors that could obscure view of
the emergency exits, and impede the overall egress capability of the
cabin, creating a new safety risk.'' This description is also
consistent with discussion of high wall suites at industry meetings
where the FAA has maintained the position discussed in the noted
exemption.
Boeing also proposes to change the discussion section regarding
part 25 which states that part 25 does not specifically address suites
with walls that reduce occupant visibility and situational awareness.
Boeing asserts that commercial aircraft commonly include architectural
elements that are addressed by existing regulations that may also
potentially reduce visibility and situational awareness. The FAA infers
that Boeing is maintaining that existing regulations already address
suites with high walls, and the FAA disagrees with Boeing's comment.
While current regulations are sufficient to address a high wall
architectural element such as a partition, they do not address the
safety risk posed by surrounding an occupant with high walls. The
discussion section is intended to convey that part 25 did not
previously consider safety factors associated with high walls
surrounding seats that were previously installed in an open seating
environment. Among these factors is the safety risk associated with
walls that diminish visibility of emergency exits and awareness of
emergency conditions, which must be addressed by special conditions.
Finally, Boeing proposes to remove conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7,
which are associated with high wall suites, and place condition 5 which
relates to berths, in an exemption regarding mini-suites. The FAA
disagrees with Boeing's proposal since the suites in question are not
mini-suites but high wall suites. Furthermore, incorporating beds into
the suites requires conditions specific to decompression alerting and
maintaining availability of supplemental oxygen for bed occupants to
mitigate the safety risk associated with diminished situational
awareness.
The special conditions are adopted as proposed.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Boeing Model 787-9 airplane. Should Northwest Aerospace Technologies,
Inc apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify
any other model included on Type Certificate No. T00021SE to
incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special
conditions would apply to that model as well.
Under standard practice, the effective date of final special
conditions would be 30 days after the date of publication in the
Federal Register. However, as the certification date for the Boeing
Model 787-9, as modified by Northwest Aerospace Technologies, Inc., is
imminent, the FAA finds that good cause exists to make these special
conditions effective upon publication.
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 and
affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of these
features on the airplane.
[[Page 83619]]
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
[squf] 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 787-9 series
airplanes, as modified by NAT.
The suites must have the following features:
1. A supplemental oxygen system with the following:
a. Oxygen masks for each seat and berth installed in the suite that
meet the same 14 CFR part 25 regulations as the supplemental oxygen
system for the main passenger-cabin occupants.
b. An aural and visual alert system to warn occupants and to
indicate the need to don oxygen masks in the event of decompression.
The aural alert must activate concurrently with the deployment of the
oxygen masks in the main passenger cabin and must be loud enough to be
heard and clearly understood from each suite berth and seat location.
c. When an occupant needs to locate and don a deployed oxygen mask,
sufficient levels of lighting to perform this task must be
automatically activated within the suite.
d. Automatic presentation of oxygen for occupants lying in the
berth.
e. If a chemical oxygen generator is used as the oxygen supply
source, the suite oxygen installation must meet Sec. Sec. 25.795(d)
and 25.1450 at amendment 25-138 or higher.
2. The design approval holder must provide operating procedures to
move suite occupants when smoke is present, or firefighting is
occurring near or in the suites, for incorporation into the operator's
training programs and appropriate operational manuals:
a. A limitation must be included in the airplane flight manual
(AFM) requiring that crewmembers be trained in the operating procedures
related to the suites.
3. The design of each suite, and the location of the firefighting
equipment where suites are installed, must allow the crewmembers to
conduct effective firefighting in the suite. For a manual, hand-held
extinguishing system (designed as the sole means to fight a fire) for
the suite:
a. A limitation must be included in the AFM requiring that
crewmembers be trained in the firefighting procedures.
b. Each suite design must allow crewmembers equipped for
firefighting to have unrestricted access to all parts of the suite
compartment.
4. Approved procedures describing the methods for searching the
suite compartment for fire sources must be established. These
procedures should include a drawing or photo clearly indicating the
location of the stowage drawer and other potential sources of smoke
(e.g., the monitor). They must be transmitted to the operator for
incorporation into their training programs and appropriate operations
manuals.
5. If a berth is installed, occupancy of each suite is limited to a
single passenger.
a. Each berth installed in the suite must incorporate a safety belt
that meets Sec. 25.785(f).
b. Each berth must be placarded to indicate the appropriate
orientation of the occupant's head direction.
c. Each berth cushion must meet Sec. 25.853(c).
6. If waste-disposal receptacles are fitted in the suite, the suite
must be equipped with an automatic fire-extinguishing system that meets
the performance requirements of Sec. 25.854(b).
7. The design of each suite must:
a. Maintain minimum main aisle(s), cross aisle(s), and
passageway(s) required by 14 CFR part 25 requirements when subjected to
the ultimate inertia forces listed in Sec. 25.561(d).
b. Prevent structural failure or deformation of components that
could block access to the available evacuation routes (e.g., seats,
doors, contents of stowage compartments, etc.).
8. In addition to the requirements of Sec. 25.562 for seat
systems, which are occupiable during taxi, takeoff, and landing, the
suite structure must be designed for the additional loads imposed by
the seats as a result of the conditions specified in Sec. 25.562(b).
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 11, 2024.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-23936 Filed 10-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
