80 FR 36469 - Special Conditions: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Boeing Model 747-8 Series Airplanes; Therapeutic Oxygen for Medical Use

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 122 (June 25, 2015)

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 747-8 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (L-3 Communications), 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 therapeutic oxygen for medical use installed in an executive-interior airplane. 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.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36469-36470]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15546]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0758; Special Conditions No. 25-586-SC]


Special Conditions: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Boeing 
Model 747-8 Series Airplanes; Therapeutic Oxygen for Medical Use

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 747-8 
series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by L-3 Communications 
Integrated Systems (L-3 Communications), 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 therapeutic oxygen for medical use installed in an 
executive-interior airplane. 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 June 25, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Hettman, FAA, Propulsion and 
Mechanical Systems, ANM-112, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98057-
3356; telephone 425-227-2683; facsimile 425-227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On May 10, 2011, L-3 Communications applied for a supplemental type 
certificate (STC) for therapeutic oxygen for medical use in the Boeing 
Model 747-8 series airplanes equipped with executive interiors. The 
Boeing Model 747-8 series airplane, which is a derivative of the Boeing 
Model 747-400 airplane currently approved under Type Certificate No. 
A20WE, is a four-engine jet transport airplane that will have a maximum 
takeoff weight of 970,000 lbs. The Model 747-8 airplane will have 153 
seats approved for taxi, takeoff, and landing (19 crewmembers and 134 
passengers).
    Section 25.1445 includes standards for oxygen distribution systems 
when oxygen is supplied to flightcrew and passengers. If a common 
source of supply is used, Sec.  25.1445(a)(2) requires a means to 
separately reserve the minimum supply required by the flightcrew. This 
requirement was included in Sec.  25.1445 when the regulations were 
codified, and was originally added to Civil Air Regulations 4b.831 at 
Amendment 4b-13, effective September 21, 1949.
    It is apparent that the regulation is intended to protect the 
flightcrew by ensuring that an adequate supply of oxygen is available 
to complete a descent and landing following a loss of cabin pressure. 
When the regulation was written, the only passenger oxygen system 
designs were supplemental oxygen systems intended to protect passengers 
from hypoxia in the event of a decompression. Existing passenger oxygen 
systems did not include design features that would allow the flightcrew 
to control oxygen to passengers during flight. There are no similar 
requirements when oxygen is supplied from the same source to passengers 
for use during a decompression and for discretionary/first-aid use any 
time during the flight. In the proposed design, the passenger and 
therapeutic oxygen systems use the same source of oxygen. The 
flightcrew oxygen emergency system uses a dedicated source of oxygen 
independent from the passenger oxygen system. An oxygen duration chart 
and operation procedures will be incorporated into the ``Flight Crew 
Operating Manual'' and ``Flight Manual Supplement,'' as part of the 
STC, to provide information to the flightcrew to determine when to 
cease operation of the therapeutic system as a means by which to 
reserve the minimum supply of supplemental passenger oxygen.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Sec.  21.101, L-3 Communications must show 
that the Boeing Model 747-8 series airplanes, as changed, continue to 
meet the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in Type 
Certificate No. A20WE, 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., Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 
25) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the 
Boeing Model 747-8 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 applicant apply for a supplemental type 
certificate to modify any other model included on the same type 
certificate to incorporate the same or similar 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 Boeing Model 747-8 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 L-3 Communications modifications to the Boeing Model 747-8 
series airplanes will incorporate the following novel or unusual design 
feature:
    L-3 Communications is seeking certification of an interior 
modification to Boeing Model 747-8 series airplanes to include 
executive and medical patient transport. As a part of the executive 
interior installation, the airplane will be outfitted with a 
therapeutic oxygen system. The therapeutic oxygen system shares the 
same supply of oxygen with the existing passenger oxygen system and 
consists of multiple constant flow oxygen outlets located throughout 
the cabin. The

[[Page 36470]]

flightcrew can turn the therapeutic oxygen system on and off from the 
flight deck to allow use at any point during the flight, and to 
preserve a sufficient remaining oxygen reserve, in the event 
therapeutic oxygen is used for medical purposes, to accommodate the 
passengers in the event of an emergency oxygen situation.
    The gaseous passenger oxygen system will be modified to accommodate 
additional supply cylinders and several therapeutic oxygen outlets 
located throughout the cabin. Each therapeutic outlet will provide a 
constant flow of oxygen at either 2 or 4 liters per minute. The 
flightcrew will be able to control the flow of therapeutic oxygen at 
any time during flight. Therapeutic oxygen systems previously have been 
certified, and were generally considered an extension of the passenger 
oxygen system for the purpose of defining the applicable regulations. 
As a result, the applicable regulations included those that applied to 
oxygen systems in general, or supplemental oxygen systems.

Discussion

    No specific regulations address the design and installation of 
oxygen systems used specifically for therapeutic applications. Existing 
requirements, such as Sec. Sec.  25.1309, 25.1441(b) and (c), 25.1451, 
and 24.1453, in the Boeing Model 747-8 series airplanes certification 
basis applicable to this STC project, provide some design standards 
appropriate for oxygen system installations. However, additional design 
standards for systems supplementing the existing oxygen system are 
needed to complement the existing applicable requirements. The addition 
of equipment involved in this installation, and the unsafe conditions 
that can exist when the oxygen content of an enclosed area becomes too 
high because of system leaks, malfunction, or damage from external 
sources, make it necessary to ensure that adequate safety standards are 
applied to the design and installation of the oxygen system in Boeing 
Model 747-8 series airplanes. These potential hazards also necessitate 
development and application of appropriate additional design and 
installation standards.
    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. 25-15-05-SC for the L-3 
Communications modifications to the Boeing Model 747-8 series airplanes 
was published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2015 (80 FR 24225). 
No comments were received, and the special conditions are adopted as 
proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to 
Boeing Model 747-8 series airplanes. Should L-3 Communications apply at 
a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other 
model included on Type Certificate No. A20WE to incorporate the same 
novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply 
to that model as well.
    Under standard practice, the effective date of final special 
conditions would be 30 days after the date of publication in the 
Federal Register; however, as the certification date for the L-3 
Communications modifications to Boeing Model 747-8 series airplanes is 
imminent, the FAA finds that good cause exists to make these special 
conditions effective upon publication.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one model series of airplanes. 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.

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 Boeing Model 747-8 series airplanes as 
modified by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems.
    The distribution system for the therapeutic-oxygen system must be 
designed and installed as follows:
    When oxygen is supplied to passengers for both supplemental and 
therapeutic purposes, the distribution system must be designed for 
either--
    1. A source of supplemental supply for protection from hypoxia 
following a loss of cabin pressure, and a separate source for 
therapeutic purposes, or
    2. A common source of supply, with means to separately reserve the 
minimum supply required by the passengers for supplemental use 
following a loss of cabin pressure.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 17, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-15546 Filed 6-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P