[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65103-65105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27196]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2011-1141; Special Conditions No. 25-451-SC]
Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Model GIV-X
Airplane; Aircraft Electronic System Security Protection From
Unauthorized External Access
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation Model GIV-X airplane. This airplane will have
novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture and
connectivity capabilities of the airplane's computer systems and
networks, which may allow access by external computer systems and
networks. Connectivity by external systems and networks may result in
security vulnerabilities to the airplane's systems. The applicable
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety
standards for these design features. 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 October 13,
2011. We must receive your comments by December 5, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2011-1141
using any of the following methods:
Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or by 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 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without
change, to http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov/.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time. Follow the online instructions
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Varun Khanna, FAA, Airplane and Flight
Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1298; facsimile 425-227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions are
impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay
issuance of the design approval 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
We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by
sending written comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments
reference a specific portion of the special conditions, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data.
We will consider all comments we receive by the closing date for
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comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments
we receive.
Background
On April 21, 2011, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (hereafter
referred to as ``Gulfstream'') applied for a supplemental type
certificate to install a new interior design configuration in the
Gulfstream Model GIV-X passenger airplane. The Gulfstream Model GIV-X
is a two-engine jet transport airplane with a maximum takeoff weight of
47,600 pounds and an interior configuration for a maximum of 19
passengers.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Gulfstream must show that the Gulfstream Model GIV-X
airplane (hereafter referred to as the ``GIV-X''), as changed,
continues to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A12EA or the
applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the
change. 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. A12EA are as follows:
14 CFR part 25, effective February 1, 1965, including Amendments
25-1 through 25-56, except for the following sections which are limited
to showing compliance with the amendments indicated: Part 25 effective
February 1, 1965, Sec. Sec. 25.109, 25.571, and 25.813; part 25
Amendment 25-22, Sec. 25.571; and part 25 Amendment 25-15, Sec.
25.807(c)(2). In addition, the certification basis includes certain
special conditions, exemptions, and equivalent safety findings that are
not relevant to these special conditions.
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 GIV-X 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,
the special conditions would also apply to the other model.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the GIV-X must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust
emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise certification
requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in
accordance with Sec. 11.38, and they become part of the type
certification basis under Sec. 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The GIV-X will incorporate the following novel or unusual design
features: digital systems architecture composed of several connected
networks. The proposed architecture and network configuration may be
used for, or interfaced with, a diverse set of functions, including:
1. Flight-safety related control, communication, and navigation
systems (aircraft control domain);
2. Airline business and administrative support (airline information
domain);
3. Passenger information and entertainment systems (passenger
entertainment domain), and;
4. The capability to allow access to or by external sources.
Discussion
The GIV-X architecture and network configuration may allow
increased connectivity to, and access by, external airplane sources,
airline operations, and maintenance systems to the aircraft control
domain and airline information domain. The aircraft control domain and
airline information domain perform functions required for the safe
operation and maintenance of the airplane. Previously these domains had
very limited connectivity with external sources. The architecture and
network configuration may allow the exploitation of network security
vulnerabilities resulting in intentional or unintentional destruction,
disruption, degradation, or exploitation of data, systems, and networks
critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane. The existing
regulations and guidance material did not anticipate these types of
airplane system architectures. Furthermore, 14 CFR regulations and
current system safety assessment policy and techniques do not address
potential security vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by
unauthorized access to airplane systems, data buses, and servers.
Therefore, these special conditions are issued to ensure that the
security (i.e., confidentiality, integrity, and availability) of
airplane systems is not compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless
electronic connections.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Gulfstream Model GIV-X. Should Gulfstream apply at a later date for a
supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on the
Type Certificate No. A12EA to incorporate the same novel or unusual
design features, these special conditions would apply to that model as
well.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
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.
The substance of these 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. Therefore, 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 type certification basis for Gulfstream Model GIV-X airplanes.
1. The applicant must ensure airplane electronic system security
protection from access by unauthorized sources external to the
airplane, including those possibly caused by maintenance activity.
2. The applicant must ensure that electronic system security
threats are identified and assessed, and that effective electronic
system security protection strategies are implemented to
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protect the airplane from all adverse impacts on safety, functionality,
and continued airworthiness.
3. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the aircraft is
maintained, including all post Type Certification modifications that
may have an impact on the approved electronic system security
safeguards.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27196 Filed 10-19-11; 8:45 am]
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