Airworthiness standards: Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes,

[Federal Register: February 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 38)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 11527-11529]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr26fe01-2]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM184; Special Conditions No. 25-174-SC]

Special Conditions: Airbus Industrie A300; High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes modified to an Electronic Cable Specialists design. These modified 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. The

[[Page 11528]]

modification incorporates the installation of dual Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicators that perform critical functions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high-intensity-radiated fields (HIRF). 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of these special conditions is February 16, 2001. Comments must be received on or before March 28, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments on these special conditions may be mailed in duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Attention: Rules Docket (ANM-114), Docket No. NM184, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; or delivered in duplicate to the Transport Airplane Directorate at the above address. All comments must be marked: Docket No. NM184. Comments may be inspected in the Rules Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meghan Gordon, FAA, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2138; facsimile (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for making these special conditions effective upon issuance; however, interested persons are invited to submit such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. Communications should identify the regulatory docket number and be submitted in duplicate to the address specified above. All communications recieved on or before the closing date for comments will be considered by the Administrator. These special conditions may be changed in light of the comments received. All comments received will be available in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons, both before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking will be filedin the docket. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to these special conditions must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. NM184.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Background

On September 18, 2000, Electronic Cable Specialists, 5300 West Franklin Drive, Franklin WI, applied for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to modify Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes. The Model A300 is a large transport category airplane. The Airbus A300 airplanes are powered by two General Electric Model CF6-50 turbofans with a maximum takeoff weight of 363,760 pounds. This aircraft operates with a pilot, copilot, and flight engineer and can hold up to 345 passengers. The modification incorporates the Universal Avionics Systems Corporation (UASC) EFI-550 Electronic Flight Instrument System. Dual EFI-550 flat panel displays will be installed, replacing existing electro-mechanical horizontal situation indicators (HSI's), as the primary navigation Display/HSI. The avionics/electronics and electrical systems installed in this airplane have the potential to be vulnerable to high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF) external to the airplane.

Type Certification Basis

Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Electronic Cable Specialists must show that the Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes, as changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A35EU, or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the change. The regulations incorporated by reference in the type certificate are commonly referred to as the ``original type certification basis.'' The regulations included in the certification basis for the Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes include Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.29(a)(1), based upon France/German requirements of part 25 effective February 1, 1965, plus additional requirements listed in the type certificate data sheet that are not relevant to these special conditions.

If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations (i.e., part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes modified to Electronic Cable Specialists design because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.

In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, these Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of part 34 and the noise certification requirements of part 36.

Special conditions, as defined in Sec. 11.19, are issued in accordance with Sec. 11.38 and become part of the type certification basis in accordance with Sec. 21.101(b)(2).

Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which they are issued. Should Electronic Cable Specialists apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on the same type certificate to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would also apply to the other model under the provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

As noted earlier, the Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes modified to Electronic Cable Specialists design will incorporate a new Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator that will perform critical functions. This system may be vulnerable to high-intensity radiated fields external to the airplane. The current airworthiness standards of part 25 do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of this equipment from the adverse effects of HIRF. Accordingly, this system is considered to be a novel or unusual design feature.

Discussion

There is no specific regulation that addresses protection requirements for electrical and electronic systems from HIRF. Increased power levels from ground-based radio transmitters and the growing use of sensitive avionics/electronics and electrical systems to command and control airplanes have made it necessary to provide adequate protection.

To ensure that a level of safety is achieved that is equivalent to that intended by the regulations incorporated by reference, special conditions are needed for the Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes modified to Electronic Cable Specialists design. These special conditions require that new avionics/electronics and electrical systems that perform critical functions be designed and installed to preclude component damage and interruption of function due to both the direct and indirect effects of HIRF.

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High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)

With the trend toward increased power levels from ground-based transmitters, plus the advent of space and satellite communications coupled with electronic command and control of the airplane, the immunity of critical avionics/electronics and electrical systems to HIRF must be established.

It is not possible to precisely define the HIRF to which the airplane will be exposed in service. There is also uncertainty concerning the effectiveness of airframe shielding for HIRF. Furthermore, coupling of electromagnetic energy to cockpit-installed equipment through the cockpit window apertures is undefined. Based on surveys and analysis of existing HIRF emitters, an adequate level of protection exists when compliance with the HIRF protection special condition is shown with either paragraph 1 or 2 below:

1. A minimum threat of 100 volts rms per meter electric field strength from 10 KHz to 18 GHz.

   1. The threat must be applied to the system elements and their associated wiring harnesses without the benefit of airframe shielding.

   2. Demonstration of this level of protection is established through system tests and analysis.

2. A threat external to the airframe of the following field strengths for the frequency ranges indicated. Both peak and average field strength components from the Table are to be demonstrated.

   Field strength (volts per meter) Frequency

   ------------------------- Peak Average

   10 kHz-100 kHz................................

   50

   50 100 kHz-500 kHz...............................

   50

   50 500 kHz-2 MHz.................................

   50

   50 2 MHz-30 MHz..................................

   100

   100 30 MHz-70 MHz.................................

   50

   50 70 MHz-100 MHz................................

   50

   50 100 MHz-200 MHz...............................

   100

   100 200 MHz-400 MHz...............................

   100

   100 400 MHz-700 MHz...............................

   700

   50 700 MHz-1 GHz.................................

   700

   100 1 GHz-2 GHz...................................

   2000

   200 2 GHz-4 GHz...................................

   3000

   200 4 GHz-6 GHz...................................

   3000

   200 6 GHz-8 GHz...................................

   1000

   200 8 GHz-12 GHz..................................

   3000

   300 12 GHz-18 GHz.................................

   2000

   200 18 GHz-40 GHz.................................

   600

   200 The field strengths are expressed in terms of peak of the root-mean- square (rms) over the complete modulation period.

   The threat levels identified above are the result of an FAA review of existing studies on the subject of HIRF, in light of the ongoing work of the Electromagnetic Effects Harmonization Working Group of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.

   Applicability

   As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes modified to Electronic Cable Specialists design. Should Electronic Cable Specialists apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on the same type certificate to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well under the provisions of Sec. 21.101(a)(1).

   Conclusion

   This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on the Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes modified to Electronic Cable Specialists design. It is not a rule of general applicability and affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of these features on the airplane.

   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. For this reason, and because a delay would significantly affect the certification of the airplane, which is imminent, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting these special conditions upon issuance. 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 supplemental type certification basis for Airbus Industrie A300 airplanes modified to Electronic Cable Specialists design.

1. Protection from Unwanted Effects of High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF). Each electrical and electronic system that performs critical functions must be designed and installed to ensure that the operation and operational capability of these systems to perform critical functions are not adversely affected when the airplane is exposed to high-intensity radiated fields.

2. For the purpose of these special conditions, the following definition applies: Critical Functions: Functions whose failure would contribute to or cause a failure condition that would prevent the continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

   Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 16, 2001. Donald L. Riggin, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

   [FR Doc. 01-4676Filed2-23-01; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-M