[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8162-8165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2037]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. NM182; Special Conditions No. 25-172-SC]
Special Conditions: Honeywell International, Inc.; Boeing Model
747-300 Series Airplanes; High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 747-300
series airplanes modified by Honeywell
[[Page 8163]]
International, Inc. These modified airplanes will have novel or unusual
design features associated with the installation of new navigation
management system that includes electronic flight instrument system
(EFIS) displays. The EFIS displays will use electrical and electronic
systems that perform critical functions. The applicable airworthiness
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for
the protection of these systems from the effects of high-intensity-
radiated fields (HIRF). 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: The effective date of these special conditions is January 16,
2001. Comments must be received on or before March 1, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Comments on these special conditions may be mailed in
duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Attention: Rules Docket (ANM-114), Docket No. NM182, 1601
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; or delivered in
duplicate to the Transport Airplane Directorate at that address. All
comments must be marked: ``Docket No. NM182.'' Comments may be
inspected in the Rules Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays,
between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning the
certification program for the Boeing Model 747-300 series airplanes
modified by Honeywell International, Inc., contact: Ross Landes,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, Transport Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-145; fax (425) 227-1149.
For information on the general subject of HIRF, contact: Massoud
Sadeghi, Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Airplane and Flight Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, 1601
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-
2117; fax (425) 227-1320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice and
opportunity for prior public comment hereon are impracticable because
these procedures would significantly delay issuance of the approval
design and thus delivery of the affected aircraft. In addition, the
substance of these special conditions has been subject to the public
comment process in several prior instances with no substantive comments
received. The FAA, therefore, finds that good cause exists for making
these special conditions effective upon issuance.
Comments Invited
Although these special conditions are being issued as final special
conditions without prior public notice, interested persons are invited
to submit such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire.
Communications should identify the regulatory docket number and be
submitted in duplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will
be considered by the Administrator. The special conditions may be
changed in light of the comments received. All comments received will
be available in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons,
both before and after the closing date for comments. A report
summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this rulemaking will be filed in the docket. Commenters
wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in
response to these special conditions must include a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to NM182.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the
commenter.
Background
On October 20, 2000, Honeywell International Inc., 15001 N.E. 36th
Street, P.O. Box 97001, Redmond, Washington 98073-9701, applied for a
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Boeing Model 747-300 series
airplanes operated by South African Airways (SAA). Honeywell plans to
install upgraded avionics equipment on these airplanes. This equipment
includes an electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) that displays
attitude and heading information, and is manufactured by Astronautics.
The modified airplanes are scheduled for certification in January 2001.
The Astronautics EFIS provides a critical function that displays
attitude and heading information. The EFIS must be designed and
installed to ensure that its operation is not adversely affected by
high intensity radiated fields (HIRF). These functions can be
susceptible to disruption of both command and response signals as a
result of electrical and magnetic interference caused by HIRF external
to the airplane. This disruption of signals could result in loss of
critical flight displays and annunciations, or could present misleading
information to the pilot.
The subject Boeing Model 747-300 series airplanes are four-engine
transport category airplanes with a wingspan of 195 ft. 8 in. (59.6 m)
and an overall length of 231 ft. 10.2 in. (70.6 m). They are
essentially identical to the earlier Model 747-200 series, but have a
stretched upper deck. Their maximum takeoff weight is 833,000 lbs.
(374,850 kg) and typical cruise speed at 35,000 feet is Mach 0.85/565
mph (910 km/h)
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Honeywell must show that the
Boeing Model 747-300 series airplanes, as modified, continue to meet
the applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by reference
in Type Certificate No. A20WE, or the applicable regulations in effect
on the date of application for the modification. The regulations
incorporated by reference in the type certificate are commonly referred
to as the ``original type certification basis.''
The regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No.
A20WE for the Boeing Model 747-300 series airplanes are as follows:
1. Regulations
14 CFR parts 1, 21, 34 (fuel vent and exhaust emission
requirements), and 36 (noise certification requirements).
14 CFR part 25, effective February 1, 1965.
Amendments 25-1 through 25-8, plus 25-15, 25-17, 25-18,
25-20, and 25-39 (transmitted by FAA letter dated February 4, 1977).
Amendment 25-36, re: RB211 engine oil filter system
compliance with Sec. 25.1019 and Sec. 25.1305(c)(7).
Amendment 25-46, Sec. 25.803(d) (Transmitted by FAA letter
to The Boeing Company, dated September 2, 1983. This is limited to all
passenger configurations and 6/7 palet combi configurations.)
2. Special Conditions
Special conditions summarized for record purposes as
enclosed with FAA letter to The Boeing Company dated February 20, 1970.
Special Conditions 4A, revised to apply to airplanes with
the landing gear load evener system deleted (recorded as attachment to
an FAA letter to The Boeing Company dated May 12, 1971).
Special Conditions No. 25-61-NW-1 for occupancy not to
exceed 32 passengers on the upper deck of airplanes with spiral
staircase
[[Page 8164]]
(transmitted to The Boeing Company by FAA letter dated February 26,
1975).
Special Conditions No. 25-71-NW-3 for occupancy not to
exceed 45 passengers on the upper deck of airplanes with straight
segmented stairway (transmitted to The Boeing Company by FAA letter
dated September 8, 1976).
Modification of Special Conditions No. 25-71-NW-3 for
occupancy not to exceed 110 passengers on the upper deck of airplanes
with segmented stairway (transmitted to The Boeing Company by FAA
letter dated August 3, 1981).
Special Conditions No. 25-77-NW-4--modification of the
autopilot system to approve the airplane for use of the system under
category IIIb landing conditions (transmitted to The Boeing Company by
FAA letter dated July 8, 1977).
Special Condition No. 25-ANM-16 for installation of an
overhead crew rest area, occupancy not to exceed 10 crewmembers. (The
FAA-approved procedures required for compliance with paragraph 13 of
the Special Condition are located in Boeing Document D926U303, Appendix
D.)
3. Exemptions From 14 CFR Part 25
Exemption No. 1013A, dated December 24, 1969.
Exemption No. 1870D, dated April 3, 1991.
Exemption No. 3035 dated September 9, 1980.
4. Compliance With the Following Optional Requirements
Sec. 25.801, ``Ditching.''
Sec. 25.1419, ``Ice protection.''
5. Equivalent Safety Findings With Respect to the Following Regulations
Sec. 25.773(b)(2)(i), amendments 25-1 through 25-67,
``Pilot compartment view.''
Sec. 25.811(f), ``Emergency exit marking.''
Sec. 25.812(k)(2), ``Emergency lighting.''
Sec. 25.815, ``Width of aisle.''
Sec. 25.1415(d) ``Ditching equipment'' [re: Emergency
Locator Transmitter (ELT)].
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate
or appropriate safety standards for the Boeing Model 747-300 series
airplanes modified by Honeywell because of a novel or unusual design
feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of
Sec. 21.16.
Special conditions, as appropriate, are issued in accordance with
Sec. 11.19, as required by Sec. 11.38, and become part of the
airplane's type certification basis in accordance with
Sec. 21.101(b)(2).
The special conditions approved in this new document will form an
additional part of the type certification basis for these airplanes.
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. Should Honeywell 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 features,
these special conditions would also apply to the other model under the
provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Boeing Model 747-300 series airplanes modified by Honeywell
will incorporate the Astronautics EFIS system, which performs critical
functions. The EFIS system contains electronic equipment for which the
current airworthiness standards (14 CFR part 25) do not contain
adequate or appropriate safety standards that address protecting this
equipment from the adverse effects of HIRF. This system may be
vulnerable to HIRF external to the airplane. Accordingly, this system
is considered to be a novel or unusual design feature.
Discussion
There is no specific regulation that addresses the requirements for
protection of electrical and electronic systems from HIRF. Increased
power levels from ground-based radio transmitters and the growing use
of sensitive electrical and electronic systems to command and control
airplanes have made it necessary to provide adequate protection.
To ensure that a level of safety is achieved that is equivalent to
that intended by the regulations incorporated by reference, special
conditions are needed for the Boeing Model 747-300 airplanes modified
by Honeywell to include the Astronautics EFIS system. These special
conditions will require that this system, which performs critical
functions, be designed and installed to preclude component damage and
interruption of function due to both the direct and indirect effects of
HIRF.
High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)
With the trend toward increased power levels from ground-based
transmitters, plus the advent of space and satellite communications
coupled with electronic command and control of the airplane, and the
use of composite material in the airplane structure, the immunity of
critical avionics/electronics and electrical systems to HIRF must be
established.
It is not possible to precisely define the HIRF to which the
airplane will be exposed in service. There is also uncertainty
concerning the effectiveness of airframe shielding for HIRF.
Furthermore, coupling of electromagnetic energy to cockpit-installed
equipment through the cockpit window apertures is undefined. Based on
surveys and analysis of existing HIRF emitters, an adequate level of
protection exists when compliance with the HIRF protection special
condition is shown with either paragraph 1. or, alternatively,
paragraph 2., below:
1. A minimum threat of 100 volts rms per meter electric field
strength from 10 KHz to 18 GHz.
a. The threat must be applied to the system elements and their
associated wiring harnesses without the benefit of airframe shielding.
b. Demonstration of this level of protection is established through
system tests and analysis.
Or
2. A threat external to the airframe for both of the following
field strengths for the frequency ranges indicated. Both peak and
average field strength components from Table 1 are to be demonstrated.
Table 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Strength
(volts per meter)
Frequency ---------------------
Peak Average
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 kHz-100 kHz.................................... 50 50
100 kHz-500 kHz................................... 50 50
500 kHz-2 MHz..................................... 50 50
2 MHz-30 MHz...................................... 100 100
30 MHz-70 MHz..................................... 50 50
70 MHz-100 MHz.................................... 50 50
100 MHz-200 MHz................................... 100 100
200 MHz-400 MHz................................... 100 100
400 MHz-700 MHz................................... 700 50
700 MHz-1 GHz..................................... 700 100
1 GHz-2 GHz....................................... 2000 200
2 GHz-4 GHz....................................... 3000 200
4 GHz-6 GHz....................................... 3000 200
6 GHz-8 GHz....................................... 1000 200
8 GHz-12 GHz...................................... 3000 300
12 GHz-18 GHz..................................... 2000 200
18 GHz-40 GHz..................................... 600 200
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The field strengths are expressed in terms of peak of the root-mean-
square (rms) over the complete modulation period.
The threat levels identified in Table 1 are the result of an FAA
review of existing studies on the subject of HIRF, in light of the
ongoing work of the Electromagnetic Effects Harmonization Working Group
of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[[Page 8165]]
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Boeing Model 747-300 series airplanes modified by Honeywell
International, Inc., to include the Astronautics EFIS system. Should
Honeywell apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to
modify any other model included on Type Certificate A20WE to
incorporate the same novel or unusual design features, these special
conditions would apply to that model as well under the provisions of
Sec. 21.101(a)(1).
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on the Boeing Model 747-300 series airplanes modified by Honeywell
International, Inc. 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 airplanes.
As stated previously, the substance of the special conditions has
been subjected to the notice and comment period in several prior
instances and has been derived without substantive change from those
previously issued. It is unlikely that prior public comment would
result in a significant change from the substance contained herein. For
this reason, and because a delay would significantly affect the
certification of the airplane, which is imminent, the FAA has
determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and
impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting these special
conditions upon issuance. The FAA is requesting comments to allow
interested persons to submit views that may not have been submitted in
response to the prior opportunities for comment described above.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(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 supplemental type certification basis for the Boeing Model 747-300
series airplanes modified by Honeywell International, Inc.
1. Protection from Unwanted Effects of High-Intensity Radiated
Fields (HIRF). Each electrical and electronic system that performs
critical functions must be designed and installed to ensure that the
operation and operational capability of these systems to perform
critical functions are not adversely affected when the airplane is
exposed to high-intensity radiated fields.
2. For the purpose of these special conditions, the following
definition applies: Critical Functions: Functions whose failure would
contribute to or cause a failure condition that would prevent the
continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 16, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-2037 Filed 1-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U