[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67557-67559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27517]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0959; Special Conditions No. 25-473-SC]
Special Conditions: ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional, Models
ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A Airplanes; 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 ATR-GIE Avions de
Transport Regional Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes. These
airplanes will have novel or unusual design features associated with
the architecture and connectivity capabilities of the airplanes'
computer systems and networks, which may allow access to or by external
computer systems and networks. Connectivity to, or access by, external
systems and networks may result in security vulnerabilities to the
airplanes' 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 November 5,
2012. We must receive your comments by December 13, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2012-0959
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
[[Page 67558]]
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
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments
we receive.
Background
On January 22, 2009, ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional
(hereafter referred to as ``ATR-GIE'') applied for a change to FAA Type
Certificate No. A53EU to install a new avionics suite that includes
connectivity capabilities between airplane computer systems and
networks and external systems and networks in their Models ATR42-500
and ATR72-212A airplanes. Both airplanes are two-engine, turbo-
propeller driven. The Model ATR42-500 has a maximum takeoff weight of
41,005 pounds and an emergency exit arrangement to support a maximum of
60 passengers. The Model ATR72-212A has a maximum takeoff weight of
49,603 pounds and an emergency exit arrangement to support a maximum of
72 passengers.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, ATR-GIE must show that the Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-
212A, as changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the
regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A53EU 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.'' 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 Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A
airplanes 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 type certificate for that model be amended
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or
unusual design features, or should any other model already included on
the same type certificate be modified to incorporate the same novel or
unusual design features, the special conditions would also apply to the
other model.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes 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 Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes 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:
Flight-safety related control, communication, display,
monitoring, and navigation systems (aircraft control functions);
Airline business and administrative support (airline
information services);
Passenger information and entertainment systems (passenger
entertainment services); and,
The capability to allow access to or by systems external
to the airplane.
Discussion
The Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A architecture and network
configuration may allow increased connectivity to, or access by,
external airplane sources, airline operations, and maintenance systems
to the aircraft control functions and airline information services. The
aircraft control functions and airline information services perform
functions required for the safe operation and maintenance of the
airplane. Previously these functions and services 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
ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A
airplanes. Should ATR-GIE apply at a later date for a change to the
type certificate to include another model incorporating 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 two models of airplanes. It is not a rule of general applicability.
The substance of these special conditions has been subjected to the
notice and comment period in several prior instances and has been
derived
[[Page 67559]]
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, 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 ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional
Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes.
1. Airplane Electronic System Security Protection from Unauthorized
External Access. The applicant must ensure airplane electronic system
security protection from access to or 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 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 5, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-27517 Filed 11-9-12; 8:45 am]
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