80 FR 47400 - Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Models BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 Series Airplanes; Electronic Flight Control System: Control Surface Awareness and Mode Annunciation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 152 (August 7, 2015)

These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Inc. Models BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 series airplanes. These airplanes will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features are a fly-by-wire electronic flight control system (EFCS) and no direct coupling from the flight deck controller to the control surface. As a result, the pilot is not aware of the actual control surface position. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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 152 (Friday, August 7, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47400-47402]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19458]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2566; Special Conditions No. 25-587-SC]


Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Models BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 Series Airplanes; Electronic Flight Control System: Control 
Surface Awareness and Mode Annunciation

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 Bombardier Inc. 
Models BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 series airplanes. These airplanes 
will have

[[Page 47401]]

novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of 
technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport 
category airplanes. These design features are a fly-by-wire electronic 
flight control system (EFCS) and no direct coupling from the flight 
deck controller to the control surface. As a result, the pilot is not 
aware of the actual control surface position. The applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for these design features. 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 Bombardier Inc. on August 7, 2015. 
We must receive your comments by September 21, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2015-2566 
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 Web site, 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), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov/ gov/.
    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 the 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: Joe Jacobsen, FAA, Airplane and 
Flightcrew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2011; facsimile 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions 
has been subject to the public comment process in several prior 
instances with no substantive comments received. The FAA therefore 
finds that good cause exists for making these special conditions 
effective 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 on or before the closing 
date for comments. We may change these special conditions based on the 
comments we receive.

Background

    Bombardier Inc. located in Montreal, Canada, applied to Transport 
Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) on January 7, 2012, and May 30, 2012, for 
two amended type certificates in the transport airplane category for 
two new airplane models designated as the BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13. 
These airplanes are 19-passenger, twin-engine, ultra long-range large 
airplanes targeting the executive interior business jet market. They 
share an identical supplier base and significant common design elements 
including a fly-by-wire electronic flight control system (EFCS).

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.17, Bombardier Inc. must show that the BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-
2A13 airplanes meet the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25 as 
amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-138 except for Amendment 25-137.
    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 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 or similar 
novel or unusual design features, 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 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, 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 BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design features: A fly-by-wire EFCS and no 
direct coupling from the flight deck controller to the control surface. 
As a result, the pilot is not aware of the actual control surface 
position as envisioned under current airworthiness standards.

Discussion

    These special conditions require that the flightcrew receive a 
suitable flight control position annunciation when a flight condition 
exists in which nearly full surface authority (not crew-commanded) is 
being used. Suitability of such a display must take into account that 
some pilot-demanded maneuvers (e.g., rapid roll) are necessarily 
associated with intended full performance, which may saturate the 
surface. Therefore, simple alerting systems function in both intended 
and unexpected control-limiting situations. As a result, they must be 
properly balanced between providing necessary crew awareness and being 
a potential nuisance to the flightcrew. A monitoring system that 
compares airplane motion and surface deflection with the demand of the 
pilot side-stick controller could help reduce nuisance alerting.
    These special conditions also address flight control system mode 
annunciation. Suitable mode annunciation must be provided to the 
flightcrew for events that significantly change the operating mode of 
the

[[Page 47402]]

system but do not merit the classic ``failure warning.''
    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 
Bombardier Models BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 series airplanes. Should 
Bombardier Inc. apply at a later date for a change to the type 
certificate to include another model incorporating the same novel or 
unusual design features, these special conditions would apply to that 
model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on two model series of airplanes. It is not a rule of general 
applicability.
    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. Therefore, the FAA has determined 
that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary, and good cause 
exists for adopting these special conditions upon publication in the 
Federal Register. 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.


0
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 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 the Bombardier Inc. Models BD-700-2A12 
and BD-700-2A13 series airplanes.
    1. In addition to the requirements of Sec. Sec.  25.143, 25.671, 
and 25.672, the following requirements apply:
    a. The system design must ensure that the flightcrew is made 
suitably aware whenever the primary control means nears the limit of 
control authority.
    Note: The term ``suitably aware'' indicates annunciations provided 
to the flightcrew are appropriately balanced between nuisance and that 
necessary for crew awareness.
    b. If the design of the flight control system has multiple modes of 
operation, a means must be provided to indicate to the flightcrew any 
mode that significantly changes or degrades the normal handling or 
operational characteristics of the airplane.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 17, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19458 Filed 8-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P