[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51944-51946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21100]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0699; Notice No. 25-12-02-SC]
Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A318-112 Airplane (S/N 3238);
Certification of Cooktops
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.
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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Airbus Model
A318-112 airplane. This airplane as modified by Fokker Services B.V.
will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with a cooktop
installation. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain
adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These
proposed 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: Send your comments on or before October 12, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2012-0699
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 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: Dan Jacquet, FAA, Airframe and Cabin
Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98057-
3356; telephone 425-227-2676; facsimile 425-227-1100; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 on or before the closing
date for comments. We may change these special conditions based on the
comments we receive.
Background
On January 12, 2010, Fokker Services B.V. applied for a
supplemental type certificate for an interior conversion on an Airbus
Model A318-112 airplane, serial number 3238. The Airbus Model A318-112
airplane is a large, transport-category airplane powered by two CFM56-
5B9/P engines, with a basic maximum takeoff weight of 130,071 pounds.
Fokker Services B.V. is requesting certification to convert this
Airbus Model A318-112 to a corporate jet, operating for both public and
private use (not for hire, not for common carriage). For private use
the aircraft will be certified for a maximum of 8 crew and 23
passengers, and the public use occupancy will be a maximum of 8 crew
and 19 passengers. The aircraft will be subdivided into an entrance
way, executive lounge, two private lounges, and a private bathroom. The
entry will include the installation of two wet galleys. One of the
galleys will include the installation of two combined cooktop pan
units. The addition of a cooktop to this interior conversion can lead
to hazards to both occupants and the aircraft. Special consideration is
needed to address the safety standards associated with this
installation.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101 Fokker Services B.V. must show that the Airbus Model A318-
112 airplane, as changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions
of the regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No.
A28NM 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
A28NM are 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-56,
with reversions to earlier amendments, voluntary compliance to later
amendments, special conditions, equivalent safety findings, and
exemptions listed in the type certificate data sheet.
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 Airbus Model A318-112 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 or similar novel or unusual design
feature, the special conditions would
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also apply to the other model under Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Airbus Model A318-112 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 Airbus Model A318-112 airplane, serial number 3238, will
incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature: Cooktops in
the passenger cabin. Cooktops introduce high heat, smoke, and the
possibility of fire into the passenger cabin environment. The current
airworthiness standards of part 25 do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards to protect the airplane and its occupants
from these potential hazards. The applicant's proposed system is
considered to be a novel or unusual design feature.
Discussion
Currently, ovens are the prevailing means of heating food on
airplanes. Ovens are characterized by an enclosure that contains both
the heat source and the food being heated. The hazards presented by
ovens are thus inherently limited and are well understood through years
of service experience. Cooktops, on the other hand, are characterized
by exposed heat sources and the presence of relatively unrestrained hot
cookware and heated food. These may represent unprecedented hazards to
both occupants and the airplane.
Cooktops could have serious passenger and aircraft safety
implications if appropriate requirements are not established for their
installation and use. The requirements identified in these proposed
special conditions are in addition to those considerations identified
in Advisory Circular (AC) 20-168, Certification Guidance for
Installation of Non-Essential, Non-Required Aircraft Cabin Systems and
Equipment (CS&E), and those in AC 25-17A, Transport Airplane Cabin
Interiors Crashworthiness Handbook. The intent of these proposed
special conditions is to provide a level of safety that is consistent
with that on similar aircraft without cooktops.
In similar cooktop installations, the FAA has required a deployable
cover and a means to automatically shut off the power when the cover
was in use. In lieu of these requirements, the cooktop installation in
this Airbus A318-112 will have a lid and a timer that is not covered by
the lid. The timer switches the heating elements on and off, has a
maximum time of 20 minutes, and is still accessible when the lid is
closed. The cabin crew will be instructed on its use. In addition to
the lid and timer, the applicant will supply a fire blanket that is
1,100 by 1,100 mm (catalogue no. SAP-967-T). The fire blanket meets the
requirements of British Standard BS 6575:1965. These specifications
contain the requirements for flexibility, heat, electrical resistance,
and fire extinguishing including cooking oil fires for light duty and
heavy duty (industrial) applications.
For this cooktop installation, the FAA requires evidence that with
the cooktop lid closed, the temperature set on ``high,'' and the timer
at maximum, the cooktop will maintain safe operation and will not
create a hazardous condition even with cooking oil in the cooktop.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Airbus Model A318-112. Should Fokker Services B.V. apply at a later
date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model
included on Type Certificate No. A28NM to incorporate the same novel or
unusual design feature, the special conditions would apply to that
model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on 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.
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 Proposed Special Conditions
Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the
following special conditions as part of the type certification basis
for the Airbus Model A318-112 airplane, serial number 3238, modified by
Fokker Services B.V.
Cooktop installations with electrically powered burners must comply
with the following criteria:
1. Means, such as conspicuous burner-on indicators, physical
barriers, or handholds, must be installed to minimize the potential for
inadvertent personnel contact with hot surfaces of both the cooktop and
cookware. Conditions of turbulence must be considered.
2. Sufficient design means must be included to restrain cookware
while in place on the cooktop, as well as representative contents,
e.g., soup, sauces, etc., from the effects of flight loads and
turbulence. Restraints must be provided to preclude hazardous movement
of cookware and contents. These restraints must accommodate any
cookware that is identified for use with the cooktop. Restraints must
be designed to be easily utilized and effective in service. The
cookware restraint system should also be designed so that it will not
be easily disabled, thus rendering it unusable. Placarding must be
installed which prohibits the use of cookware that cannot be
accommodated by the restraint system.
3. Placarding must be installed that prohibits the use of cooktops
(i.e., power on any burner) during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
4. Means must be provided to address the possibility of a fire
occurring on or in the immediate vicinity of the cooktop. Two
acceptable means of complying with this requirement are as follows:
a. Placarding must be installed that prohibits any burner from
being powered when the cooktop is unattended, which would prohibit a
single person from cooking on the cooktop and intermittently serving
food to passengers while any burner is powered; a fire detector must be
installed in the vicinity of the cooktop that provides an audible
warning in the passenger cabin; and a fire extinguisher of appropriate
size and extinguishing agent must be installed in the immediate
vicinity of the cooktop. Access to the extinguisher must not be blocked
by a fire on or around the cooktop. One of the fire extinguishers
required by Sec. 25.851 may be used to satisfy this requirement. If
this is not possible, then the extinguisher in the galley area would be
additional; or,
b. An automatic, thermally activated, fire-suppression system must
be installed to extinguish a fire at the cooktop and immediately
adjacent surfaces. The agent used in the system must be an approved,
total-flooding agent suitable for use in an occupied area. The fire-
suppression system must have a manual override. The automatic
activation of the fire-suppression system must also automatically shut
off power to the cooktop.
[[Page 51946]]
5. The surfaces of the galley surrounding the cooktop, which would
be exposed to a fire on the cooktop surface or in cookware on the
cooktop, must be constructed of materials that comply with the
flammability requirements of 14 CFR part 25, appendix F, part III. This
requirement is in addition to the flammability requirements typically
required of the materials in these galley surfaces. During the
selection of these materials, consideration must also be given to
ensure that the flammability characteristics of the materials will not
be adversely affected by the use of cleaning agents and utensils used
to remove cooking stains.
6. The cooktop ventilation system ducting must be protected by a
flame arrestor. In addition, procedures and time intervals must be
established and included in the instructions for continued
airworthiness to inspect and clean or replace the ventilation system to
prevent a fire hazard from the accumulation of flammable oils. [Note:
The applicant may find additional useful information in the Society of
Automotive Engineers, Aerospace Recommended Practice 85, Rev. E,
entitled, ``Air Conditioning Systems for Subsonic Airplanes,'' dated
August 1, 1991.]
7. Means must be provided to contain spilled foods or fluids in a
manner that prevents the creation of a slipping hazard to occupants,
and that will not lead to the loss of structural strength due to
corrosion.
8. Cooktop installations must provide adequate space for the user
to immediately escape a hazardous cooktop condition.
9. A means to shut off power to the cooktop must be provided at the
galley containing the cooktop and in the cockpit. If additional
switches are introduced in the cockpit, revisions to smoke or fire
emergency procedures of the airplane flight manual (AFM) will be
required.
10. Cooktop installations must incorporate a timer that will switch
the heating elements off after a maximum time of 20 minutes.
11. Instructions for the cabin crew to ensure safe operation of the
cooktop lid and timer must be provided.
12. Evidence must be provided that with the cooktop lid closed, the
temperature set on ``high,'' and the timer at maximum, the cooktop will
maintain safe operation and will not create a hazardous condition even
with cooking oil in the cooktop.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 22, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21100 Filed 8-27-12; 8:45 am]
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