Special Conditions:

Federal Register Volume 76, Number 199 (Friday, October 14, 2011)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 63823-63824

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]

FR Doc No: 2011-26556

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 25

Docket No. NM457; Notice No. 25-449-SC

Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G280

Airplane Pilot-Compartment View--Hydrophobic Coatings in Lieu of

Windshield Wipers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream

Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G280 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the pilot-compartment view through a hydrophobic windshield coating, in lieu of windshield wipers. 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 Date: November 14, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loran Haworth, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1133; facsimile

(425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On March 30, 2006, GALP applied for a type certificate for their new Model G280 airplane. The G280 is an 8-10 passenger (19 maximum), twin-engine airplane with a 41,000-foot cruise altitude, a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet, and a range of approximately 3,400 nautical miles.

Type Certification Basis

Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14

CFR) 21.17, GALP must show that the Model G280 airplane meets the applicable provisions of part 25 as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-117.

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 G280 airplane because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.

Page 63824

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, the special conditions would also apply to the other model.

In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the Model G280 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 Model G280 will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features:

The GALP Model G280 airplane flight-deck design incorporates a hydrophobic coating to provide adequate pilot-compartment view in the presence of precipitation. Sole reliance on such a coating, without windshield wipers, constitutes a novel or unusual design feature for which the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards. Therefore, special conditions are required that provide the level of safety equivalent to that established by the regulations.

Discussion

Section 25.773(b)(1) of 14 CFR requires a means to maintain a clear portion of the windshield for both pilots to have a sufficiently extensive view along the flight path during precipitation conditions.

The regulations require this means to maintain such an area during precipitation in heavy rain at speeds up to 1.5 VSR1.

Hydrophobic windshield coatings may depend to some degree on airflow to maintain a clear-vision area. The heavy rain and high speed conditions specified in the current rule do not necessarily represent the limiting condition for this new technology. For example, airflow over the windshield, which may be necessary to remove moisture from the windshield, may not be adequate to maintain a sufficiently clear area of the windshield in low-speed flight or during surface operations.

Alternatively, airflow over the windshield may be disturbed during such critical times as the approach to land, where the airplane is at a higher-than-normal pitch attitude. In these cases, areas of airflow disturbance or separation on the windshield could cause failure to maintain a clear-vision area on the windshield.

Discussion of Comments

Notice of Proposed Special Conditions no. 25-11-14-SC for the GALP

Model G280 airplane was published in the Federal Register on May 25, 2011 (76 FR 30294). No comments were received, and the special conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the

GALP Model G280 airplane. Should GALP apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on the GALP Model G280 airplane. 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 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 the GALP Model G280 airplane.

The airplane must have a means to maintain a clear portion of the windshield, during precipitation conditions, enough for both pilots to have a sufficiently extensive view along the ground or flight path in normal taxi and flight attitudes of the airplane. This means must be designed to function, without continuous attention on the part of the crew, in conditions from light misting precipitation to heavy rain, at speeds from fully stopped in still air to 1.5 VSR1with lift and drag devices retracted.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

FR Doc. 2011-26556 Filed 10-13-11; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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