Special Conditions: Aerocon Engineering Company, Airbus Model A350-941 Airplane; Forward Lower Lobe Crew Rest Compartment Installation, 100723-100727 [2024-29432]
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TABLE 3 TO PARAGRAPH 4.1.1.—RELATIVE HUMIDITY AS A FUNCTION OF DRY-BULB AND WET-BULB TEMPERATURES FOR
WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIERS
Dry-bulb temperature (°F)
Wet-bulb temperature
(°F)
63.3
63.4
63.5
63.6
63.7
63.8
63.9
..................................................
..................................................
..................................................
..................................................
..................................................
..................................................
..................................................
*
*
*
*
72.5
72.6
72.7
72.8
72.9
73
73.1
73.2
73.3
73.4
73.5
60.59
60.98
61.37
61.76
62.16
62.55
62.94
60.26
60.64
61.03
61.42
61.81
62.2
62.6
59.92
60.31
60.7
61.08
61.47
61.86
62.25
59.59
59.75
60.36
60.75
61.13
61.52
61.91
59.26
59.64
60.02
60.41
60.8
61.18
61.57
58.92
59.31
59.69
60.08
60.46
60.85
61.23
58.6
58.98
59.36
59.74
60.13
60.51
60.9
58.27
58.65
59.03
59.41
59.8
60.18
60.56
57.94
58.32
58.7
59.08
59.47
59.85
60.23
57.62
58
58.38
58.76
59.14
59.52
59.9
57.3
57.67
58.05
58.43
58.81
59.19
59.57
*
[FR Doc. 2024–29566 Filed 12–12–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 0099–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2024–1310; Special
Conditions No. 25–873–SC]
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Airbus Model A350–941
airplane. This airplane, as modified by
Aerocon Engineering Company
(Aerocon), 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 an installation of a lower lobe crew
rest (LLCR) compartment located under
the passenger cabin floor in the cargo
compartment. 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 December 13, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel Jacquet, Cabin Safety, AIR–624,
Technical Policy Branch, Policy and
Standards Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th
Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
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the type certification basis under
§ 21.101.
Background
The Airbus A350–941 airplane will
incorporate the following novel or
unusual design feature:
The installation of a LLCR under the
passenger cabin floor in the cargo
compartment.
On August 27, 2021, Aerocon applied
for a supplemental type certificate for a
LLCR installation in the Model A350–
941 airplane. The Airbus Model A350–
941 airplane is a twin-engine, transportcategory airplane with a maximum
takeoff weight of 623,908 pounds and
maximum seating for 480 passengers.
Type Certification Basis
Special Conditions: Aerocon
Engineering Company, Airbus Model
A350–941 Airplane; Forward Lower
Lobe Crew Rest Compartment
Installation
SUMMARY:
telephone and fax (206) 231–3208; email
daniel.jacquet@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under the provisions of 14 CFR
21.101, Aerocon must show that the
Airbus Model A350–941 airplane, as
changed, continues to meet the
applicable provisions of the regulations
listed in Type Certificate No. T000631B
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 A350–941 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
conditions, the Airbus A350–941 series
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
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Novel or Unusual Design Features
Discussion
Section 25.819 applies to lower deck
service compartments (including
galleys) but is not directly applicable to
forward LLCR compartments. The
applicable airworthiness regulations do
not contain adequate or appropriate
safety standards for this design feature.
Special conditions are required for the
certification of the LLCR to supplement
part 25.
The LLCR will be located under the
passenger cabin floor in the forward
cargo compartment of Airbus A350–941
model airplanes. It will be the size of
three standard airfreight containers and
be removeable from the cargo
compartment. Occupancy of the LLCR
will be limited to a maximum of eight
crew members, and it will only be
occupied in flight, i.e., not during taxi,
takeoff or landing. A smoke detection
system, fire extinguishing system,
oxygen system and occupant amenities
will be provided.
The LLCR will be accessed from the
main deck via a stair house. The floor
within the stair house has an access
hatch that leads to the stairs, which
occupants use to descend into the LLCR.
This hatch locks automatically in the
open position when fully opened. In
addition, there will be an emergency
hatch, which opens directly into the
main passenger cabin area.
The LLCR also has a maintenance
access/ground loading door, which
allows access to and from the cargo
compartment. The intended use of this
door is to allow cargo loading and
maintenance personnel to enter the
LLCR from the cargo compartment when
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the airplane is on the ground and not
moving.
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. 25–24–04–SC
for Airbus Model A350–941 airplanes,
which was published in the Federal
Register on September 11, 2024 (89 FR
73604).
The FAA received a response from
Airbus Commercial Aircraft (Airbus)
requesting the FAA consider Special
Conditions No. 25–281–SC as the
minimum set of requirements for the
design of the A350–941 lower deck crew
rest compartment. Airbus request the
FAA issue special conditions consistent
with previously approved special
conditions for similar installations.
The FAA agrees with the Airbus
response. The limitations and
conditions of this special condition are
essentially the same as the limitations
and conditions listed in special
condition number 25–281–SC.
The special conditions are adopted as
proposed.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special
conditions are applicable to Airbus
Model A350–941 airplanes as modified
by Aerocon. 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 apply to
the other 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 Airbus Model
A350–941 is imminent, the FAA finds
that good cause exists to make these
special conditions effective upon
publication.
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Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel
or unusual design feature on the Airbus
350–941 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
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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
A350–941 airplanes, as modified by
Aerocon Engineering Company. The
LLCR must meet the below
requirements:
1. Occupancy of the forward lower
lobe crew rest compartment is limited to
a maximum of eight. There must be an
approved seat or berth able to withstand
the maximum flight loads when
occupied for each occupant permitted in
the crew rest compartment.
(a) There must be appropriate
placards displayed in a conspicuous
place at each entrance to the LLCR
compartment to indicate:
(1) The maximum number of
occupants allowed;
(2) That occupancy is restricted to
crewmembers trained in the evacuation
procedures for the crew rest
compartment;
(3) That occupancy is prohibited
during taxi, take-off and landing;
(4) That smoking is prohibited in the
crew rest compartment;
(5) That hazardous quantities of
flammable fluids, explosives, or other
dangerous cargo is prohibited from the
crew rest compartment.
(6) That the crew rest area must be
limited to the stowage of crew personal
luggage and must not be used for the
stowage of cargo or passenger baggage.
(b) There must be at least one ashtray
located conspicuously on or near the
entry side of any entrance, usable inflight, to the crew rest compartment.
(c) There must be a means to prevent
passengers from entering the
compartment in the event of an
emergency or when no flight attendant
is present.
(d) There must be a means for any
door installed between the crew rest
compartment and passenger cabin to be
capable of being quickly opened from
inside the compartment, even when
crowding occurs at each side of the
door.
(e) For all doors installed in the
evacuation routes, there must be a
means to preclude anyone from being
trapped inside the compartment. If a
locking mechanism is installed, it must
be capable of being unlocked from the
outside without special tools. The lock
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must not prevent opening from the
inside of the compartment at any time.
2. There must be at least two
emergency evacuation routes, which
could be used by each occupant of the
crew rest compartment to rapidly
evacuate to the main cabin and be able
to be closed from the main passenger
cabin after evacuation. In addition—
(a) The routes must be located with
one at each end of the compartment, or
with two having sufficient separation
within the compartment and between
the routes to minimize the possibility of
an event (either inside or outside of the
crew rest compartment) rendering both
routes inoperative.
(b) The routes must be designed to
minimize the possibility of blockage,
which might result from fire,
mechanical or structural failure, or
persons standing on top of or against the
escape route. If an evacuation route
utilizes an area where normal
movement of passengers occurs, it must
be demonstrated that passengers would
not impede egress to the main deck. If
a hatch is installed in an evacuation
route, the point at which the evacuation
route terminates in the passenger cabin
should not be located where normal
movement by passengers or crew occurs
(main aisle, cross aisle, passageway or
galley complex). If such a location
cannot be avoided, special
consideration must be taken to ensure
that the hatch or door can be opened
when a person, the weight of a ninetyfifth percentile male, is standing on the
hatch or door. The use of evacuation
routes must not be dependent on any
powered device. If there is low
headroom at or near an evacuation
route, provisions must be made to
prevent or to protect occupants of the
crew rest area from head injury.
(c) Emergency evacuation procedures,
including the emergency evacuation of
an incapacitated occupant from the
crew rest compartment, must be
established. All of these procedures
must be transmitted to the operator for
incorporation into their training
programs and appropriate operational
manuals.
(d) There must be a limitation in the
airplane flight manual or other suitable
means requiring that crewmembers be
trained in the use of evacuation routes.
3. There must be a means for the
evacuation of an incapacitated person
(representative of a 95th percentile
male) from the crew rest compartment
to the passenger cabin floor. The
evacuation must be demonstrated for all
evacuation routes. A flight attendant or
other crewmember (a total of one
assistant within the crew rest area) may
provide assistance in the evacuation.
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Additional assistance may be provided
by up to three persons in the main
passenger compartment. For evacuation
routes having stairways, the additional
assistants may descend down to one
half the elevation change from the main
deck to the lower deck compartment, or
to the first landing, whichever is higher.
4. The following signs and placards
must be provided in the crew rest
compartment:
(a) At least one exit sign, located near
each exit, meeting the requirements of
§ 25.812(b)(1)(i) at Amendment 25–58,
except that a sign with reduced
background area of no less than 5.3
square inches (excluding the letters)
may be utilized, provided that it is
installed such that the material
surrounding the exit sign is light in
color (e.g., white, cream, light beige). If
the material surrounding the exit sign is
not light in color, a sign with a
minimum of a one-inch wide
background border around the letters
would also be acceptable;
(b) An appropriate placard located
near each exit defining the location and
the operating instructions for each
evacuation route;
(c) Placards must be readable from a
distance of 30 inches under emergency
lighting conditions; and
(d) The exit handles and evacuation
path operating instruction placards
must be illuminated to at least 160
microlamberts under emergency lighting
conditions.
5. In the event of failure of the
aircraft’s main power system, or of the
normal crew rest compartment lighting
system, there must be a means for
emergency illumination to be
automatically provided for the crew rest
compartment.
(a) This emergency illumination must
be independent of the main lighting
system.
(b) The sources of general cabin
illumination may be common to both
the emergency and the main lighting
systems if the power supply to the
emergency lighting system is
independent of the power supply to the
main lighting system.
(c) The illumination level must be
sufficient for the occupants of the crew
rest compartment to locate and transfer
to the main passenger cabin floor by
means of each evacuation route.
(d) The illumination level must be
sufficient with the privacy curtains in
the closed position for each occupant of
the crew rest to locate a deployed
oxygen mask.
6. There must be means for two-way
voice communications between
crewmembers on the flight deck and
occupants of the crew rest compartment.
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There must also be public address (PA)
system microphones at each flight
attendant seat required to be near a floor
level exit in the passenger cabin per
§ 25.785(h) at Amendment 25–51. The
PA system must allow two-way voice
communications between flight
attendants and the occupants of the
crew rest compartment, except that one
microphone may serve more than one
exit provided the proximity of the exits
allows unassisted verbal
communication between seated flight
attendants.
7. There must be a means for manual
activation of an aural emergency alarm
system, audible during normal and
emergency conditions, to enable
crewmembers on the flight deck and at
each pair of required floor level
emergency exits to alert occupants of
the crew rest compartment of an
emergency situation. Use of a public
address or crew interphone system will
be acceptable, provided an adequate
means of differentiating between normal
and emergency communications is
incorporated. The system must be
powered in flight, after the shutdown or
failure of all engines and auxiliary
power units (APU), or the disconnection
or failure of all power sources
dependent on their continued operation
(i.e., engine & APU), for a period of at
least ten minutes.
8. There must be a means, readily
detectable by seated or standing
occupants of the crew rest compartment,
which indicates when seat belts should
be fastened. In the event there are no
seats, at least one means must be
provided to cover anticipated
turbulence (e.g., sufficient handholds).
Seat belt type restraints must be
provided for berths and must be
compatible for the sleeping attitude
during cruise conditions. There must be
a placard on each berth requiring that
seat belts must be fastened when
occupied. If compliance with any of the
other requirements of these special
conditions is predicated on specific
head location, there must be a placard
identifying the head position.
9. In lieu of the requirements
specified in § 25.1439(a) at Amendment
25–38 that pertain to isolated
compartments and to provide a level of
safety equivalent to that which is
provided occupants of a small, isolated
galley, the following equipment must be
provided in the crew rest compartment:
(a) At least one approved hand-held
fire extinguisher appropriate for the
kinds of fires likely to occur;
(b) Two protective breathing
equipment (PBE) devices approved to
Technical Standard Order (TSO)–C116
or equivalent, suitable for firefighting, or
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100725
one PBE for each hand-held fire
extinguisher, whichever is greater; and
(c) One flashlight.
Note: Additional PBEs and fire
extinguishers in specific locations (beyond
the minimum numbers prescribed in Special
Condition no. 9) may be required as a result
of any egress analysis accomplished to satisfy
Special Condition no. 2(a).
10. A smoke or fire detection system
(or combination of systems) must be
provided that monitors each occupiable
area within the crew rest compartment,
including those areas partitioned by
curtains. Flight tests must be conducted
to show compliance with this
requirement. Each system (or
combination of systems) must provide:
(a) A visual indication to the flight
deck within one minute after the start of
a fire;
(b) An aural warning in the crew rest
compartment; and
(c) A warning in the main passenger
cabin. This warning must be readily
detectable by a flight attendant, and
considering the positioning of flight
attendants throughout the main
passenger compartment during various
phases of flight.
11. The crew rest compartment must
be designed such that fires within the
compartment can be controlled without
a crewmember having to enter the
compartment, or the design of the access
provisions must allow crewmembers
equipped for firefighting to have
unrestricted access to the compartment.
The time for a crewmember on the main
deck to react to the fire alarm, to don the
firefighting equipment, and to gain
access must not exceed the time for the
compartment to become smoke-filled,
making it difficult to locate the fire
source.
12. The crew rest compartment design
must incorporate a means provided to
exclude hazardous quantities of smoke
or extinguishing agent originating in the
crew rest compartment from entering
any other compartment occupied by
crewmembers or passengers. This means
must include the time periods during
the evacuation of the crew rest
compartment and, if applicable, when
accessing the crew rest compartment to
manually fight a fire. Smoke entering
any other compartment occupied by
crewmembers or passengers when the
access to the crew rest compartment is
opened, during an emergency
evacuation, must dissipate within five
minutes after the access to the crew rest
compartment is closed. Hazardous
quantities of smoke may not enter any
other compartment occupied by
crewmembers or passengers during
subsequent access to manually fight a
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fire in the crew rest compartment (the
amount of smoke entrained by a
firefighter exiting the crew rest
compartment through the access is not
considered hazardous). The firefighting
procedures must include a provision to
ensure that all door(s) and hatch(es) at
the crew rest compartment outlets are
closed after evacuation of the crew rest
compartment and during firefighting to
minimize smoke and extinguishing
agent from entering other occupiable
compartments. During the 1-minute
smoke detection time, penetration of a
small quantity of smoke from the crew
rest compartment into an occupied area
is acceptable. Flight tests must be
conducted to show compliance with
this requirement. If a built-in fire
extinguishing system is used in lieu of
manual firefighting, then the fire
extinguishing system must be designed
so that no hazardous quantities of
extinguishing agent will enter other
compartments occupied by passengers
or crew. The system must have adequate
capacity to suppress any fire occurring
in the crew rest compartment,
considering the fire threat, volume of
the compartment and the ventilation
rate.
13. The crew rest compartment design
must include a supplemental oxygen
system equivalent to that provided for
main deck passengers for each seat and
berth in the crew rest compartment. The
system must provide an aural and visual
warning to the occupants of the crew
rest compartment to don oxygen masks
in the event of decompression. The
warning must activate before the cabin
pressure altitude exceeds 15,000 feet.
The aural warning must sound
continuously for a minimum of five
minutes or until a reset push button in
the crew rest compartment is depressed.
Procedures for crew rest occupants in
the event of decompression must be
established. These procedures must be
transmitted to the operator for
incorporation into their training
programs and appropriate operational
manuals.
14. The following requirements apply
to crew rest compartments that are
divided into several sections by the
installation of curtains or partitions:
(a) To compensate for sleeping
occupants, there must be an aural alert
that can be heard in each section of the
crew rest area compartment that
accompanies automatic presentation of
supplemental oxygen masks. A visual
indicator that occupants must don an
oxygen mask is required in each section
where seats or berths are not installed.
A minimum of two supplemental
oxygen masks is required for each seat
or berth. There must also be a means by
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which the oxygen masks can be
manually deployed from the flight deck.
(b) A placard is required adjacent to
each curtain that visually divides or
separates, for privacy purposes, the
crew rest area compartment into small
sections. The placard must require that
the curtain(s) remains open when the
private section it creates is unoccupied.
(c) For each crew rest section created
by the installation of a curtain, the
following requirements of these special
conditions must be met with the curtain
open or closed:
(1) Emergency illumination (Special
Condition no. 5);
(2) Emergency alarm system (Special
Condition no. 7);
(3) Seat belt fasten signal or return to
seat signal as applicable (Special
Condition no. 8); and
(4) The smoke or fire detection system
(Special Condition no. 10).
(d) Crew rest compartments visually
divided to the extent that evacuation
could be affected must have exit signs
that direct occupants to the primary
stairway exit. The exit signs must be
provided in each separate section of the
crew rest compartment and must meet
the requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i) at
Amendment 25–58. An exit sign with
reduced background area as described
in Special Condition no. 4.(a) may be
used to meet this requirement.
(e) For sections within a crew rest
compartment that are created by the
installation of a partition with a door
separating the sections, the following
requirements of these special conditions
must be met with the door open or
closed:
(1) There must be a secondary
evacuation route from each section to
the main deck, or alternatively, it must
be shown that any door between the
sections is designed to preclude anyone
from being trapped inside the
compartment. Removal of an
incapacitated occupant within this area
must be considered. A secondary
evacuation route from a small room
designed for only one occupant for short
time duration, such as a changing area
or lavatory, is not required. However,
removal of an incapacitated occupant
within this area must be considered.
(2) Any door between the sections
must be shown to be openable when
crowded against, even when crowding
occurs at each side of the door.
(3) There may be no more than one
door between any seat or berth and the
primary stairway exit.
(4) There must be exit signs in each
section meeting the requirements of
§ 25.812(b)(1)(i) at Amendment 25–58
that direct occupants to the primary
stairway exit. An exit sign with reduced
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background area as described in Special
Condition no. 4.(a) may be used to meet
this requirement.
(5) Special Conditions no. 5
(emergency illumination), no. 7
(emergency alarm system), no. 8 (fasten
seat belt signal or return to seat signal
as applicable) and no. 10 (smoke or fire
detection system) must be met with the
door open or closed.
(6) Special Conditions no. 6 (two-way
voice communication) and no. 9
(emergency firefighting and protective
equipment) must be met independently
for each separate section except for
lavatories or other small areas that are
not intended to be occupied for
extended periods of time.
15. Where a waste disposal receptacle
is fitted, it must be equipped with a
built-in fire extinguisher designed to
discharge automatically upon
occurrence of a fire in the receptacle.
16. Materials (including finishes or
decorative surfaces applied to the
materials) must comply with the
flammability requirements of § 25.853 at
Amendment 25–66. Mattresses must
comply with the flammability
requirements of § 25.853(b) and (c) at
Amendment 25–66.
17. All lavatories within the crew rest
are required to meet the same
requirements as those for a lavatory
installed on the main deck except with
regard to Special Condition no. 10 for
smoke detection.
18. When a crew rest compartment is
installed or enclosed as a removable
module in part of a cargo compartment
or is located directly adjacent to a cargo
compartment without an intervening
cargo compartment wall, the following
applies:
(a) Any wall of the module (container)
forming part of the boundary of the
reduced cargo compartment, subject to
direct flame impingement from a fire in
the cargo compartment and including
any interface item between the module
(container) and the airplane structure or
systems, must meet the applicable
requirements of § 25.855 at Amendment
25–60.
(b) Means must be provided so that
the fire protection level of the cargo
compartment meets the applicable
requirements of §§ 25.855 at
Amendment 25–60, 25.857 at
Amendment 25–60 and 25.858 at
Amendment 25–54 when the module
(container) is not installed.
(c) Use of each emergency evacuation
route must not require occupants of the
crew rest compartment to enter the
cargo compartment in order to return to
the passenger compartment.
(d) The aural warning in Special
Condition no. 7 must sound in the crew
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rest compartment in the event of a fire
in the cargo compartment.
19. Means must be provided to
prevent access into the Class C cargo
compartment during all airplane
operations and to ensure that the
maintenance door is closed during all
airplane flight operations.
20. All enclosed stowage
compartments within the crew rest that
are not limited to stowage of emergency
equipment or airplane-supplied
equipment (e.g., bedding) must meet the
design criteria given in the table below.
As indicated by the table below, this
special condition does not address
enclosed stowage compartments greater
than 200 ft3 in interior volume. The inflight accessibility of very large,
100727
enclosed stowage compartments and the
subsequent impact on the
crewmembers’ ability to effectively
reach any part of the compartment with
the contents of a hand fire extinguisher
will require additional fire protection
considerations similar to those required
for inaccessible compartments such as
Class C cargo compartments.
Stowage compartment interior volumes
Fire protection features
Less than 25
Materials of Construction 1 .............
Detectors 2 ......................................
Liner 3 .............................................
Locating Device 4 ...........................
ft3
25 ft3 to 57 ft3
Yes ................................................
No .................................................
No .................................................
No .................................................
57 ft3 to 200 ft3
Yes ................................................
Yes ................................................
No .................................................
Yes ................................................
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
1 Material: The material used to construct each enclosed stowage compartment must at least be fire resistant and must meet the flammability
standards established for interior components per the requirements of § 25.853. For compartments less than 25 ft3 in interior volume, the design
must ensure the ability to contain a fire likely to occur within the compartment under normal use.
2 Detectors: Enclosed stowage compartments equal to or exceeding 25 ft3 in interior volume must be provided with a smoke or fire detection
system to ensure that a fire can be detected within a one-minute detection time. Flight tests must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement. Each system (or systems) must provide:
(a) A visual indication in the flight deck within one minute after the start of a fire;
(b) An aural warning in the crew rest compartment; and
(c) A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be readily detectable by a flight attendant, taking into consideration the positioning of flight attendants throughout the main passenger compartment during various phases of flight.
3 Liner: If it can be shown that the material used to construct the stowage compartment meets the flammability requirements of a liner for a
Class B cargo compartment, then no liner would be required for enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 25 ft3 in interior volume but less than 57 ft3 in interior volume. For all enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 57 ft3 in interior volume but less than
or equal to 200 ft3, a liner must be provided that meets the requirements of § 25.855 at Amendment 25–60 for a class B cargo compartment.
4 Location Detector: Crew rest areas which contain enclosed stowage compartments exceeding 25 ft3 interior volume and which are located
away from one central location such as the entry to the crew rest area or a common area within the crew rest area would require additional fire
protection features and/or devices to assist the firefighter in determining the location of a fire.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on
December 9, 2024.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and
Standards Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–29432 Filed 12–12–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA–2024–2387; Special
Conditions No. 25–871–SC]
Special Conditions: Airbus Models
A321 neo ACF and A321 neo XLR;
Single-Occupant Oblique Seats With
Pretensioner Restraint Systems
This action is effective on Airbus
S.A.S. on December 13, 2024. Send
comments on or before January 27,
2025.
DATES:
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request
for comments.
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with RULES
AGENCY:
These special conditions are
issued for the Airbus Model A321 neo
ACF and A321 neo XLR airplanes.
These airplanes have a novel or unusual
design feature when compared to the
state of technology envisioned in the
airworthiness standards for transport
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:42 Dec 12, 2024
Jkt 265001
category airplanes. This design feature
incorporates oblique (side-facing)
passenger seats which may include a 3point restraint system with
pretensioner. These oblique seats may
be installed at an angle of 18 to 45
degrees to the aircraft centerline and
have surrounding furniture that
introduces occupant and loading
concerns. 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.
Send comments identified
by Docket No. FAA–2024–2387 using
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to
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
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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.
Docket: Background documents or
comments received may be read at
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, Cabin Safety Section,
AIR–624, Technical Policy Branch,
Policy and Standards Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th
Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone (206) 231–3209; fax (206)
231–3827; email Shannon.Lennon@
faa.gov.
The
substance of these special conditions
has been published in the Federal
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\13DER1.SGM
13DER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 100723-100727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29432]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2024-1310; Special Conditions No. 25-873-SC]
Special Conditions: Aerocon Engineering Company, Airbus Model
A350-941 Airplane; Forward Lower Lobe Crew Rest Compartment
Installation
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A350-
941 airplane. This airplane, as modified by Aerocon Engineering Company
(Aerocon), 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 an installation of
a lower lobe crew rest (LLCR) compartment located under the passenger
cabin floor in the cargo compartment. 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 December 13, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Jacquet, Cabin Safety, AIR-624,
Technical Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South
216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; telephone and fax (206)
231-3208; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On August 27, 2021, Aerocon applied for a supplemental type
certificate for a LLCR installation in the Model A350-941 airplane. The
Airbus Model A350-941 airplane is a twin-engine, transport-category
airplane with a maximum takeoff weight of 623,908 pounds and maximum
seating for 480 passengers.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Aerocon must show that the
Airbus Model A350-941 airplane, as changed, continues to meet the
applicable provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No.
T000631B 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 A350-941 airplane because
of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed
under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. Should the applicant apply for a supplemental type
certificate to modify any other model included on the same type
certificate to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature,
these special conditions would also apply to the other model under
Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Airbus A350-941 series 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 Airbus A350-941 airplane will incorporate the following novel
or unusual design feature:
The installation of a LLCR under the passenger cabin floor in the
cargo compartment.
Discussion
Section 25.819 applies to lower deck service compartments
(including galleys) but is not directly applicable to forward LLCR
compartments. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain
adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature.
Special conditions are required for the certification of the LLCR to
supplement part 25.
The LLCR will be located under the passenger cabin floor in the
forward cargo compartment of Airbus A350-941 model airplanes. It will
be the size of three standard airfreight containers and be removeable
from the cargo compartment. Occupancy of the LLCR will be limited to a
maximum of eight crew members, and it will only be occupied in flight,
i.e., not during taxi, takeoff or landing. A smoke detection system,
fire extinguishing system, oxygen system and occupant amenities will be
provided.
The LLCR will be accessed from the main deck via a stair house. The
floor within the stair house has an access hatch that leads to the
stairs, which occupants use to descend into the LLCR. This hatch locks
automatically in the open position when fully opened. In addition,
there will be an emergency hatch, which opens directly into the main
passenger cabin area.
The LLCR also has a maintenance access/ground loading door, which
allows access to and from the cargo compartment. The intended use of
this door is to allow cargo loading and maintenance personnel to enter
the LLCR from the cargo compartment when
[[Page 100724]]
the airplane is on the ground and not moving.
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. 25-24-04-
SC for Airbus Model A350-941 airplanes, which was published in the
Federal Register on September 11, 2024 (89 FR 73604).
The FAA received a response from Airbus Commercial Aircraft
(Airbus) requesting the FAA consider Special Conditions No. 25-281-SC
as the minimum set of requirements for the design of the A350-941 lower
deck crew rest compartment. Airbus request the FAA issue special
conditions consistent with previously approved special conditions for
similar installations.
The FAA agrees with the Airbus response. The limitations and
conditions of this special condition are essentially the same as the
limitations and conditions listed in special condition number 25-281-
SC.
The special conditions are adopted as proposed.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to
Airbus Model A350-941 airplanes as modified by Aerocon. 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 apply
to the other 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 Airbus
Model A350-941 is imminent, the FAA finds that good cause exists to
make these special conditions effective upon publication.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design feature on
the Airbus 350-941 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.
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 A350-941 airplanes, as
modified by Aerocon Engineering Company. The LLCR must meet the below
requirements:
1. Occupancy of the forward lower lobe crew rest compartment is
limited to a maximum of eight. There must be an approved seat or berth
able to withstand the maximum flight loads when occupied for each
occupant permitted in the crew rest compartment.
(a) There must be appropriate placards displayed in a conspicuous
place at each entrance to the LLCR compartment to indicate:
(1) The maximum number of occupants allowed;
(2) That occupancy is restricted to crewmembers trained in the
evacuation procedures for the crew rest compartment;
(3) That occupancy is prohibited during taxi, take-off and landing;
(4) That smoking is prohibited in the crew rest compartment;
(5) That hazardous quantities of flammable fluids, explosives, or
other dangerous cargo is prohibited from the crew rest compartment.
(6) That the crew rest area must be limited to the stowage of crew
personal luggage and must not be used for the stowage of cargo or
passenger baggage.
(b) There must be at least one ashtray located conspicuously on or
near the entry side of any entrance, usable in-flight, to the crew rest
compartment.
(c) There must be a means to prevent passengers from entering the
compartment in the event of an emergency or when no flight attendant is
present.
(d) There must be a means for any door installed between the crew
rest compartment and passenger cabin to be capable of being quickly
opened from inside the compartment, even when crowding occurs at each
side of the door.
(e) For all doors installed in the evacuation routes, there must be
a means to preclude anyone from being trapped inside the compartment.
If a locking mechanism is installed, it must be capable of being
unlocked from the outside without special tools. The lock must not
prevent opening from the inside of the compartment at any time.
2. There must be at least two emergency evacuation routes, which
could be used by each occupant of the crew rest compartment to rapidly
evacuate to the main cabin and be able to be closed from the main
passenger cabin after evacuation. In addition--
(a) The routes must be located with one at each end of the
compartment, or with two having sufficient separation within the
compartment and between the routes to minimize the possibility of an
event (either inside or outside of the crew rest compartment) rendering
both routes inoperative.
(b) The routes must be designed to minimize the possibility of
blockage, which might result from fire, mechanical or structural
failure, or persons standing on top of or against the escape route. If
an evacuation route utilizes an area where normal movement of
passengers occurs, it must be demonstrated that passengers would not
impede egress to the main deck. If a hatch is installed in an
evacuation route, the point at which the evacuation route terminates in
the passenger cabin should not be located where normal movement by
passengers or crew occurs (main aisle, cross aisle, passageway or
galley complex). If such a location cannot be avoided, special
consideration must be taken to ensure that the hatch or door can be
opened when a person, the weight of a ninety-fifth percentile male, is
standing on the hatch or door. The use of evacuation routes must not be
dependent on any powered device. If there is low headroom at or near an
evacuation route, provisions must be made to prevent or to protect
occupants of the crew rest area from head injury.
(c) Emergency evacuation procedures, including the emergency
evacuation of an incapacitated occupant from the crew rest compartment,
must be established. All of these procedures must be transmitted to the
operator for incorporation into their training programs and appropriate
operational manuals.
(d) There must be a limitation in the airplane flight manual or
other suitable means requiring that crewmembers be trained in the use
of evacuation routes.
3. There must be a means for the evacuation of an incapacitated
person (representative of a 95th percentile male) from the crew rest
compartment to the passenger cabin floor. The evacuation must be
demonstrated for all evacuation routes. A flight attendant or other
crewmember (a total of one assistant within the crew rest area) may
provide assistance in the evacuation.
[[Page 100725]]
Additional assistance may be provided by up to three persons in the
main passenger compartment. For evacuation routes having stairways, the
additional assistants may descend down to one half the elevation change
from the main deck to the lower deck compartment, or to the first
landing, whichever is higher.
4. The following signs and placards must be provided in the crew
rest compartment:
(a) At least one exit sign, located near each exit, meeting the
requirements of Sec. 25.812(b)(1)(i) at Amendment 25-58, except that a
sign with reduced background area of no less than 5.3 square inches
(excluding the letters) may be utilized, provided that it is installed
such that the material surrounding the exit sign is light in color
(e.g., white, cream, light beige). If the material surrounding the exit
sign is not light in color, a sign with a minimum of a one-inch wide
background border around the letters would also be acceptable;
(b) An appropriate placard located near each exit defining the
location and the operating instructions for each evacuation route;
(c) Placards must be readable from a distance of 30 inches under
emergency lighting conditions; and
(d) The exit handles and evacuation path operating instruction
placards must be illuminated to at least 160 microlamberts under
emergency lighting conditions.
5. In the event of failure of the aircraft's main power system, or
of the normal crew rest compartment lighting system, there must be a
means for emergency illumination to be automatically provided for the
crew rest compartment.
(a) This emergency illumination must be independent of the main
lighting system.
(b) The sources of general cabin illumination may be common to both
the emergency and the main lighting systems if the power supply to the
emergency lighting system is independent of the power supply to the
main lighting system.
(c) The illumination level must be sufficient for the occupants of
the crew rest compartment to locate and transfer to the main passenger
cabin floor by means of each evacuation route.
(d) The illumination level must be sufficient with the privacy
curtains in the closed position for each occupant of the crew rest to
locate a deployed oxygen mask.
6. There must be means for two-way voice communications between
crewmembers on the flight deck and occupants of the crew rest
compartment. There must also be public address (PA) system microphones
at each flight attendant seat required to be near a floor level exit in
the passenger cabin per Sec. 25.785(h) at Amendment 25-51. The PA
system must allow two-way voice communications between flight
attendants and the occupants of the crew rest compartment, except that
one microphone may serve more than one exit provided the proximity of
the exits allows unassisted verbal communication between seated flight
attendants.
7. There must be a means for manual activation of an aural
emergency alarm system, audible during normal and emergency conditions,
to enable crewmembers on the flight deck and at each pair of required
floor level emergency exits to alert occupants of the crew rest
compartment of an emergency situation. Use of a public address or crew
interphone system will be acceptable, provided an adequate means of
differentiating between normal and emergency communications is
incorporated. The system must be powered in flight, after the shutdown
or failure of all engines and auxiliary power units (APU), or the
disconnection or failure of all power sources dependent on their
continued operation (i.e., engine & APU), for a period of at least ten
minutes.
8. There must be a means, readily detectable by seated or standing
occupants of the crew rest compartment, which indicates when seat belts
should be fastened. In the event there are no seats, at least one means
must be provided to cover anticipated turbulence (e.g., sufficient
handholds). Seat belt type restraints must be provided for berths and
must be compatible for the sleeping attitude during cruise conditions.
There must be a placard on each berth requiring that seat belts must be
fastened when occupied. If compliance with any of the other
requirements of these special conditions is predicated on specific head
location, there must be a placard identifying the head position.
9. In lieu of the requirements specified in Sec. 25.1439(a) at
Amendment 25-38 that pertain to isolated compartments and to provide a
level of safety equivalent to that which is provided occupants of a
small, isolated galley, the following equipment must be provided in the
crew rest compartment:
(a) At least one approved hand-held fire extinguisher appropriate
for the kinds of fires likely to occur;
(b) Two protective breathing equipment (PBE) devices approved to
Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C116 or equivalent, suitable for
firefighting, or one PBE for each hand-held fire extinguisher,
whichever is greater; and
(c) One flashlight.
Note: Additional PBEs and fire extinguishers in specific
locations (beyond the minimum numbers prescribed in Special
Condition no. 9) may be required as a result of any egress analysis
accomplished to satisfy Special Condition no. 2(a).
10. A smoke or fire detection system (or combination of systems)
must be provided that monitors each occupiable area within the crew
rest compartment, including those areas partitioned by curtains. Flight
tests must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement. Each
system (or combination of systems) must provide:
(a) A visual indication to the flight deck within one minute after
the start of a fire;
(b) An aural warning in the crew rest compartment; and
(c) A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be
readily detectable by a flight attendant, and considering the
positioning of flight attendants throughout the main passenger
compartment during various phases of flight.
11. The crew rest compartment must be designed such that fires
within the compartment can be controlled without a crewmember having to
enter the compartment, or the design of the access provisions must
allow crewmembers equipped for firefighting to have unrestricted access
to the compartment. The time for a crewmember on the main deck to react
to the fire alarm, to don the firefighting equipment, and to gain
access must not exceed the time for the compartment to become smoke-
filled, making it difficult to locate the fire source.
12. The crew rest compartment design must incorporate a means
provided to exclude hazardous quantities of smoke or extinguishing
agent originating in the crew rest compartment from entering any other
compartment occupied by crewmembers or passengers. This means must
include the time periods during the evacuation of the crew rest
compartment and, if applicable, when accessing the crew rest
compartment to manually fight a fire. Smoke entering any other
compartment occupied by crewmembers or passengers when the access to
the crew rest compartment is opened, during an emergency evacuation,
must dissipate within five minutes after the access to the crew rest
compartment is closed. Hazardous quantities of smoke may not enter any
other compartment occupied by crewmembers or passengers during
subsequent access to manually fight a
[[Page 100726]]
fire in the crew rest compartment (the amount of smoke entrained by a
firefighter exiting the crew rest compartment through the access is not
considered hazardous). The firefighting procedures must include a
provision to ensure that all door(s) and hatch(es) at the crew rest
compartment outlets are closed after evacuation of the crew rest
compartment and during firefighting to minimize smoke and extinguishing
agent from entering other occupiable compartments. During the 1-minute
smoke detection time, penetration of a small quantity of smoke from the
crew rest compartment into an occupied area is acceptable. Flight tests
must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement. If a built-
in fire extinguishing system is used in lieu of manual firefighting,
then the fire extinguishing system must be designed so that no
hazardous quantities of extinguishing agent will enter other
compartments occupied by passengers or crew. The system must have
adequate capacity to suppress any fire occurring in the crew rest
compartment, considering the fire threat, volume of the compartment and
the ventilation rate.
13. The crew rest compartment design must include a supplemental
oxygen system equivalent to that provided for main deck passengers for
each seat and berth in the crew rest compartment. The system must
provide an aural and visual warning to the occupants of the crew rest
compartment to don oxygen masks in the event of decompression. The
warning must activate before the cabin pressure altitude exceeds 15,000
feet. The aural warning must sound continuously for a minimum of five
minutes or until a reset push button in the crew rest compartment is
depressed. Procedures for crew rest occupants in the event of
decompression must be established. These procedures must be transmitted
to the operator for incorporation into their training programs and
appropriate operational manuals.
14. The following requirements apply to crew rest compartments that
are divided into several sections by the installation of curtains or
partitions:
(a) To compensate for sleeping occupants, there must be an aural
alert that can be heard in each section of the crew rest area
compartment that accompanies automatic presentation of supplemental
oxygen masks. A visual indicator that occupants must don an oxygen mask
is required in each section where seats or berths are not installed. A
minimum of two supplemental oxygen masks is required for each seat or
berth. There must also be a means by which the oxygen masks can be
manually deployed from the flight deck.
(b) A placard is required adjacent to each curtain that visually
divides or separates, for privacy purposes, the crew rest area
compartment into small sections. The placard must require that the
curtain(s) remains open when the private section it creates is
unoccupied.
(c) For each crew rest section created by the installation of a
curtain, the following requirements of these special conditions must be
met with the curtain open or closed:
(1) Emergency illumination (Special Condition no. 5);
(2) Emergency alarm system (Special Condition no. 7);
(3) Seat belt fasten signal or return to seat signal as applicable
(Special Condition no. 8); and
(4) The smoke or fire detection system (Special Condition no. 10).
(d) Crew rest compartments visually divided to the extent that
evacuation could be affected must have exit signs that direct occupants
to the primary stairway exit. The exit signs must be provided in each
separate section of the crew rest compartment and must meet the
requirements of Sec. 25.812(b)(1)(i) at Amendment 25-58. An exit sign
with reduced background area as described in Special Condition no.
4.(a) may be used to meet this requirement.
(e) For sections within a crew rest compartment that are created by
the installation of a partition with a door separating the sections,
the following requirements of these special conditions must be met with
the door open or closed:
(1) There must be a secondary evacuation route from each section to
the main deck, or alternatively, it must be shown that any door between
the sections is designed to preclude anyone from being trapped inside
the compartment. Removal of an incapacitated occupant within this area
must be considered. A secondary evacuation route from a small room
designed for only one occupant for short time duration, such as a
changing area or lavatory, is not required. However, removal of an
incapacitated occupant within this area must be considered.
(2) Any door between the sections must be shown to be openable when
crowded against, even when crowding occurs at each side of the door.
(3) There may be no more than one door between any seat or berth
and the primary stairway exit.
(4) There must be exit signs in each section meeting the
requirements of Sec. 25.812(b)(1)(i) at Amendment 25-58 that direct
occupants to the primary stairway exit. An exit sign with reduced
background area as described in Special Condition no. 4.(a) may be used
to meet this requirement.
(5) Special Conditions no. 5 (emergency illumination), no. 7
(emergency alarm system), no. 8 (fasten seat belt signal or return to
seat signal as applicable) and no. 10 (smoke or fire detection system)
must be met with the door open or closed.
(6) Special Conditions no. 6 (two-way voice communication) and no.
9 (emergency firefighting and protective equipment) must be met
independently for each separate section except for lavatories or other
small areas that are not intended to be occupied for extended periods
of time.
15. Where a waste disposal receptacle is fitted, it must be
equipped with a built-in fire extinguisher designed to discharge
automatically upon occurrence of a fire in the receptacle.
16. Materials (including finishes or decorative surfaces applied to
the materials) must comply with the flammability requirements of Sec.
25.853 at Amendment 25-66. Mattresses must comply with the flammability
requirements of Sec. 25.853(b) and (c) at Amendment 25-66.
17. All lavatories within the crew rest are required to meet the
same requirements as those for a lavatory installed on the main deck
except with regard to Special Condition no. 10 for smoke detection.
18. When a crew rest compartment is installed or enclosed as a
removable module in part of a cargo compartment or is located directly
adjacent to a cargo compartment without an intervening cargo
compartment wall, the following applies:
(a) Any wall of the module (container) forming part of the boundary
of the reduced cargo compartment, subject to direct flame impingement
from a fire in the cargo compartment and including any interface item
between the module (container) and the airplane structure or systems,
must meet the applicable requirements of Sec. 25.855 at Amendment 25-
60.
(b) Means must be provided so that the fire protection level of the
cargo compartment meets the applicable requirements of Sec. Sec.
25.855 at Amendment 25-60, 25.857 at Amendment 25-60 and 25.858 at
Amendment 25-54 when the module (container) is not installed.
(c) Use of each emergency evacuation route must not require
occupants of the crew rest compartment to enter the cargo compartment
in order to return to the passenger compartment.
(d) The aural warning in Special Condition no. 7 must sound in the
crew
[[Page 100727]]
rest compartment in the event of a fire in the cargo compartment.
19. Means must be provided to prevent access into the Class C cargo
compartment during all airplane operations and to ensure that the
maintenance door is closed during all airplane flight operations.
20. All enclosed stowage compartments within the crew rest that are
not limited to stowage of emergency equipment or airplane-supplied
equipment (e.g., bedding) must meet the design criteria given in the
table below. As indicated by the table below, this special condition
does not address enclosed stowage compartments greater than 200 ft\3\
in interior volume. The in-flight accessibility of very large, enclosed
stowage compartments and the subsequent impact on the crewmembers'
ability to effectively reach any part of the compartment with the
contents of a hand fire extinguisher will require additional fire
protection considerations similar to those required for inaccessible
compartments such as Class C cargo compartments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stowage compartment interior volumes
Fire protection features --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 25 ft\3\ 25 ft\3\ to 57 ft\3\ 57 ft\3\ to 200 ft\3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Materials of Construction \1\........ Yes.................... Yes.................... Yes.
Detectors \2\........................ No..................... Yes.................... Yes.
Liner \3\............................ No..................... No..................... Yes.
Locating Device \4\.................. No..................... Yes.................... Yes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Material: The material used to construct each enclosed stowage compartment must at least be fire resistant
and must meet the flammability standards established for interior components per the requirements of Sec.
25.853. For compartments less than 25 ft\3\ in interior volume, the design must ensure the ability to contain
a fire likely to occur within the compartment under normal use.
\2\ Detectors: Enclosed stowage compartments equal to or exceeding 25 ft\3\ in interior volume must be provided
with a smoke or fire detection system to ensure that a fire can be detected within a one-minute detection
time. Flight tests must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement. Each system (or systems) must
provide:
(a) A visual indication in the flight deck within one minute after the start of a fire;
(b) An aural warning in the crew rest compartment; and
(c) A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be readily detectable by a flight attendant, taking
into consideration the positioning of flight attendants throughout the main passenger compartment during
various phases of flight.
\3\ Liner: If it can be shown that the material used to construct the stowage compartment meets the flammability
requirements of a liner for a Class B cargo compartment, then no liner would be required for enclosed stowage
compartments equal to or greater than 25 ft\3\ in interior volume but less than 57 ft\3\ in interior volume.
For all enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 57 ft\3\ in interior volume but less than or
equal to 200 ft\3\, a liner must be provided that meets the requirements of Sec. 25.855 at Amendment 25-60
for a class B cargo compartment.
\4\ Location Detector: Crew rest areas which contain enclosed stowage compartments exceeding 25 ft\3\ interior
volume and which are located away from one central location such as the entry to the crew rest area or a
common area within the crew rest area would require additional fire protection features and/or devices to
assist the firefighter in determining the location of a fire.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 9, 2024.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-29432 Filed 12-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P