[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 149 (Friday, August 4, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36319-36320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16413]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 149 / Friday, August 4, 2017 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 36319]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2015-2393; Special Conditions No. 25-695-SC]
Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc. Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-
2A13 Airplanes; Fuselage Post-Crash Fire Survivability
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Inc.
(Bombardier) Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 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 feature is an aluminum-lithium
fuselage construction that may provide different levels of protection
from post-crash fire threats than would similar airplanes constructed
from traditional aluminum structure. 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: Effective September 5, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Sinclair, FAA, Airframe and Cabin
Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98057-
3356; telephone 425-227-2195; facsimile 425-227-1232.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On May 30, 2012, Bombardier applied for an amendment to type
certificate no. T00003NY to include the new Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 airplanes. These airplanes are derivatives of the Model BD-700
series of airplanes and are marketed as the Bombardier Global 7000
(Model BD-700-2A12) and Global 8000 (Model BD-700-2A13). These
airplanes are twin-engine, transport-category, executive-interior
business jets. The maximum passenger capacity is 19 and the maximum
takeoff weights are 106,250 lbs. (Model BD-700-2A12) and 104,800 lbs.
(Model BD-700-2A13).
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Bombardier must show that the Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 airplanes meet the applicable provisions of the regulations
listed in Type Certificate No. T00003NY, or the applicable regulations
in effect on the date of application for the change, except for earlier
amendments as agreed upon by the FAA.
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 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.
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 feature, or should any other model already included on
the same type certificate be modified to incorporate the same 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 Model 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.
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 Feature
Bombardier Inc. Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes will
incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature: The fuselage
will be fabricated using aluminum-lithium alloy materials instead of
conventional aluminum.
Discussion
The certification basis for the Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and
BD-700-2A11 airplanes does not include the burn through requirements
defined in Sec. 25.856(b) because both airplane models have a
passenger capacity of fewer than 20. The Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-
2A13 airplanes are introducing a new material other than what has
traditionally been shown to be survivable from a ``toxic'' standpoint.
The applicant must ensure that the material being installed on an
airplane does not introduce a new hazard that would reduce the
survivability of the passengers during a post-crash situation, or that
would provide levels of toxic fumes that would be lethal or
incapacitating, thus preventing evacuation of the airplane in a crash
scenario.
In accordance with Sec. 21.16, fuselage structure that includes
aluminum-lithium construction is an unusual design feature for large,
transport-category airplanes certificated under 14 CFR part 25.
Regulations applicable to burn requirements, including Sec. Sec.
25.853 and 25.856(a), remain valid for these airplanes, but do not
protect against the threat generated from potentially toxic levels of
gases produced from aluminum-lithium alloy materials.
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.
Discussion of Comments
Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25-16-07-SC for the
Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes was published in
the Federal Register on October 26, 2016 (81 FR 74347). One comment was
received.
[[Page 36320]]
The commenter acknowledged that the use of the aluminum-lithium
alloy would require full certification to the existing regulations.
However, they contend that the material is not novel and unusual and
does not require special conditions.
The FAA does not agree. While it is true that, with the level of
lithium in the alloys presently tested, the proposed aluminum-lithium
alloy does not appear to pose a significant risk, the existing
regulations, as discussed above, do not adequately address the use of
this specific alloy technology. Lithium metal is highly flammable and
toxic; therefore, the FAA is concerned about the use of lithium in
aircraft alloys. The FAA did not have data on the properties of
aluminum-lithium when exposed to a post-crash fire threat prior to
applying these special conditions.
Therefore, special conditions are required until the regulations
are amended to provide sufficient requirements for the application of
this new alloy technology.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. Should
Bombardier 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 the other model as
well.
Conclusion
This action affects only one novel or unusual design feature on
Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. It is not a
rule of general applicabilit.
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 Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 airplanes.
The Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes must show that
toxic levels of gases produced from the aluminum-lithium material, when
exposed to a post-crash fire threat, are in no way an additional threat
to the passengers, including, but not limited to, their ability to
evacuate, when compared to traditional aluminum airplane materials.
Issued in Renton, Washington.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-16413 Filed 8-3-17; 8:45 am]
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