[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10632-10633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04050]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No.FAA-2015-0426; Notice No. 25-15-03-SC]
Special Conditions: Bombardier Aerospace Incorporated, Models BD-
500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes; Electronic Flight Control
System: Pitch and Roll Limiting Functions
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.
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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Bombardier
Aerospace Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes. These
airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with
the fly-by-wire electronic flight control system (EFCS) that limits
pitch- and roll-attitude functions to prevent the airplane from
attaining certain pitch attitudes and roll angles. This system
generates the actual surface commands that provide for stability
augmentation and flight control for all three-airplane axes
(longitudinal, lateral, and directional). 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 April 13, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2015-0426
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 9 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: Joe Jacobsen, FAA, Standardization
Branch, ANM-113 Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
425-227-2011; facsimile 425-227-1149.
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 by the closing date for
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments
we receive.
Background
On December 10, 2009, Bombardier Aerospace applied for a type
certificate for their new Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series
airplanes (hereafter collectively referred to as ``CSeries''). The
CSeries airplanes are swept-wing monoplanes with an aluminum alloy
fuselage, sized for 5-abreast seating. Passenger capacity is designated
as 110 for the Model BD-500-1A10 and 125 for the Model BD-500-1A11.
Maximum takeoff weight is 131,000 pounds for the Model BD-500-1A10 and
144,000 pounds for the Model BD-500-1A11. The CSeries airplanes will
have a fly-by-wire EFCS.
[[Page 10633]]
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.17, Bombardier Aerospace must show that the CSeries airplane
meets the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by Amendments
25-1 through 25-129.
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 Bombardier CSeries 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 or similar
novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would also
apply to the other model under Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Bombardier CSeries 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 Bombardier CSeries airplane will incorporate the following
novel or unusual design feature: Fly-by-wire EFCS that will limit pitch
and roll attitude functions to prevent the airplane from attaining
certain pitch attitudes and roll angles greater than plus or minus 65
degrees, and positive spiral stability introduced for roll angles
greater than 30 degrees at speeds below VMO/MMO.
This system generates the actual surface commands that provide for
stability augmentation and flight control for all three-airplane axes
(longitudinal, lateral, and directional).
Discussion
Part 25 does not specifically relate to flight characteristics
associated with fixed attitude limits. Bombardier proposes on the
CSeries to implement pitch and roll attitude-limiting functions via the
EFCS normal mode. This will prevent the airplane from attaining certain
pitch attitudes and roll angles greater than plus or minus 65 degrees.
In addition, positive spiral stability, introduced for roll angles
greater than 30 degrees at speeds below VMO/MMO,
and spiral stability characteristics must not require excessive pilot
strength to achieve bank angles up to the bank angle limit.
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.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Bombardier CSeries airplane. Should Bombardier Aerospace apply later
for a change to the type certificate to include another model
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special
conditions would apply to that model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on Bombardier CSeries airplanes. It is not a rule of general
applicability.
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 Bombardier CSeries airplanes.
In addition to Sec. 25.143, the following requirements apply to
the EFCS pitch and roll limiting functions:
1. The pitch limiting function must not impede normal maneuvering
for pitch angles up to the maximum required for normal maneuvering,
including a normal all-engines operating takeoff, plus a suitable
margin to allow for satisfactory speed control.
2. The pitch and roll limiting functions must not restrict or
prevent attaining pitch attitudes necessary for emergency maneuvering
or roll angles up to 65 degrees. Spiral stability, which is introduced
above 30 degrees roll angle, must not require excessive pilot strength
to achieve these roll angles. Other protections, which further limit
the roll capability under certain extreme angle-of-attack, attitude, or
high-speed conditions, are acceptable, as long as they allow at least
45 degrees of roll capability.
3. A lower limit of roll is acceptable beyond the overspeed warning
if it is possible to recover the airplane to the normal flight envelope
without undue difficulty or delay.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 19, 2015.
John P. Piccola, Jr.,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-04050 Filed 2-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P