[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63845-63847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24987]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0774; Special Conditions No. 25-497-SC]
Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplanes;
Isolation or Airplane Electronic System Security Protection From
Unauthorized Internal Access
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special condition; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Embraer S.A. Model
EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design
feature associated with connectivity of the passenger domain computer
systems to the airplane critical systems and data networks. 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: The effective date of these special conditions is October 25,
2013. We must receive your comments by December 9, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2013-0774
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: 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
unnecessary because 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
publication.
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 May 14, 2009, Embraer S.A. applied for a type certificate for
their new Model EMB-550 airplane. The Model EMB-550 airplane is the
first of a new family of jet airplanes designed for corporate flight,
fractional, charter, and private owner operations. The aircraft has a
conventional configuration with low wing and T-tail empennage. The
primary structure is metal with composite empennage and control
surfaces. The Model EMB-550 airplane is designed for 8 passengers, with
a maximum of 12 passengers. It is equipped with two Honeywell HTF7500-E
medium bypass ratio turbofan engines mounted on aft
[[Page 63846]]
fuselage pylons. Each engine produces approximately 6,540 pounds of
thrust for normal takeoff. The primary flight controls consist of
hydraulically powered fly-by-wire elevators, ailerons and rudder,
controlled by the pilot or copilot sidestick.
The digital systems architecture for the Embraer EMB-550 series of
airplanes is composed of several connected networks. This proposed
network architecture is used for a diverse set of functions, including:
Flight-safety related control and navigation systems,
Airline business and administrative support, and
Passenger entertainment.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) part 21.17, Embraer S.A. must show that the Model EMB-550 airplane
meets the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by Amendments
25-1 through 25-127 thereto.
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 Model EMB-550 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 type certificate for that model be amended
later to include any other model that incorporates the same or similar
novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would also
apply to the other model under Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Model EMB-550 airplane 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 and the FAA must issue a
finding of regulatory adequacy under Sec. 611 of Public Law 92 574,
the ``Noise Control Act of 1972.''
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. 21.17(a)(2).
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane will incorporate the
following novel or unusual design features: the architecture allows
connections to previously isolated data networks connected to systems
that perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane.
This proposed data network and design integration may result in
security vulnerabilities from intentional or unintentional corruption
of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the
airplane. The existing regulations and guidance material did not
anticipate this type of system architecture or electronic access to
airplane systems. Furthermore, 14 CFR part 25 regulations and current
system safety assessment policy and techniques do not address potential
security vulnerabilities, which could be caused by unauthorized access
to airplane data buses and servers. The intent of these special
conditions are to ensure that security, integrity, and availability of
airplane systems are not compromised by certain wired or wireless
electronic connections between airplane data busses and networks.
Discussion
The Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane's integrated network
configuration may allow increased connectivity with external network
sources and will have more interconnected networks and systems, such as
passenger entertainment and information services, than previous Embraer
airplane models. This may allow the exploitation of network security
vulnerabilities and increase risks potentially resulting in unsafe
conditions for the airplane and its occupants.
This potential exploitation of security vulnerabilities may result
in intentional or unintentional destruction, disruption, degradation,
or exploitation of data and systems critical to the safety and
maintenance of the airplane. The existing regulations and guidance
material did not anticipate these types of 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 networks
and servers. Therefore, these special conditions and a means of
compliance are being 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 between airplane systems and networks and the passenger
entertainment domain.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. Should Embraer S.A. 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 one model 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 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. 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 Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplanes.
Isolation or Airplane Electronic System Security Protection From
Unauthorized Internal Access
1. The applicant must ensure that the design provides isolation
from, or airplane electronic system security protection against, access
by unauthorized sources internal to the airplane. The design must
prevent inadvertent and malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts
upon, airplane equipment, systems, networks, or other assets required
for safe flight and operations.
2. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the airplane is
maintained, including all post-type-certification modifications that
may have an impact on the approved electronic system security
safeguards.
[[Page 63847]]
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 6, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-24987 Filed 10-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P