[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 152 (Friday, August 7, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47399-47400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19459]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 152 / Friday, August 7, 2015 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 47399]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2015-2567; Special Conditions No. 25-588-SC]
Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Models BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 Series Airplanes; Side Stick Controllers: Pilot Strength,
Pilot Control Authority, and Pilot Control
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 Bombardier Inc.
Models BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 series airplanes. These airplanes
will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state
of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport
category airplanes. This design feature is side stick controllers for
pitch and roll control instead of conventional wheels and columns. 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: This action is effective on Bombardier Inc. on August 7, 2015.
We must receive your comments by September 21, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2015-2567
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/ 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, Airplane and
Flightcrew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2011; facsimile 425-227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 in the Federal Register.
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
Bombardier Inc. located in Montreal, Canada, applied to Transport
Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) on January 7, 2012, and May 30, 2012, for
two amended type certificates in the transport airplane category for
two new airplane models designated as the BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13.
The BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes are 19-passenger, twin-
engine, ultra long-range large airplanes targeting the executive
interior business jet market. These airplanes share an identical
supplier base and significant common design elements.
The BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes will use side stick
controllers for pitch and roll control. Regulatory requirements
pertaining to conventional wheel and column, such as pilot strength and
controllability, are not directly applicable for the side stick. In
addition, pilot control authority may be uncertain because the side
sticks are not mechanically interconnected as with conventional wheel
and column controls.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.17, Bombardier Inc. must show that the BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-
2A13 airplanes meet the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25 as
amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-138 except for Amendment 25-137.
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 BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13
airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special
conditions are prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.
[[Page 47400]]
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 BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 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, 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 Feature
The BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes will incorporate the
following novel or unusual design feature: Side stick controllers for
pitch and roll control, which are not mechanically interconnected as
with conventional wheel and column controls. These airplanes also have
a fly-by-wire electronic flight control system. This system provides an
electronic interface between the pilot's flight controls and the flight
control surfaces for both normal and failure states, and it generates
the actual surface commands that provide for stability augmentation and
control about all three airplane axes. In addition, pilot control
authority may be uncertain, because the side sticks are not
mechanically interconnected as with conventional wheel and column
controls.
Discussion
Current FAA regulations do not specifically address the use of side
stick controllers for pitch and roll control. The unique features of
the side stick must therefore be demonstrated through flight and
simulator tests to have suitable handling and control characteristics
when considering the following:
1. The handling qualities tasks/requirements of the BD-700-2A12 and
BD-700-2A13 airplanes special conditions and other part 25 stability,
control, and maneuverability requirements, including the effects of
turbulence.
2. General ergonomics: Arm rest comfort and support, local freedom
of movement, displacement angle suitability, and axis harmony.
3. Inadvertent input in turbulence.
4. Inadvertent pitch-roll cross talk.
These special conditions elaborate on these requirements and
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.
The FAA Handling Qualities Rating Method (HQRM) in appendix 5 of
Advisory Circular 25-7C, ``Flight Test Guide for Certification of
Transport Category Airplanes,'' may be used to show compliance.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Bombardier Inc. Models BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 series airplanes.
Should Bombardier Inc. apply at a later date 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 two model series 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. Therefore, the FAA has determined
that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary, and good cause
exists for adopting these special conditions upon publication in the
Federal Register. 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.
0
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.
The Special Conditions
0
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 the Bombardier Inc. Models BD-700-2A12
and BD-700-2A13 series airplanes.
0
In the absence of specific requirements for side stick controllers, the
following apply:
1. Pilot strength: In lieu of the ``strength of pilots'' limits
shown in Sec. 25.143(d) for pitch and roll, and in lieu of specific
pitch force requirement of Sec. Sec. 25.143(i)(2), 25.145(b), and
25.175(d), Bombardier must show that the temporary and maximum
prolonged force levels for the side stick controllers are suitable for
all expected operating conditions and configurations, whether normal or
non-normal.
2. Pilot control authority: The electronic side stick controller
coupling design must provide for corrective and/or overriding control
inputs by either pilot with no unsafe characteristics. Annunciation of
the controller status must be provided and must not be confusing to the
flightcrew.
3. Pilot control: Bombardier must show by flight tests that the use
of side stick controllers does not produce unsuitable pilot-in-the-loop
control characteristics when considering precision path control/tasks
and turbulence. In addition, pitch and roll control force and
displacement sensitivity must be compatible, so that normal inputs on
one control axis will not cause significant unintentional inputs on the
other.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 17, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19459 Filed 8-6-15; 8:45 am]
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