81_FR_51233 81 FR 51084 - Special Conditions: The Boeing Company Model 777-300ER Airplanes; Dynamic Test Requirements for Single-Occupant Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats with Inflatable Restraints

81 FR 51084 - Special Conditions: The Boeing Company Model 777-300ER Airplanes; Dynamic Test Requirements for Single-Occupant Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats with Inflatable Restraints

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 149 (August 3, 2016)

Page Range51084-51086
FR Document2016-18323

These special conditions are issued to The Boeing Company (Boeing) for their Model 777-300ER airplane. This airplane has novel or unusual design features associated with single-occupant oblique (side- facing) seats equipped with inflatable restraints. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for occupants of seats installed at an angle of greater than 18 degrees, but substantially less than 90 degrees, to the vertical plane containing the centerline of the airplane, nor for inflatable restraints or related airbag devices. 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 81 Issue 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51084-51086]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18323]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2016-4136; Special Conditions No. 25-621-SC]


Special Conditions: The Boeing Company Model 777-300ER Airplanes; 
Dynamic Test Requirements for Single-Occupant Oblique (Side-Facing) 
Seats with Inflatable Restraints

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued to The Boeing Company 
(Boeing) for their Model 777-300ER airplane. This airplane has novel or 
unusual design features associated with single-occupant oblique (side-
facing) seats equipped with inflatable restraints. The applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for occupants of seats installed at an angle of greater than 
18 degrees, but substantially less than 90 degrees, to the vertical 
plane containing the centerline of the airplane, nor for inflatable 
restraints or related airbag devices. 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 Boeing on August 3, 2016. We must 
receive your comments by September 19, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2016-4136 
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/.
    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: John Shelden, Airframe and Cabin 
Safety, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
425-227-2785; facsimile 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and 
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions are 
impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay 
issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected 
airplane. In addition, 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 by the closing date for 
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments 
we receive.

Background

    On December 24, 2015, Boeing Commercial Airplanes applied for a 
design change to type certificate no. T00001SE for single-occupant 
seats installed at an oblique angle to the vertical plane containing 
the centerline of the airplane, and equipped with inflatable lapbelts, 
in the Boeing Model 777-300ER airplane. The Model 777-300ER airplane is 
a wide body, swept wing, conventional tail, twin-engine, turbofan-
powered, transport-category airplane.

Type Certification Basis

    The type certification basis for the Model 777-300ER airplane is 14 
CFR part 25, effective February 1, 1965, as amended by Amendments 25-1 
through 25-98, including special conditions 25-295-SC, 25-187A-SC, and 
25-569-SC. In addition, the certification basis includes certain 
special conditions, exemptions, or later amended sections of the 
applicable part that are not relevant to these proposed special 
conditions.
    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 Boeing Model 777-300ER airplane 
because of a novel or unusual

[[Page 51085]]

design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions 
of Sec.  21.16.
    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Boeing must show that the Model 777-300ER airplane, as 
changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations 
listed in type certificate no. T00001SE or the applicable regulations 
in effect on the date of application for the change, except for earlier 
amendments as agreed upon by the FAA. These regulations will be 
incorporated into type certificate no. T00001SE after type 
certification approval of the 777-300ER.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Boeing Model 777-300ER 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.
    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 Boeing Model 777-300ER airplane will incorporate the following 
novel or unusual design features:
    The seating configuration proposed by Boeing in certification plan 
no. 17174, revision A, ``Installation of B/E Aerospace Super-Diamond 
Model Business Class Seats on WE736,'' consists of Super Diamond model 
oblique (side-facing), business-class passenger seats installed in a 
Boeing Model 777-300ER airplane. These seats will also incorporate 
inflatable restraints.
    The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for occupants of seats installed in the 
proposed configuration. To provide a level of safety equivalent to that 
afforded to occupants of forward- and aft-facing seats, additional 
airworthiness standards, in the form of special conditions, are 
necessary. Although special conditions no. 25-187A-SC, 25-295-SC, and 
25-569-SC already apply to the 777-300ER, they do not directly address 
the complex occupant-loading conditions introduced by this oblique 
(side-facing) seat configuration, nor do they reflect the latest 
findings of on-going research.

Discussion

    Amendment 25-15 to part 25, dated October 24, 1967, introduced the 
subject of side-facing seats, and a requirement that each occupant in a 
side-facing seat must be protected from head injury by a safety belt 
and a cushioned rest that will support the arms, shoulders, head, and 
spine.
    Subsequently, Amendment 25-20, dated April 23, 1969, clarified the 
definition of side-facing seats to require that each occupant of a seat 
that is positioned at more than an 18-degree angle to the vertical 
plane containing the airplane centerline must be protected from head 
injury by a safety belt and an energy-absorbing rest that supports the 
arms, shoulders, head, and spine; or by a safety belt and shoulder 
harness that prevents the head from contacting injurious objects. The 
FAA concluded that a maximum 18-degree angle would provide an adequate 
level of safety based on tests that were performed at the time, and 
thus adopted that standard.
    Amendment 25-64, dated June 16, 1988, revised the emergency-landing 
conditions that must be considered in the design of the airplane. It 
revised the static-load conditions in Sec.  25.561 and added a new 
Sec.  25.562, requiring dynamic testing for all seats approved for 
occupancy during takeoff and landing. The intent was to provide an 
improved level of safety for occupants on transport-category airplanes. 
Because most seating on transport-category airplanes is forward-facing, 
the pass/fail criteria developed in Amendment 25-64 focused primarily 
on forward-facing seats. Therefore, the testing specified in the rule 
did not provide a complete measure of occupant injury in seats that are 
not forward-facing. However, Sec.  25.785 does require that occupants 
of all seats occupied during taxi, takeoff, and landing not suffer 
serious injury as a result of the inertia forces specified in 
Sec. Sec.  25.561 and 25.562.
    To address recent research findings and accommodate commercial 
demand, the FAA developed a methodology to address all fully side-
facing seats (i.e., seats oriented in the airplane with the occupant 
facing 90 degrees to the direction of airplane travel) and has 
documented those requirements in a set of proposed new special 
conditions. The FAA issued policy statement PS-ANM-25-03-R1 on November 
12, 2012, titled, ``Technical Criteria for Approving Side-Facing 
Seats,'' which conveys the injury criteria to be used in the special 
conditions. Some of those criteria are applicable to oblique seats, but 
others are not because the motion of an occupant in an oblique seat is 
different from the motion of an occupant in a fully side-facing seat 
during emergency-landing conditions.
    For shallower installation angles, the FAA has granted equivalent 
level of safety (ELOS) findings for oblique seat installations on the 
premise that an occupant's kinematics in an oblique seat during a 
forward impact would result in the body aligning with the impact 
direction. We predicted that the occupant response would be similar to 
an occupant of a forward-facing seat, and would produce a level of 
safety equivalent to that of a forward-facing seat. These ELOS findings 
were subject to many conditions that reflected the injury-evaluation 
criteria and mitigation strategies available at the time of issuance of 
the ELOS. However, review of dynamic test results for many of these 
oblique seat installations raised concerns that the premise was not 
correct. Potential injury mechanisms exist that are unique to oblique 
seats and are not mitigated by the ELOS self-alignment approach even if 
the occupant appears to respond similarly to a forward-facing seat.
    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 
Boeing Model 777-300ER airplane. These special conditions can be 
applied to oblique seats installed in accordance with Boeing 
certification plan no. 17174, revision A, ``Installation of B/E 
Aerospace Super-Diamond Business Class Seats on WE736.''
    The FAA will amend these special conditions, or issue new special 
conditions, should unusual occupant response in the required dynamic 
tests, or additional research into occupant-injury mechanisms, indicate 
that these special conditions are inadequate. Any future special 
conditions would include due public notice for comment.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability.
    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 Boeing 
Model 777-300ER airplane, as modified by Boeing, is imminent, the FAA 
finds that good cause exists to make these special conditions effective 
upon publication in the Federal Register.

[[Page 51086]]

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 777-300ER airplanes 
modified by Boeing.

Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats Special Conditions

    In addition to the requirements of Sec.  25.562:
1. Head Injury Criteria (HIC)
    Compliance with Sec.  25.562(c)(5) is required, except that, if the 
anthropomorphic test device (ATD) has no apparent contact with the seat 
and related structure but has contact with an airbag, a HIC unlimited 
score in excess of 1000 is acceptable, provided the HIC15 score 
(calculated in accordance with 49 CFR 571.208) for that contact is less 
than 700.
2. Body-to-Wall/Furnishing Contact
    If a seat is installed aft of structure (e.g. interior wall or 
furnishings) that does not provide a homogenous contact surface for the 
expected range of occupants and yaw angles, then additional analysis 
and tests may be required to demonstrate that the injury criteria are 
met for the area which an occupant could contact. For example, if 
different yaw angles could result in different airbag device 
performance, then additional analysis or separate tests may be 
necessary to evaluate performance.
3. Neck Injury Criteria
    a. The seating system must protect the occupant from experiencing 
serious neck injury. The assessment of neck injury must be conducted 
with the airbag device activated, unless there is reason to also 
consider that the neck-injury potential would be higher for impacts 
below the airbag-device deployment threshold.
    b. The Nij, calculated in accordance with 49 CFR 
571.208, must be below 1.0, where Nij =Fz/
Fzc + My/Myc, and Nij 
critical values are:

i. Fzc = 1530 lb for tension
ii. Fzc = 1385 lb for compression
iii. Myc = 229 lb-ft in flexion
iv. Myc = 100 lb-ft in extension

    c. In addition, peak upper-neck Fz must be below 937 lb 
in tension and 899 lb in compression.
    d. Rotation of the head about its vertical axis relative to the 
torso is limited to 105 degrees in either direction from forward-
facing.
    e. The neck must not impact any surface that would produce 
concentrated loading on the neck.
4. Spine and Torso Injury Criteria
    a. The lumbar spine tension (Fz) cannot exceed 1200 lb.
    b. Significant concentrated loading on the occupant's spine, in the 
area between the pelvis and shoulders during impact, including rebound, 
is not acceptable. During this type of contact, the interval for any 
rearward (X-axis direction) acceleration exceeding 20g must be less 
than 3 milliseconds as measured by the thoracic instrumentation 
specified in 49 CFR part 572, subpart E, filtered in accordance with 
SAE International (SAE) Recommended Practice J211/1, ``Instrumentation 
for Impact Test-Part 1-Electronic Instrumentation.''
    c. The occupant must not interact with the armrest or other seat 
components in any manner significantly different than would be expected 
for a forward-facing seat installation.
5. Pelvis Criteria
    Any part of the load-bearing portion of the bottom of the ATD 
pelvis must not translate beyond the edges of the seat bottom seat-
cushion supporting structure.
6. Femur Criteria
    Axial rotation of the upper leg (about the Z-axis of the femur, per 
SAE Recommended Practice J211/1) must be limited to 35 degrees in the 
strike direction from the nominal seating position. Evaluation during 
rebound need not be considered.
7. ATD and Test Conditions
    Longitudinal tests conducted to measure the injury criteria above 
must be performed with the FAA Hybrid III ATD, as described in SAE 
1999-01-1609, ``A Lumbar Spine Modification to the Hybrid III ATD For 
Aircraft Seat Tests.'' The tests must be conducted with an undeformed 
floor, at the most-critical yaw cases for injury, and with all lateral 
structural supports (e.g. armrests or walls) installed.

Inflatable Lapbelt Special Conditions

    The inflatable lapbelts must meet special conditions no. 25-187A-
SC, ``Boeing Model 777 Series Airplanes; Seats with Inflatable 
Lapbelts.''

    Note: As indicated in special conditions no. 25-187A-SC, 
inflatable lapbelts must be shown to not affect emergency-egress 
capabilities in the main aisle, cross-aisle, and passageway.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 8, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-18323 Filed 8-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P



                                             51084            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             seated position. Evaluation during                      installed at an angle of greater than 18              Renton, Washington 98057–3356;
                                             rebound does not need to be considered.                 degrees, but substantially less than 90               telephone 425–227–2785; facsimile
                                                                                                     degrees, to the vertical plane containing             425–227–1149.
                                             7. ATD and Test Conditions
                                                                                                     the centerline of the airplane, nor for               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA
                                                Longitudinal tests conducted to                      inflatable restraints or related airbag               has determined that notice of, and
                                             measure the injury criteria above must                  devices. These special conditions                     opportunity for prior public comment
                                             be performed with the FAA Hybrid III                    contain the additional safety standards               on, these special conditions are
                                             ATD, as described in SAE 1999–01–                       that the Administrator considers                      impracticable because these procedures
                                             1609. The tests must be conducted with                  necessary to establish a level of safety              would significantly delay issuance of
                                             an undeformed floor, at the most-critical               equivalent to that established by the                 the design approval and thus delivery of
                                             yaw cases for injury, and with all lateral              existing airworthiness standards.                     the affected airplane. In addition, the
                                             structural supports (e.g., armrests or                  DATES: This action is effective on Boeing             substance of these special conditions
                                             walls) installed.                                       on August 3, 2016. We must receive                    has been subject to the public-comment
                                             Structure-Mounted Airbag and                            your comments by September 19, 2016.                  process in several prior instances with
                                             Inflatable Lapbelt Special Conditions                   ADDRESSES: Send comments identified                   no substantive comments received.
                                                                                                     by docket number FAA–2016–4136                           The FAA therefore finds that good
                                               When present, the structure-mounted                                                                         cause exists for making these special
                                                                                                     using any of the following methods:
                                             airbag device must meet special                           • Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to                conditions effective upon publication in
                                             conditions no. 25–605–SC, ‘‘Boeing                      http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow                the Federal Register.
                                             Model 787–9 Airplane; Structure-                        the online instructions for sending your
                                             Mounted Airbags.’’ When present, the                                                                          Comments Invited
                                                                                                     comments electronically.
                                             inflatable lapbelt(s) must meet special                   • Mail: Send comments to Docket                       We invite interested people to take
                                             conditions no. 25–431–SC, ‘‘Boeing                      Operations, M–30, U.S. Department of                  part in this rulemaking by sending
                                             Model 787 Series Airplanes; Seats with                  Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey                 written comments, data, or views. The
                                             Inflatable Lapbelts.’’                                  Avenue SE., Room W12–140, West                        most helpful comments reference a
                                               Note: As indicated in the special                     Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC                 specific portion of the special
                                             conditions above, airbags and inflatable                20590–0001.                                           conditions, explain the reason for any
                                             lapbelts must be shown to not affect                      • Hand Delivery or Courier: Take                    recommended change, and include
                                             emergency-egress capabilities in the main               comments to Docket Operations in                      supporting data.
                                             aisle, cross-aisle, and passageway.                                                                             We will consider all comments we
                                                                                                     Room W12–140 of the West Building
                                                                                                                                                           receive by the closing date for
                                               Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 27,             Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
                                                                                                                                                           comments. We may change these special
                                             2016.                                                   Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9
                                                                                                                                                           conditions based on the comments we
                                             Victor Wicklund,                                        a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
                                                                                                                                                           receive.
                                             Acting Manager, Transport Airplane                      Friday, except Federal holidays.
                                             Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.              • Fax: Fax comments to Docket                       Background
                                             [FR Doc. 2016–18449 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                     Operations at 202–493–2251.                             On December 24, 2015, Boeing
                                                                                                        Privacy: The FAA will post all                     Commercial Airplanes applied for a
                                             BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
                                                                                                     comments it receives, without change,                 design change to type certificate no.
                                                                                                     to http://www.regulations.gov/,                       T00001SE for single-occupant seats
                                             DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                            including any personal information the                installed at an oblique angle to the
                                                                                                     commenter provides. Using the search                  vertical plane containing the centerline
                                             Federal Aviation Administration                         function of the docket Web site, anyone               of the airplane, and equipped with
                                                                                                     can find and read the electronic form of              inflatable lapbelts, in the Boeing Model
                                             14 CFR Part 25                                          all comments received into any FAA                    777–300ER airplane. The Model 777–
                                                                                                     docket, including the name of the                     300ER airplane is a wide body, swept
                                             [Docket No. FAA–2016–4136; Special                      individual sending the comment (or
                                             Conditions No. 25–621–SC]                                                                                     wing, conventional tail, twin-engine,
                                                                                                     signing the comment for an association,               turbofan-powered, transport-category
                                             Special Conditions: The Boeing                          business, labor union, etc.). DOT’s                   airplane.
                                             Company Model 777–300ER Airplanes;                      complete Privacy Act Statement can be
                                                                                                     found in the Federal Register published               Type Certification Basis
                                             Dynamic Test Requirements for Single-
                                             Occupant Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats                    on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–19478),                   The type certification basis for the
                                             with Inflatable Restraints                              as well as at http://DocketsInfo.                     Model 777–300ER airplane is 14 CFR
                                                                                                     dot.gov/.                                             part 25, effective February 1, 1965, as
                                             AGENCY:  Federal Aviation                                  Docket: Background documents or                    amended by Amendments 25–1 through
                                             Administration (FAA), DOT.                              comments received may be read at                      25–98, including special conditions 25–
                                             ACTION: Final special conditions; request
                                                                                                     http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time.              295–SC, 25–187A–SC, and 25–569–SC.
                                             for comments.                                           Follow the online instructions for                    In addition, the certification basis
                                                                                                     accessing the docket or go to Docket                  includes certain special conditions,
                                             SUMMARY:   These special conditions are                 Operations in Room W12–140 of the                     exemptions, or later amended sections
                                             issued to The Boeing Company (Boeing)                   West Building Ground Floor at 1200                    of the applicable part that are not
                                             for their Model 777–300ER airplane.                     New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,                    relevant to these proposed special
                                             This airplane has novel or unusual                      DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                                                                                                                           conditions.
                                             design features associated with single-                 through Friday, except Federal holidays.                 If the Administrator finds that the
                                             occupant oblique (side-facing) seats                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John                 applicable airworthiness regulations
                                             equipped with inflatable restraints. The                Shelden, Airframe and Cabin Safety,                   (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain
                                             applicable airworthiness regulations do                 ANM–115, Transport Airplane                           adequate or appropriate safety standards
                                             not contain adequate or appropriate                     Directorate, Aircraft Certification                   for the Boeing Model 777–300ER
                                             safety standards for occupants of seats                 Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,                        airplane because of a novel or unusual


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   14:12 Aug 02, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00010   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\03AUR1.SGM   03AUR1


                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                       51085

                                             design feature, special conditions are                  that each occupant in a side-facing seat                 For shallower installation angles, the
                                             prescribed under the provisions of                      must be protected from head injury by                 FAA has granted equivalent level of
                                             § 21.16.                                                a safety belt and a cushioned rest that               safety (ELOS) findings for oblique seat
                                               Under the provisions of title 14, Code                will support the arms, shoulders, head,               installations on the premise that an
                                             of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101,                 and spine.                                            occupant’s kinematics in an oblique seat
                                             Boeing must show that the Model 777–                       Subsequently, Amendment 25–20,                     during a forward impact would result in
                                             300ER airplane, as changed, continues                   dated April 23, 1969, clarified the                   the body aligning with the impact
                                             to meet the applicable provisions of the                definition of side-facing seats to require            direction. We predicted that the
                                             regulations listed in type certificate no.              that each occupant of a seat that is                  occupant response would be similar to
                                             T00001SE or the applicable regulations                  positioned at more than an 18-degree                  an occupant of a forward-facing seat,
                                             in effect on the date of application for                angle to the vertical plane containing                and would produce a level of safety
                                             the change, except for earlier                          the airplane centerline must be                       equivalent to that of a forward-facing
                                             amendments as agreed upon by the                        protected from head injury by a safety                seat. These ELOS findings were subject
                                             FAA. These regulations will be                          belt and an energy-absorbing rest that                to many conditions that reflected the
                                             incorporated into type certificate no.                  supports the arms, shoulders, head, and               injury-evaluation criteria and mitigation
                                             T00001SE after type certification                       spine; or by a safety belt and shoulder               strategies available at the time of
                                             approval of the 777–300ER.                              harness that prevents the head from                   issuance of the ELOS. However, review
                                               In addition to the applicable                         contacting injurious objects. The FAA                 of dynamic test results for many of these
                                             airworthiness regulations and special                   concluded that a maximum 18-degree                    oblique seat installations raised
                                             conditions, the Boeing Model 777–                       angle would provide an adequate level                 concerns that the premise was not
                                             300ER airplane must comply with the                     of safety based on tests that were                    correct. Potential injury mechanisms
                                             fuel-vent and exhaust-emission                          performed at the time, and thus adopted               exist that are unique to oblique seats
                                             requirements of 14 CFR part 34, and the                 that standard.                                        and are not mitigated by the ELOS self-
                                             noise-certification requirements of 14                     Amendment 25–64, dated June 16,                    alignment approach even if the
                                             CFR part 36.                                            1988, revised the emergency-landing                   occupant appears to respond similarly
                                               The FAA issues special conditions, as                 conditions that must be considered in                 to a forward-facing seat.
                                             defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in accordance                  the design of the airplane. It revised the               These special conditions contain the
                                             with § 11.38, and they become part of                   static-load conditions in § 25.561 and                additional safety standards that the
                                             the type certification basis under                      added a new § 25.562, requiring                       Administrator considers necessary to
                                             § 21.101.                                               dynamic testing for all seats approved                establish a level of safety equivalent to
                                             Novel or Unusual Design Features                        for occupancy during takeoff and                      that established by the existing
                                                                                                     landing. The intent was to provide an                 airworthiness standards.
                                                The Boeing Model 777–300ER
                                             airplane will incorporate the following                 improved level of safety for occupants                Applicability
                                             novel or unusual design features:                       on transport-category airplanes. Because
                                                The seating configuration proposed by                most seating on transport-category                      As discussed above, these special
                                             Boeing in certification plan no. 17174,                 airplanes is forward-facing, the pass/fail            conditions are applicable to the Boeing
                                             revision A, ‘‘Installation of B/E                       criteria developed in Amendment 25–64                 Model 777–300ER airplane. These
                                             Aerospace Super-Diamond Model                           focused primarily on forward-facing                   special conditions can be applied to
                                             Business Class Seats on WE736,’’                        seats. Therefore, the testing specified in            oblique seats installed in accordance
                                             consists of Super Diamond model                         the rule did not provide a complete                   with Boeing certification plan no.
                                             oblique (side-facing), business-class                   measure of occupant injury in seats that              17174, revision A, ‘‘Installation of B/E
                                             passenger seats installed in a Boeing                   are not forward-facing. However,                      Aerospace Super-Diamond Business
                                             Model 777–300ER airplane. These seats                   § 25.785 does require that occupants of               Class Seats on WE736.’’
                                             will also incorporate inflatable                        all seats occupied during taxi, takeoff,                The FAA will amend these special
                                             restraints.                                             and landing not suffer serious injury as              conditions, or issue new special
                                                The applicable airworthiness                         a result of the inertia forces specified in           conditions, should unusual occupant
                                             regulations do not contain adequate or                  §§ 25.561 and 25.562.                                 response in the required dynamic tests,
                                             appropriate safety standards for                           To address recent research findings                or additional research into occupant-
                                             occupants of seats installed in the                     and accommodate commercial demand,                    injury mechanisms, indicate that these
                                             proposed configuration. To provide a                    the FAA developed a methodology to                    special conditions are inadequate. Any
                                             level of safety equivalent to that                      address all fully side-facing seats (i.e.,            future special conditions would include
                                             afforded to occupants of forward- and                   seats oriented in the airplane with the               due public notice for comment.
                                             aft-facing seats, additional airworthiness              occupant facing 90 degrees to the                     Conclusion
                                             standards, in the form of special                       direction of airplane travel) and has
                                             conditions, are necessary. Although                     documented those requirements in a set                  This action affects only certain novel
                                             special conditions no. 25–187A–SC, 25–                  of proposed new special conditions. The               or unusual design features on one model
                                             295–SC, and 25–569–SC already apply                     FAA issued policy statement PS–ANM–                   of airplane. It is not a rule of general
                                             to the 777–300ER, they do not directly                  25–03–R1 on November 12, 2012, titled,                applicability.
                                             address the complex occupant-loading                    ‘‘Technical Criteria for Approving Side-                Under standard practice, the effective
                                             conditions introduced by this oblique                   Facing Seats,’’ which conveys the injury              date of final special conditions would
                                             (side-facing) seat configuration, nor do                criteria to be used in the special                    be 30 days after the date of publication
                                                                                                     conditions. Some of those criteria are                in the Federal Register; however, as the
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                                             they reflect the latest findings of on-
                                             going research.                                         applicable to oblique seats, but others               certification date for the Boeing Model
                                                                                                     are not because the motion of an                      777–300ER airplane, as modified by
                                             Discussion                                              occupant in an oblique seat is different              Boeing, is imminent, the FAA finds that
                                               Amendment 25–15 to part 25, dated                     from the motion of an occupant in a                   good cause exists to make these special
                                             October 24, 1967, introduced the subject                fully side-facing seat during emergency-              conditions effective upon publication in
                                             of side-facing seats, and a requirement                 landing conditions.                                   the Federal Register.


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                                             51086            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25                        c. In addition, peak upper-neck Fz                    Note: As indicated in special conditions
                                                                                                     must be below 937 lb in tension and 899               no. 25–187A–SC, inflatable lapbelts must be
                                               Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting                                                                        shown to not affect emergency-egress
                                             and recordkeeping requirements.                         lb in compression.
                                                                                                       d. Rotation of the head about its                   capabilities in the main aisle, cross-aisle, and
                                               The authority citation for these                      vertical axis relative to the torso is
                                                                                                                                                           passageway.
                                             special conditions is as follows:                       limited to 105 degrees in either                        Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 8,
                                               Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701,            direction from forward-facing.                        2016.
                                             44702, 44704.                                             e. The neck must not impact any                     Michael Kaszycki,
                                             The Special Conditions                                  surface that would produce                            Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane
                                                                                                     concentrated loading on the neck.                     Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
                                               Accordingly, pursuant to the
                                             authority delegated to me by the                        4. Spine and Torso Injury Criteria                    [FR Doc. 2016–18323 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am]
                                             Administrator, the following special                       a. The lumbar spine tension (Fz)                   BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

                                             conditions are issued as part of the type               cannot exceed 1200 lb.
                                             certification basis for Boeing Model                       b. Significant concentrated loading on
                                             777–300ER airplanes modified by                                                                               DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                                                                                     the occupant’s spine, in the area
                                             Boeing.                                                 between the pelvis and shoulders                      Federal Aviation Administration
                                             Oblique (Side-Facing) Seats Special                     during impact, including rebound, is
                                             Conditions                                              not acceptable. During this type of                   14 CFR Part 25
                                                                                                     contact, the interval for any rearward
                                               In addition to the requirements of                    (X-axis direction) acceleration                       [Docket No. FAA–2015–7294; Special
                                             § 25.562:                                               exceeding 20g must be less than 3                     Conditions No. 25–628–SC]
                                             1. Head Injury Criteria (HIC)                           milliseconds as measured by the
                                                                                                                                                           Special Conditions: Gulfstream
                                                                                                     thoracic instrumentation specified in 49
                                               Compliance with § 25.562(c)(5) is                                                                           Aerospace Corporation Model GVII–
                                                                                                     CFR part 572, subpart E, filtered in
                                             required, except that, if the                                                                                 G500 Airplanes; Interaction of Systems
                                                                                                     accordance with SAE International
                                             anthropomorphic test device (ATD) has                                                                         and Structures Through a Three-Axis
                                                                                                     (SAE) Recommended Practice J211/1,
                                             no apparent contact with the seat and                                                                         Fly-by-Wire System
                                                                                                     ‘‘Instrumentation for Impact Test–Part
                                             related structure but has contact with an               1–Electronic Instrumentation.’’                       AGENCY:  Federal Aviation
                                             airbag, a HIC unlimited score in excess                    c. The occupant must not interact                  Administration (FAA), DOT.
                                             of 1000 is acceptable, provided the                     with the armrest or other seat
                                             HIC15 score (calculated in accordance                                                                         ACTION: Final special conditions; request
                                                                                                     components in any manner significantly                for comments.
                                             with 49 CFR 571.208) for that contact is                different than would be expected for a
                                             less than 700.                                          forward-facing seat installation.                     SUMMARY:   These special conditions are
                                             2. Body-to-Wall/Furnishing Contact                      5. Pelvis Criteria                                    issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace
                                                If a seat is installed aft of structure                                                                    Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII–
                                                                                                        Any part of the load-bearing portion               G500 airplane. This airplane will have
                                             (e.g. interior wall or furnishings) that                of the bottom of the ATD pelvis must
                                             does not provide a homogenous contact                                                                         a novel or unusual design feature when
                                                                                                     not translate beyond the edges of the                 compared to the state of technology
                                             surface for the expected range of                       seat bottom seat-cushion supporting
                                             occupants and yaw angles, then                                                                                envisioned in the airworthiness
                                                                                                     structure.                                            standards for transport-category
                                             additional analysis and tests may be
                                             required to demonstrate that the injury                 6. Femur Criteria                                     airplanes. This design feature is a fly-by-
                                             criteria are met for the area which an                                                                        wire flight-control system that governs
                                                                                                       Axial rotation of the upper leg (about              the pitch, yaw, and roll axes of the
                                             occupant could contact. For example, if                 the Z-axis of the femur, per SAE
                                             different yaw angles could result in                                                                          airplane. The applicable airworthiness
                                                                                                     Recommended Practice J211/1) must be                  regulations do not contain adequate or
                                             different airbag device performance,                    limited to 35 degrees in the strike
                                             then additional analysis or separate tests                                                                    appropriate safety standards for this
                                                                                                     direction from the nominal seating                    design feature. These special conditions
                                             may be necessary to evaluate                            position. Evaluation during rebound
                                             performance.                                                                                                  contain the additional safety standards
                                                                                                     need not be considered.                               that the Administrator considers
                                             3. Neck Injury Criteria                                 7. ATD and Test Conditions                            necessary to establish a level of safety
                                                a. The seating system must protect the                                                                     equivalent to that established by the
                                                                                                        Longitudinal tests conducted to
                                             occupant from experiencing serious                                                                            existing airworthiness standards.
                                                                                                     measure the injury criteria above must
                                             neck injury. The assessment of neck                     be performed with the FAA Hybrid III                  DATES: This action is effective on
                                             injury must be conducted with the                       ATD, as described in SAE 1999–01–                     Gulfstream on August 3, 2016. We must
                                             airbag device activated, unless there is                1609, ‘‘A Lumbar Spine Modification to                receive your comments by September
                                             reason to also consider that the neck-                  the Hybrid III ATD For Aircraft Seat                  19, 2016.
                                             injury potential would be higher for                    Tests.’’ The tests must be conducted                  ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
                                             impacts below the airbag-device                         with an undeformed floor, at the most-                by docket number FAA–2015–7294
                                             deployment threshold.                                   critical yaw cases for injury, and with               using any of the following methods:
                                                b. The Nij, calculated in accordance                 all lateral structural supports (e.g.                    • Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to
                                             with 49 CFR 571.208, must be below                                                                            http://www.regulations.gov/and follow
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                                                                                                     armrests or walls) installed.
                                             1.0, where Nij =Fz/Fzc + My/Myc, and Nij                                                                      the online instructions for sending your
                                             critical values are:                                    Inflatable Lapbelt Special Conditions                 comments electronically.
                                             i. Fzc = 1530 lb for tension                               The inflatable lapbelts must meet                     • Mail: Send comments to Docket
                                             ii. Fzc = 1385 lb for compression                       special conditions no. 25–187A–SC,                    Operations, M–30, U.S. Department of
                                             iii. Myc = 229 lb-ft in flexion                         ‘‘Boeing Model 777 Series Airplanes;                  Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey
                                             iv. Myc = 100 lb-ft in extension                        Seats with Inflatable Lapbelts.’’                     Avenue SE., Room W12–140, West


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Document Created: 2016-08-02 23:44:19
Document Modified: 2016-08-02 23:44:19
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal special conditions; request for comments.
DatesThis action is effective on Boeing on August 3, 2016. We must receive your comments by September 19, 2016.
ContactJohn Shelden, Airframe and Cabin Safety, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2785; facsimile 425-227-1149.
FR Citation81 FR 51084 
CFR AssociatedAircraft; Aviation Safety and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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