82 FR 49492 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 777-300ER Airplanes; Passenger-Cabin High-Wall Suites

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 206 (October 26, 2017)

Page Range		49492-49494
FR Document		2017-23256

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 777-300ER airplanes with high-wall suites installed in the passenger cabin. This installation is novel or unusual, and the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this interior configuration. 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 82 Issue 206 (Thursday, October 26, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 206 (Thursday, October 26, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49492-49494]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23256]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0862; Special Conditions No. 25-703-SC]

Special Conditions: Boeing Model 777-300ER Airplanes; Passenger-
Cabin High-Wall Suites

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 777-300ER
airplanes with high-wall suites installed in the passenger cabin. This
installation is novel or unusual, and the applicable airworthiness
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for
this interior configuration. 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 October 26, 2017. Send
your comments by December 11, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2017-0862
using any of the following methods:
[ssquf] Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
[ssquf] 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.
[ssquf] 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.
[ssquf] 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).
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 Section, AIR-675, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue
SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2785; facsimile
425-227-1232; email john.shelden@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions
has been subject 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.
In addition, since 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 finds it unnecessary to
delay the effective date and finds that good cause exists for adopting
these special conditions 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 19, 2014, Boeing applied for a type certificate design
change to Type Certificate (TC) No. T00001SE to install high-wall
suites in the passenger compartment of Boeing Model 777-300ER
airplanes.
The Model 777 series airplane is a swept-wing, conventional-tail,
twin-engine, turbofan- powered, transport-category airplane. The
airplane has seating for 365 passengers and a maximum takeoff weight of
775,000 pounds.

Type Certification Basis

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.
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 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 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

[[Page 49493]]

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:
A passenger cabin with six high-wall suites arranged in two rows of
three suites each.

Discussion

The Boeing Model 777-300ER airplane will include, as a customer
option, a passenger cabin with six high-wall suites arranged in two
rows of three suites each, in a 1-1-1 configuration. The suites have
doors and walls that are taller than has been previously certified by
the FAA on Boeing 777 series airplanes. The walls extend from the floor
to the ceiling or close to the ceiling.
The characteristics of the suite design are unique such that the
suites are not fully open to the cabin, as are conventional mini-suites
with partial-height surrounds, and they are not remote from the main
cabin, as are overhead crew rests. Likewise, unique but suitable fire-
protection requirements for smoke detection and firefighting are needed
for this configuration. Furthermore, the proposed suite design
necessitates the development of additional conditions that do not
currently exist within associated airworthiness standards, including,
but not limited to, alerting and lighting when oxygen masks are needed,
crew procedures for managing hazards and suite occupants, and
maintaining cabin-egress route dimensions after deformations of the
walls and seats.
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 with high-wall, single-occupant suites
with doors installed. 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 one model series of airplane. It is not a rule of general
applicability.

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.
Note: In these special conditions, ``suite'' means high-wall suite.
1. Where suites are installed, a supplemental oxygen system must
provide the following:
a. The supplemental oxygen system for each suite must include a
minimum of two oxygen masks and meet the same 14 CFR part 25
regulations as do the supplemental oxygen system for the main
passenger-cabin occupants.
b. An aural alert to warn occupants and to indicate the need to don
oxygen masks in the event of decompression. The aural alert must
activate concurrently with deployment of the oxygen masks in the main
passenger cabin.
c. The illumination level of the normal suite lighting system must
be activated automatically and must be sufficient for each occupant to
locate a deployed oxygen mask.
d. If a chemical oxygen generator is used as the oxygen supply
source, the suite oxygen installation must meet Sec. Sec. 25.795(d)
and 25.1450.
2. A smoke-detection or fire-detection system (or systems) must be
provided that monitors each occupiable space within the suite. Flight
tests must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement. If a
fire occurs, each system (or systems) in the affected suite must
provide:
a. A visual indication to the flight deck within one minute after
the start of a fire.
b. An aural warning in the suite area where detection has occurred.
c. A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be
readily detectable by a flight attendant, taking into consideration the
locations of flight attendants throughout the main passenger
compartment during various phases of flight.
3. Passenger-management procedures must be provided should
occupants need to be moved in the event of smoke detection, or
firefighting within the suite or where suites are installed:
a. A limitation must be included in the airplane flight manual
(AFM) or other suitable means requiring that crewmembers be trained in
the suite passenger-management procedures.
b. Approved procedures describing methods for suite passenger
management must be established. These procedures must be transmitted to
the operator for incorporation into its training programs and
appropriate operational manuals.
4. The design of each suite, and the location of the firefighting
equipment where suites are installed, must allow the crewmembers to
conduct effective firefighting in the suite. For a manual, hand-held
extinguishing system (designed as the sole means to fight a fire) for
the suite:
a. A limitation must be included in the AFM or other suitable means
requiring that crewmembers be trained in the firefighting procedures.
b. Each suite design must allow crewmembers equipped for
firefighting to have unrestricted access to all parts of the suite
compartment.
c. The time for a crewmember in the main passenger cabin to react
to the fire alarm and gain access to the suite must not exceed the time
it would take for the compartment to become filled with smoke, thus
making it difficult to locate the fire source(s).
d. Approved procedures describing methods for searching the suite
compartment for fire source(s) must be established. These procedures
must be transmitted to the operator for incorporation into its training
programs and appropriate operational manuals.
5. A means must be provided to prevent hazardous quantities of
smoke or extinguishing agent originating in each suite from entering
any other occupiable compartments.
a. Small quantities of smoke may penetrate from the suite into
other occupied areas during the one-minute smoke detection time.
b. Hazardous quantities of smoke may not enter any occupied
compartment during access to manually fight a fire in the suite. A
small amount of smoke may enter the occupied compartments while a
firefighter enters and exits the suite, and is not considered hazardous
provided the smoke dissipates quickly.
c. Flight tests must be conducted to show compliance with this
requirement.
6. If waste-disposal receptacles are fitted in the suite, the suite
must be equipped with an automatic fire-extinguishing system that meets
the performance requirements of Sec. 25.854(b).
7. Each stowage compartment in the suite must be completely
enclosed. All enclosed stowage compartments within the suite
compartment that are not

[[Page 49494]]

limited to stowage of emergency equipment or airplane- supplied
equipment (i.e., bedding) must meet the design criteria described in
the table below. Enclosed stowage compartments greater than 57 feet 3
inches cubic interior volume are not permitted by these special
conditions.

Design Criteria for Enclosed Stowage Compartments Not Limited to Stowage of Emergency or Airplane-Supplied
Equipment
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Applicability of fire-protection requirements by interior volume
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Fire protection features Less than 25 cubic 25 Cubic feet to less
feet than 57 Cubic feet 57 cubic feet
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliant Materials of Construction Yes.................... Yes.................... Yes.
\1\.
Smoke or Fire Detectors \2\.......... No..................... Yes.................... Yes.
Liner \3\............................ No..................... Conditional............ Yes.
Fire Location Detector \4\........... No..................... Yes.................... Yes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Compliant Materials of Construction: The material used in constructing each enclosed stowage compartment
must at least be fire resistant and must meet the flammability standards established for interior components
(i.e., 14 CFR part 25 Appendix F, Parts I, IV, and V) per the requirements of Sec. 25.853. For compartments
less than 25 ft.3 in interior volume, the design must ensure the ability to contain a fire likely to occur
within the compartment under normal use.
\2\ Smoke or Fire Detectors: Enclosed stowage compartments equal to or exceeding 25 ft.3 in interior volume must
be provided with a smoke- or fire-detection system to ensure that a fire can be detected within a one-minute
detection time. Flight tests must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement. Each system (or
systems) must provide:
[ballot] A visual indication in the flight deck within one minute after the start of a fire.
[ballot] An aural warning in the suite compartment.
[ballot] A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be readily detectable by a flight attendant,
taking into consideration the locations of flight attendants throughout the main passenger compartment during
various phases of flight.
\3\ Liner: If material used in constructing the stowage compartment can be shown to meet the flammability
requirements of a liner for a Class B cargo compartment (i.e., Sec. 25.855 at Amendment 25-116, and Appendix
F, part I, paragraph (a)(2)(ii)), then no liner would be required for enclosed stowage compartments equal to
or greater than 25 ft.3 but less than 57 ft.3 in interior volume. For all enclosed stowage compartments equal
to 57 ft.3 in interior volume, a liner must be provided that meets the requirements of Sec. 25.855 for a
Class B cargo compartment.
\4\ Fire Location Detector: If a suite compartment has enclosed stowage compartments exceeding 25 ft.3 interior
volume that are located separately from the other stowage compartments (located, for example, away from one
central location, such as the entry to the suite compartment or a common area within the suite compartment,
where the other stowage compartments are), that suite compartment would require additional fire-protection
features and/or devices to assist the firefighter in determining the location of a fire.

8. Where suites are installed, the design of each suite must:
a. Maintain minimum main aisle(s), cross aisle(s), and
passageway(s) requirements of Sec. 25.815 when subjected to the
ultimate inertia forces listed in Sec. 25.561(d).
b. Prevent structural failure or deformation of components that
could block access to the available evacuation routes (e.g., seats,
doors, contents of stowage compartments, etc.).
9. In addition to the requirements of Sec. 25.562 for seat
systems, which are occupiable during taxi, takeoff, and landing, the
suite structure must be designed for the additional loads imposed by
the seats as a result of the conditions specified in Sec. 25.562(b).

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 19, 2017.
Suzanne Masterson,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-23256 Filed 10-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

49494 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

limited to stowage of emergency design criteria described in the table interior volume are not permitted by
equipment or airplane- supplied below. Enclosed stowage compartments these special conditions.
equipment (i.e., bedding) must meet the greater than 57 feet 3 inches cubic

DESIGN CRITERIA FOR ENCLOSED STOWAGE COMPARTMENTS NOT LIMITED TO STOWAGE OF EMERGENCY OR AIRPLANE-
SUPPLIED EQUIPMENT
Applicability of fire-protection requirements by interior volume
Fire protection features Less than 25 Cubic feet to 57 cubic feet
25 cubic feet less than 57 Cubic feet

Compliant Materials of Construction 1 ............................. Yes .................................... Yes .................................... Yes.
Smoke or Fire Detectors 2 ............................................... No ...................................... Yes .................................... Yes.
Liner 3 ............................................................................... No ...................................... Conditional ......................... Yes.
Fire Location Detector 4 ................................................... No ...................................... Yes .................................... Yes.
1 Compliant Materials of Construction: The material used in constructing each enclosed stowage compartment must at least be fire resistant
and must meet the flammability standards established for interior components (i.e., 14 CFR part 25 Appendix F, Parts I, IV, and V) per the re-
quirements of § 25.853. For compartments less than 25 ft.3 in interior volume, the design must ensure the ability to contain a fire likely to occur
within the compartment under normal use.
2 Smoke or Fire Detectors: Enclosed stowage compartments equal to or exceeding 25 ft.3 in interior volume must be provided with a smoke- or
fire-detection system to ensure that a fire can be detected within a one-minute detection time. Flight tests must be conducted to show compli-
ance with this requirement. Each system (or systems) must provide:
b A visual indication in the flight deck within one minute after the start of a fire.
b An aural warning in the suite compartment.
b A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be readily detectable by a flight attendant, taking into consideration the locations
of flight attendants throughout the main passenger compartment during various phases of flight.
3 Liner: If material used in constructing the stowage compartment can be shown to meet the flammability requirements of a liner for a Class B
cargo compartment (i.e., § 25.855 at Amendment 25–116, and Appendix F, part I, paragraph (a)(2)(ii)), then no liner would be required for en-
closed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 25 ft.3 but less than 57 ft.3 in interior volume. For all enclosed stowage compartments
equal to 57 ft.3 in interior volume, a liner must be provided that meets the requirements of § 25.855 for a Class B cargo compartment.
4 Fire Location Detector: If a suite compartment has enclosed stowage compartments exceeding 25 ft.3 interior volume that are located sepa-
rately from the other stowage compartments (located, for example, away from one central location, such as the entry to the suite compartment or
a common area within the suite compartment, where the other stowage compartments are), that suite compartment would require additional fire-
protection features and/or devices to assist the firefighter in determining the location of a fire.

8. Where suites are installed, the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADDRESSES: For service information
design of each suite must: identified in this final rule, contact
Federal Aviation Administration Boeing Commercial Airplanes,
a. Maintain minimum main aisle(s),
cross aisle(s), and passageway(s) Attention: Contractual & Data Services
14 CFR Part 39 (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC
requirements of § 25.815 when
110 SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740 5600;
subjected to the ultimate inertia forces [Docket No. FAA–2017–0332; Product telephone 562–797–1717; Internet
listed in § 25.561(d). Identifier 2016–NM–164–AD; Amendment
https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You
b. Prevent structural failure or 39–19084; AD 2017–22–04]
may view this referenced service
deformation of components that could RIN 2120–AA64 information at the FAA, Transport
block access to the available evacuation Standards Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue
routes (e.g., seats, doors, contents of Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing SW., Renton, WA. For information on
stowage compartments, etc.). Company Airplanes the availability of this material at the
9. In addition to the requirements of FAA, call 425–227–1221. It is also
AGENCY: Federal Aviation available on the Internet at http://
§ 25.562 for seat systems, which are Administration (FAA), DOT.
occupiable during taxi, takeoff, and www.regulations.gov by searching for
ACTION: Final rule. and locating Docket No. FAA–2017–
landing, the suite structure must be
0332.
designed for the additional loads SUMMARY: We are adopting a new
imposed by the seats as a result of the airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Examining the AD Docket
conditions specified in § 25.562(b). The Boeing Company Model 737–200, You may examine the AD docket on
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October –200C, –300, –400, and –500 series the Internet at http://
19, 2017. airplanes. This AD was prompted by www.regulations.gov by searching for
reports of skin doublers that disbonded and locating Docket No. FAA–2017–
Suzanne Masterson,
from their skin panels. This AD requires 0332; or in person at the Docket
Acting Manager, Transport Standards repetitive inspections of fuselage skin
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, Management Facility between 9 a.m.
panels, and applicable on-condition and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
Aircraft Certification Service. actions. We are issuing this AD to
[FR Doc. 2017–23256 Filed 10–25–17; 8:45 am] except Federal holidays. The AD docket
address the unsafe condition on these contains this final rule, the regulatory
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P products. evaluation, any comments received, and
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES

DATES: This AD is effective November other information. The address for the
30, 2017. Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is
The Director of the Federal Register Docket Management Facility, U.S.
approved the incorporation by reference Department of Transportation, Docket
of a certain publication listed in this AD Operations, M–30, West Building
as of November 30, 2017. Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Oct 25, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\26OCR1.SGM 26OCR1

Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:15:32
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:15:32

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 Boeing on October 26, 2017. Send your comments by December 11, 2017.
Contact		John Shelden, Airframe and Cabin Safety Section, AIR-675, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2785; facsimile 425-227-1232; email [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 49492
CFR Associated		Aircraft; Aviation Safety and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

82 FR 49492 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 777-300ER Airplanes; Passenger-Cabin High-Wall Suites

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFederal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 206 (October 26, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration