81 FR 56475 - Special Conditions: Garmin International, Beechcraft Corporation Model 400A Airplanes; Airplane Electronic-System Security Protection From Unauthorized External Access

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 162 (August 22, 2016)

These special conditions are issued for the Beechcraft Corporation (Beechcraft) Model 400A airplane. This airplane, as modified by Garmin International (Garmin), will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. These airplanes will have a digital-systems network architecture composed of several connected networks that may allow access to or by external computer systems and networks, and may otherwise result in airplane electronic-system security vulnerabilities without appropriate protection. 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 81, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56475-56477]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20000]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2016-8029; Special Conditions No. 25-634-SC]


Special Conditions: Garmin International, Beechcraft Corporation 
Model 400A Airplanes; Airplane Electronic-System Security Protection 
From Unauthorized External Access

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 Beechcraft 
Corporation (Beechcraft) Model 400A airplane. This airplane, as 
modified by Garmin International (Garmin), will have a novel or unusual 
design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in 
the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. These 
airplanes will have a digital-systems network architecture composed of 
several connected networks that may allow access to or by external 
computer systems and networks, and may otherwise result in airplane 
electronic-system security vulnerabilities without appropriate 
protection. 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: This action is effective on Garmin on August 22, 2016. We must 
receive your comments by October 6, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2016-8029 
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.

[[Page 56476]]

     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: Varun Khanna, FAA, Airplane and Flight 
Crew Interface, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone 425-227-1298; facsimile 425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and 
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is 
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 February 13, 2014, Garmin applied for a supplemental type 
certificate to allow installation of digital-systems network 
architecture, composed of several connected networks that may allow 
access to or by external computer systems and networks, in Beechcraft 
Model 400A airplanes. The Model 400A airplane is a small, twin-engine, 
transport-category airplane with a maximum takeoff weight of 16,300 lbs 
and capable of carrying 7 to 9 passengers, plus 2 crew members.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Garmin must show that the Beechcraft Model 400A airplane, 
as changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions of the 
regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A16SW, 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., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Beechcraft Model 400A airplane 
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 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 Beechcraft Model 400A 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 Beechcraft Model 400A airplanes will incorporate the following 
novel or unusual design features:
    The Garmin G5000, installed in the Beechcraft Model 400A airplane, 
may add wired and wireless access points to the networks of the 
Aircraft Control Domain and Airline Information Services Domain. This 
creates a potential for unauthorized persons to access the Aircraft 
Control Domain and Airline Information Services Domain, and presents 
security vulnerabilities related to the introduction of computer 
viruses and worms, user error, and intentional sabotage of airplane 
electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases) if not 
appropriately protected.

Discussion

    The Garmin G5000 allows connection to airplane electronic systems 
and networks, and access from airplane external sources (e.g., operator 
networks, wireless devices, Internet connectivity, service-provider 
satellite communications, electronic flight bags, etc.) to the 
previously isolated airplane electronic assets. Airplane electronic 
assets include electronic equipment and systems, instruments, networks, 
servers, software and electronic components, field-loadable software 
and hardware applications, and databases. This proposed design may 
otherwise result in network security vulnerabilities from intentional 
or unintentional corruption of data and systems required for the 
safety, operation, and maintenance of the airplane if not appropriately 
protected. The existing regulations and guidance material did not 
anticipate this type of system architecture, or external wired and 
wireless electronic access to airplane electronic systems. Furthermore, 
regulations, and current system safety-assessment policy and 
techniques, do not address potential security vulnerabilities that 
could be caused by unauthorized access to airplane electronic systems 
and networks.
    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 
Beechcraft Model 400A airplane. Should Garmin apply at a later date for 
a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on 
Type Certificate No. A16SW to incorporate the same novel or unusual 
design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as 
well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability and 
affects only the

[[Page 56477]]

applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of these features on the 
airplane.
    The substance of these special conditions has been subjected to the 
notice and comment period in several prior instances and has been 
derived without substantive change from those previously issued. It is 
unlikely that prior public comment would result in a significant change 
from the substance contained herein. Therefore, because a delay would 
significantly affect the certification of the airplane, which is 
imminent, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment 
are unnecessary and impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting 
these special conditions upon 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.

    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 Beechcraft Model 400A airplanes 
modified by Garmin.
    1. The applicant must ensure that the airplane electronic systems 
are protected from access by unauthorized sources external to the 
airplane, including those possibly caused by maintenance activity.
    2. The applicant must ensure that electronic system-security 
threats are identified and assessed, and that effective electronic 
system-security protection strategies are implemented to protect the 
airplane from all adverse impacts on safety, functionality, and 
continued airworthiness.
    3. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the 
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the airplane is 
maintained, including all post-type-certification modifications that 
may have an impact on the approved electronic system-security 
safeguards.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 11, 2016.
Paul Bernado,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20000 Filed 8-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P