81 FR 7198 - Special Conditions: The Boeing Company, Model 737-8 Airplanes; Design Roll-Maneuver Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 28 (February 11, 2016)

Page Range		7198-7200
FR Document		2016-02762

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 737-8 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with an electronic flight-control system that provides roll control of the airplane through pilot inputs to the flight computers. 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 Issue 28 (Thursday, February 11, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 28 (Thursday, February 11, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7198-7200]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02762]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2015-5877; Special Conditions No. 25-610-SC]

Special Conditions: The Boeing Company, Model 737-8 Airplanes;
Design Roll-Maneuver Requirements

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 737-8
airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature
associated with an electronic flight-control system that provides roll
control of the airplane through pilot inputs to the flight computers.
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 the Boeing Company on February 11,
2016. We must receive your comments by March 28, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket no. FAA-2015-5877 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: Mark Freisthler, FAA, Airframe and
Cabin Safety Branch, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98057-
3356; telephone 425-227-1119; facsimile 425-227-1232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is
impracticable because these procedures

[[Page 7199]]

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 January 27, 2012, The Boeing Company applied for an amendment to
Type Certificate No. A16WE to include a new Model 737-8 airplane. The
Model 737-8 airplane is a narrow-body, transport-category airplane that
is a derivative of the Model 737-800 airplane with two CFM LEAP-1B
wing-mounted engines.
The Model 737-8 airplane will include electronic flight controls
that affect maneuvering.
The current design roll-maneuver requirements in Title 14, Code of
Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 25 are inadequate for addressing an
airplane with electronic flight controls that affect maneuvering. These
special conditions adjust the current roll-maneuver requirement, Sec.
25.349, to take into account the effects of an electronic flight-
control system.

Type Certification Basis

Under the provisions of Sec. 21.101, The Boeing Company must show
that the Model 737-8 series airplanes meet the applicable provisions of
the regulations listed in type certificate no. A16WE, or the applicable
regulations in effect on the date of application for the change except
for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA.
The regulations listed in the type certificate are commonly
referred to as the ``original type-certification basis.'' The
regulations listed in type certificate no. A16WE are as follows:
14 CFR part 25, effective February 1, 1965, including Amendments
25-1 through 25-134. In addition, the certification basis includes
certain special conditions, exemptions, or later amended sections of
the applicable part that are not relevant to these 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 Model 737-8 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 type certificate for that model be amended
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or
unusual design feature, or should any other model already included on
the same type certificate be modified 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 Model 737-8 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 Model 737-8 series airplanes will incorporate the following
novel or unusual design features:

The airplanes are equipped with an electronic flight-control
system that provides control through pilot inputs to the flight
computer. Current part 25 airworthiness regulations account for
control laws for which aileron deflection is proportional to
control-stick deflection. They do not address nonlinearities or
other effects on aileron actuation that electronic flight controls
may cause. Because this type of system may affect flight loads, and
therefore the structural capability of the airplanes, special
conditions are needed to address these effects.

Discussion

These special conditions differ from current requirements in that
they require that the roll maneuver is based on defined actuation of
the cockpit roll control as opposed to defined deflections of the
aileron itself. Also, the special conditions require an additional load
condition at VA, in which the cockpit roll control is
returned to neutral following the initial roll input.
These special conditions differ from similar special conditions
applied on previous programs. These special conditions are limited to
the roll axis only, whereas previous special conditions also included
the pitch and yaw axes. Special conditions are no longer needed for the
pitch or yaw axes, because Amendment 25-91 takes into account the
effects of an electronic flight-control system in those axes (Sec.
25.331 for pitch and Sec. 25.351 for yaw). On the Model 737-8 series
airplanes, only the flight spoilers are fly-by-wire.
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 737-8 series airplanes. Should Boeing apply at a later
date for a change to the type certificate to include another model
incorporating 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 Boeing Model 737-8 series 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, because a delay would
significantly affect the certification of the airplane, 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.

[[Page 7200]]

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 Boeing Model 737-8 series
airplanes.

Design Roll Maneuver Condition

In lieu of compliance to Sec. 25.349(a):

The following conditions, speeds, and cockpit roll-control
motions (except as the motions may be limited by pilot effort) must
be considered in combination with an airplane load factor of zero
and of two-thirds of the positive maneuvering factor used in design.
In determining the resulting control-surface deflections, the
torsional flexibility of the wing must be considered in accordance
with Sec. 25.301(b):
1. The applicant must investigate conditions corresponding to
steady rolling velocities. In addition, conditions corresponding to
maximum angular acceleration must be investigated for airplanes with
engines or other weight concentrations outboard of the fuselage. For
the angular acceleration conditions, zero rolling velocity may be
assumed in the absence of a rational time-history investigation of
the maneuver.
2. At VA, sudden movement of the cockpit roll control
up to the limit is assumed. The position of the cockpit roll control
must be maintained until a steady roll rate is achieved and then
must be returned suddenly to the neutral position.
3. At VC, the cockpit roll control must be moved
suddenly and maintained so as to achieve a roll rate not less than
that obtained in Special Condition 2, above.
4. At VD, the cockpit roll control must be moved
suddenly and maintained so as to achieve a roll rate not less than
one third of that obtained in Special Condition 2, above.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 20, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-02762 Filed 2-10-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 28 / Thursday, February 11, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 7199

would significantly delay issuance of certification basis includes certain These special conditions differ from
the design approval and thus delivery of special conditions, exemptions, or later similar special conditions applied on
the affected airplane. amended sections of the applicable part previous programs. These special
In addition, the substance of these that are not relevant to these special conditions are limited to the roll axis
special conditions has been subject to conditions. only, whereas previous special
the public comment process in several If the Administrator finds that the conditions also included the pitch and
prior instances with no substantive applicable airworthiness regulations yaw axes. Special conditions are no
comments received. The FAA therefore (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain longer needed for the pitch or yaw axes,
finds that good cause exists for making adequate or appropriate safety standards because Amendment 25–91 takes into
these special conditions effective upon for the Model 737–8 series airplanes account the effects of an electronic
publication in the Federal Register. because of a novel or unusual design flight-control system in those axes
feature, special conditions are (§ 25.331 for pitch and § 25.351 for
Comments Invited
prescribed under the provisions of yaw). On the Model 737–8 series
We invite interested people to take § 21.16. airplanes, only the flight spoilers are fly-
part in this rulemaking by sending Special conditions are initially by-wire.
written comments, data, or views. The applicable to the model for which they These special conditions contain the
most helpful comments reference a are issued. Should the type certificate additional safety standards that the
specific portion of the special for that model be amended later to Administrator considers necessary to
conditions, explain the reason for any include any other model that establish a level of safety equivalent to
recommended change, and include incorporates the same novel or unusual that established by the existing
supporting data. design feature, or should any other airworthiness standards.
We will consider all comments we model already included on the same
receive by the closing date for type certificate be modified to Applicability
comments. We may change these special incorporate the same novel or unusual
conditions based on the comments we As discussed above, these special
design feature, these special conditions
receive. conditions are applicable to the Boeing
would also apply to the other model
Model 737–8 series airplanes. Should
Background under § 21.101.
In addition to the applicable Boeing apply at a later date for a change
On January 27, 2012, The Boeing airworthiness regulations and special to the type certificate to include another
Company applied for an amendment to conditions, the Model 737–8 series model incorporating the same novel or
Type Certificate No. A16WE to include airplanes must comply with the fuel- unusual design feature, these special
a new Model 737–8 airplane. The Model vent and exhaust-emission requirements conditions would apply to that model as
737–8 airplane is a narrow-body, of 14 CFR part 34, and the noise- well.
transport-category airplane that is a certification requirements of 14 CFR Conclusion
derivative of the Model 737–800 part 36.
airplane with two CFM LEAP–1B wing- The FAA issues special conditions, as This action affects only certain novel
mounted engines. defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in accordance or unusual design features on Boeing
The Model 737–8 airplane will with § 11.38, and they become part of Model 737–8 series airplanes. It is not
include electronic flight controls that the type-certification basis under a rule of general applicability.
affect maneuvering. § 21.101. The substance of these special
The current design roll-maneuver conditions has been subjected to the
requirements in Title 14, Code of Novel or Unusual Design Features
notice and comment period in several
Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 25 are The Model 737–8 series airplanes will prior instances and has been derived
inadequate for addressing an airplane incorporate the following novel or without substantive change from those
with electronic flight controls that affect unusual design features: previously issued. It is unlikely that
maneuvering. These special conditions The airplanes are equipped with an prior public comment would result in a
adjust the current roll-maneuver electronic flight-control system that provides significant change from the substance
requirement, § 25.349, to take into control through pilot inputs to the flight contained herein. Therefore, because a
account the effects of an electronic computer. Current part 25 airworthiness delay would significantly affect the
flight-control system. regulations account for control laws for certification of the airplane, the FAA
which aileron deflection is proportional to
Type Certification Basis control-stick deflection. They do not address has determined that prior public notice
nonlinearities or other effects on aileron and comment are unnecessary and
Under the provisions of § 21.101, The impracticable, and good cause exists for
actuation that electronic flight controls may
Boeing Company must show that the cause. Because this type of system may affect adopting these special conditions upon
Model 737–8 series airplanes meet the flight loads, and therefore the structural publication in the Federal Register. The
applicable provisions of the regulations capability of the airplanes, special conditions FAA is requesting comments to allow
listed in type certificate no. A16WE, or are needed to address these effects. interested persons to submit views that
the applicable regulations in effect on may not have been submitted in
the date of application for the change Discussion
response to the prior opportunities for
except for earlier amendments as agreed These special conditions differ from
comment described above.
upon by the FAA. current requirements in that they
The regulations listed in the type require that the roll maneuver is based List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES

certificate are commonly referred to as on defined actuation of the cockpit roll
control as opposed to defined Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting
the ‘‘original type-certification basis.’’
deflections of the aileron itself. Also, the and recordkeeping requirements.
The regulations listed in type certificate
no. A16WE are as follows: special conditions require an additional The authority citation for these
14 CFR part 25, effective February 1, load condition at VA, in which the special conditions is as follows:
1965, including Amendments 25–1 cockpit roll control is returned to Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701,
through 25–134. In addition, the neutral following the initial roll input. 44702, 44704.

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7200 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 28 / Thursday, February 11, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

The Special Conditions feet above the surface at Clinton Class E airspace at Clinton Municipal
Municipal Airport, Clinton, AR, to Airport, Clinton, AR.
■ Accordingly, pursuant to the authority accommodate new Standard Instrument
delegated to me by the Administrator, History
Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for the
the following special conditions are safety and management of Instrument On November 30, 2015, the FAA
issued as part of the type certification Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the published in the Federal Register a
basis for the Boeing Model 737–8 series airport. This action also corrects the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
airplanes. state identifier in the legal airspace to establish Class E airspace extending
Design Roll Maneuver Condition description. upward from 700 feet above the surface
at Clinton Municipal Airport, Clinton,
In lieu of compliance to § 25.349(a): DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, May 26, AR. (80 FR 74736). Interested parties
The following conditions, speeds, and 2016. The Director of the Federal were invited to participate in this
cockpit roll-control motions (except as the Register approves this incorporation by rulemaking effort by submitting written
motions may be limited by pilot effort) must reference action under Title 1, Code of comments on the proposal to the FAA.
be considered in combination with an Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to No comments were received. The FAA
airplane load factor of zero and of two-thirds the annual revision of FAA Order also notes that in the NPRM, the state
of the positive maneuvering factor used in 7400.9 and publication of conforming
design. In determining the resulting control- identifier was incorrectly written as LA,
amendments. and is corrected in the airspace
surface deflections, the torsional flexibility of
the wing must be considered in accordance ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Z, description to AR.
with § 25.301(b): Airspace Designations and Reporting Class E airspace designations are
1. The applicant must investigate Points, and subsequent amendments can published in paragraph 6005 of FAA
conditions corresponding to steady rolling be viewed on line at http:// Order 7400.9Z, dated August 6, 2015,
velocities. In addition, conditions www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications. and effective September 15, 2015, which
corresponding to maximum angular For further information, you can contact is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR
acceleration must be investigated for part 71.1. The Class E airspace
the Airspace Policy Group, Federal
airplanes with engines or other weight
Aviation Administration, 800 designations listed in this document
concentrations outboard of the fuselage. For
the angular acceleration conditions, zero Independence Avenue SW., will be published subsequently in the
rolling velocity may be assumed in the Washington, DC 29591; telephone: 202– Order.
absence of a rational time-history 267–8783. The Order is also available Availability and Summary of
investigation of the maneuver. for inspection at the National Archives Documents for Incorporation by
2. At VA, sudden movement of the cockpit and Records Administration (NARA).
roll control up to the limit is assumed. The Reference
For information on the availability of
position of the cockpit roll control must be FAA Order 7400.9Z at NARA, call 202– This document amends FAA Order
maintained until a steady roll rate is 7400.9Z, Airspace Designations and
741–6030, or go to http://
achieved and then must be returned Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015,
suddenly to the neutral position. www.archives.gov/federal_register/
code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_ and effective September 15, 2015. FAA
3. At VC, the cockpit roll control must be
moved suddenly and maintained so as to locations.html. Order 7400.9Z is publicly available as
achieve a roll rate not less than that obtained FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
in Special Condition 2, above. Designations and Reporting Points is document. FAA Order 7400.9Z lists
4. At VD, the cockpit roll control must be published yearly and effective on Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas,
moved suddenly and maintained so as to September 15. air traffic service routes, and reporting
achieve a roll rate not less than one third of points.
that obtained in Special Condition 2, above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rebecca Shelby, Central Service Center, The Rule
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January Operations Support Group, Federal
20, 2016. This action amends Title 14, Code of
Aviation Administration, Southwest Federal Regulations (14 CFR), Part 71 by
Michael Kaszycki, Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane
establishing Class E airspace extending
Worth, TX 76177; telephone: 817–222– upward from 700 feet above the surface
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 5857.
[FR Doc. 2016–02762 Filed 2–10–16; 8:45 am]
within a 6.0-mile radius of Clinton
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Municipal Airport, Clinton, AR, to
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Authority for This Rulemaking accommodate new Standard Instrument
Approach Procedures for IFR operations
The FAA’s authority to issue rules at the airport. Also, the correct state
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
regarding aviation safety is found in identifier is noted in the airspace
Federal Aviation Administration Title 49 of the United States Code. description, changing it from LA to AR.
Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Regulatory Notices and Analyses
14 CFR Part 71
Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, The FAA has determined that this
[Docket No. FAA–2015–3967; Airspace describes in more detail the scope of the regulation only involves an established
Docket No. 15–ASW–12] agency’s authority. This rulemaking is body of technical regulations for which
promulgated under the authority frequent and routine amendments are
Establishment of Class E Airspace;
described in Subtitle VII, Part A, necessary to keep them operationally
Clinton AR
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES

Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that current, is non-controversial and
AGENCY: Federal Aviation section, the FAA is charged with unlikely to result in adverse or negative
Administration (FAA), DOT. prescribing regulations to assign the use comments. It, therefore: (1) Is not a
ACTION: Final rule. of airspace necessary to ensure the ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under
safety of aircraft and the efficient use of Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a
SUMMARY: This action establishes Class airspace. This regulation is within the ‘‘significant rule’’ under DOT
E airspace extending upward from 700 scope of that authority as it establishes Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

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Document Created: 2016-02-11 00:03:04
Document Modified: 2016-02-11 00:03:04

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Final special conditions; request for comments.
Dates		This action is effective on the Boeing Company on February 11, 2016. We must receive your comments by March 28, 2016.
Contact		Mark Freisthler, FAA, Airframe and Cabin Safety Branch, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98057- 3356; telephone 425-227-1119; facsimile 425-227-1232.
FR Citation		81 FR 7198
CFR Associated		Aircraft; Aviation Safety and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

81 FR 7198 - Special Conditions: The Boeing Company, Model 737-8 Airplanes; Design Roll-Maneuver Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFederal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 28 (February 11, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration