[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30314-30316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13949]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0605; Special Conditions No. 25-730-SC]
Special Conditions: Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 Series
Airplanes; 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 Airbus Model A318,
A319, A320 and A321 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 airplane electronic systems and
networks that allow access from external sources (e.g., wireless
devices, internet connectivity) to the airplane's internal electronic
components.
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 Airbus on June 28, 2018. Send
comments on or before August 13, 2018.
[[Page 30315]]
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2018-0605 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 website, 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).
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 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, Airplane and Flight Crew
Interface Section, AIR-671, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3159; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The substance of these special conditions previously has been
published in the Federal Register for public comment. These special
conditions have 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 finds that, for the same reason, good cause exists
for adopting these special conditions 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 by the closing date for
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments
we receive.
Background
On February 2, 2017, Airbus applied for a change to Type
Certificate No. A28NM for the installation of electronic network system
architecture or Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (FOMAX)
equipment in the Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. The
Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes are twin-
engine, transport category airplanes with a passenger seating capacity
of 136 to 230 and a maximum takeoff weight of 123,458 to 213,848
pounds, depending on the specific design.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Airbus must show that the Model A318, A319, A320 and A321
series airplanes as changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions
of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A28NM 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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and
A321 series 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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series 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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes will
incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:
The installation and activation of electronic network system
architecture or Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (FOMAX)
equipment that allows access from external sources (e.g., wireless
devices, internet connectivity) to the airplane's internal electronic
components.
Discussion
The Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplane
architecture and network configuration may allow increased connectivity
to and access from external network sources and airline operations and
maintenance networks to the aircraft control domain and airline
information services domain. The aircraft control domain and airline
information services domain perform functions required for the safe
operation and maintenance of the airplane. Previously these domains had
very limited connectivity with external network 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 the current system safety assessment policy and
techniques do not address potential security vulnerabilities, which
could be exploited by unauthorized access to airplane networks, data
buses, and servers. Therefore, these special conditions are to ensure
that the security (i.e., confidentiality, integrity, and availability)
of airplane systems is not compromised by unauthorized
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wired or wireless electronic connections.
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.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. Should Airbus 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 a certain novel or unusual design feature
on Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. It is not a
rule of general applicability.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority Citation
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321
series airplanes.
1. The applicant must ensure that the airplane electronic systems
are protected from access 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 Des Moines, Washington, on June 25, 2018.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-13949 Filed 6-27-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P