83_FR_53367 83 FR 53163 - Special Conditions: The Boeing Company (Boeing), Model 777 Series Airplanes; Dynamic Test Requirements for Single Occupant Oblique Seats, With or Without Airbag Devices or 3-Point Restraints

83 FR 53163 - Special Conditions: The Boeing Company (Boeing), Model 777 Series Airplanes; Dynamic Test Requirements for Single Occupant Oblique Seats, With or Without Airbag Devices or 3-Point Restraints

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 204 (October 22, 2018)

Page Range53163-53166
FR Document2018-22933

These amended special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. These special conditions are for oblique (side-facing) seats, installed in Boeing Model 777 series airplanes, at an angle of 18 to 45 degrees to the airplane centerline and which may include a 3-point or airbag restraint system, or both, for occupant restraint and injury protection. This amendment adds a note and one special condition to the Special Conditions section. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features are oblique (side-facing) single-occupant passenger seats equipped with or without airbag devices or 3-point restraints. 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 83 Issue 204 (Monday, October 22, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53163-53166]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22933]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

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


Special Conditions: The Boeing Company (Boeing), Model 777 Series 
Airplanes; Dynamic Test Requirements for Single Occupant Oblique Seats, 
With or Without Airbag Devices or 3-Point Restraints

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Amended final special conditions; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: These amended special conditions are issued for the Boeing 
Model 777 series airplanes. These special conditions are for oblique 
(side-facing) seats, installed in Boeing Model 777 series airplanes, at 
an angle of 18 to 45 degrees to the airplane centerline and which may 
include a 3-point or airbag restraint system, or both, for occupant 
restraint and injury protection. This amendment adds a note and one 
special condition to the Special Conditions section. This airplane will 
have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of 
technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport 
category airplanes. These design features are oblique (side-facing) 
single-occupant passenger seats equipped with or without airbag devices 
or 3-point restraints. 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 October 22, 
2018. Send comments on or before December 6, 2018.

[[Page 53164]]


ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. 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 website, 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, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; 
telephone and fax 206-231-3214; email John.Shelden@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions 
has been published in the Federal Register for public comment in 
several prior instances with no substantive comments received. The FAA 
therefore finds it unnecessary to delay the effective date and 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 November 22, 2017, Boeing applied for an amendment to Type 
Certificate No. T00001SE for the installation of oblique (side-facing) 
passenger seats with or without airbag devices or 3-point restraints in 
the Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. The Boeing Model 777 series 
airplanes are twin-engine, transport category airplanes with a maximum 
certified passenger capacity of up to 550 and a maximum takeoff weight 
of approximately 775,000 lbs.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Boeing must show that the Model 777 series airplanes 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 series airplanes 
because of novel or unusual design features, 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 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 business-class seating configuration Boeing proposes is novel 
or unusual due to the seat installation at 30 degrees to the airplane 
centerline, the airbag-system installation, and the seat/occupant 
interface with the surrounding furniture that introduces occupant 
alignment and loading concerns. The proposed business-class seating 
configuration is also beyond the limits of current acceptable 
equivalent-level-of-safety findings. These oblique (side-facing) seats 
may be installed at an angle of 18 to 45 degrees to the airplane 
centerline and may include a 3-point or airbag restraint system, or 
both, for occupant restraint and injury protection.
    The existing regulations do not provide adequate or appropriate 
safety standards for occupants of oblique-angled seats with airbag 
systems. To provide a level of safety that is equivalent to that 
afforded occupants of forward- and aft-facing seats, additional 
airworthiness standards, in the form of special conditions, are 
necessary. These special conditions supplement part 25 and, more 
specifically, supplement Sec. Sec.  25.562 and 25.785.
    The requirements contained in these special conditions consist of 
both test conditions and injury pass/fail criteria.

Discussion

    The FAA has been conducting and sponsoring research on appropriate 
injury criteria for oblique (side-facing) seat installations. However, 
the FAA research program is not complete and we may update these 
criteria as we obtain further research results. To reflect current 
research findings, the FAA issued policy statement PS-ANM-25-03-R1 to 
update injury criteria for fully side-facing seats, and policy 
statement PS-AIR-25-27, to define injury criteria for oblique (side-
facing) seats.
    The proposed Boeing Model 777 series airplanes business-class seat 
installation is novel such that the current Boeing Model 777 series 
airplanes certification basis does not adequately address protection of 
the occupant's neck and spine for seat configurations that are 
positioned at an angle greater than 18 degrees from the airplane 
centerline. The FAA issued special conditions No. 25-569-SC for

[[Page 53165]]

Model 777-300ER airplanes on September 25, 2014, and special conditions 
No. 25-621-SC for certain Model 777-300ER airplanes on August 3rd, 
2016. These special conditions contained injury criteria for oblique 
seats based on the best knowledge the FAA had at the time. These 
special conditions for oblique seat installations do not adequately 
address oblique seats, reflecting the current research results, with or 
without 3-point or airbag restraint systems. Therefore, Boeing's 
proposed configuration will require amended special conditions.
    The installation of passenger seats at angles of 18 to 45 degrees 
to the airplane centerline are unique due to the seat/occupant 
interface with the surrounding furniture that introduces occupant 
alignment/loading concerns with or without the installation of a 3-
point or airbag restraint system, or both. On-going research has 
invalidated previously released special conditions for oblique (side-
facing) seat installations. These updated special conditions further 
address potential injuries to the occupant's neck and spine. As a 
result, these special conditions replace special conditions 25-569-SC 
and 25-621-SC. This amendment adds a note to special condition number 7 
and adds special condition number 8 to the Special Condition section. 
The note and special condition 8 were unintentionally omitted from the 
previous issuance of these special conditions. This additional text is 
standard, in all material respects, in previously issued special 
conditions of the same topic.
    FAA-sponsored research has found that an un-restrained flailing of 
the upper torso, even when the pelvis and torso are nearly aligned, can 
produce serious spinal and torso injuries. At lower impact severities, 
even with significant misalignment between the torso and pelvis, these 
injuries did not occur. Tests with an FAA H-III anthropomorphic test 
device (ATD) have identified a level of lumbar spinal tension 
corresponding to the no-injury impact severity. This level of tension 
is included as a limit in the special conditions. The spine tension 
limit selected is conservative with respect to other aviation injury 
criteria since it corresponds to a no-injury loading condition.
    As noted in the special conditions for each airbag restraint 
system, because an airbag restraint system is essentially a single use 
device, there is the potential that it could deploy under crash 
conditions that are not sufficiently severe as to require head injury 
protection from the airbag restraint system. Since an actual crash is 
frequently composed of a series of impacts before the airplane comes to 
rest, this could render the airbag restraint system useless if a larger 
impact follows the initial impact. This situation does not exist with 
energy absorbing pads or upper torso restraints, which tend to provide 
protection according to the severity of the impact. Therefore, the 
installation of the airbag restraint system should be such that the 
airbag restraint system will provide protection when it is required, 
and will not expend its protection when it is not needed.
    Because these airbag restraint systems may or may not activate 
during various crash conditions, the injury criteria listed in these 
special conditions and in Sec.  25.562 must be met in an event that is 
slightly below the activation level of the airbag restraint system. If 
an airbag restraint system is included with the oblique seats, the 
system must meet the requirements in one of the airbag (inflatable 
restraint) special conditions applicable to the Boeing Model 777 series 
airplanes.
    These amended special conditions will provide head injury criteria, 
neck injury criteria, spine injury criteria, and body-to-wall contact 
criteria. They 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 series airplane. 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 airplanes. It is not a rule of general 
applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Authority Citation

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 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 the Boeing Model 777 series airplanes.

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 
ATD has no apparent contact with the seat/structure but has contact 
with an airbag, a HIC unlimited score in excess of 1000 is acceptable, 
provided the HIC15 score for that contact (calculated in accordance 
with 49 CFR 571.208) 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, 
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
    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 a reason to also 
consider that the neck-injury potential would be higher for impacts 
below the airbag-device deployment threshold.
    a. 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 = 1,530 lbs for tension
ii. Fzc = 1,385 lbs for compression
iii. Myc = 229 lb-ft in flexion
iv. Myc = 100 lb-ft in extension

    b. In addition, peak upper-neck Fz must be below 937 
lbs. in tension and 899 lbs. in compression.
    c. Rotation of the head about its vertical axis, relative to the 
torso is limited to 105 degrees in either direction from forward-
facing.
    d. 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 1,200 
lbs.
    b. Significant concentrated loading on the occupant's spine, in the 
area

[[Page 53166]]

between the pelvis and shoulders during impact, including rebound, is 
not acceptable. During this type of contact, the interval for any 
rearward (X 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 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 from the 
nominal seated position. Evaluation during rebound does not need to 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.

    Note: Boeing must demonstrate that the installation of seats via 
plinths or pallets meets all applicable requirements. Compliance 
with the guidance contained in policy memorandum PS-ANM-100-2000-
00123, ``Guidance for Demonstrating Compliance with Seat Dynamic 
Testing for Plinths and Pallets,'' dated February 2, 2000, is 
acceptable to the FAA.

8. Inflatable Airbag Restraint Systems Special Conditions
    If inflatable airbag restraint systems are installed, the airbag 
systems must meet the requirements in one of the airbag (inflatable 
restraint) special conditions applicable to the Boeing Model 777 series 
airplanes.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on October 4, 2018.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-22933 Filed 10-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P



                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                                                               53163

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ADAMS accession
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 No./web link/
                                                                                                                             Document                                                                                          Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   citation

                                             Request to Amend Certificate of Compliance No. 1015 for the NAC–UMS® Cask System, dated May 23, 2017 ....................                                                         ML17145A380
                                             Revision of Request to Amend Certificate of Compliance No. 1015 for the NAC–UMS® Cask System, dated January 16,                                                                   ML18018A893
                                               2018.
                                             Revision 11 to NAC–UMS® Final Safety Analysis Report for the UMS Universal Storage System ..........................................                                              ML16341B102
                                             Proposed CoC No. 1015, Amendment No. 6 ..............................................................................................................................             ML18088A174
                                             Proposed Technical Specifications, Appendix A .........................................................................................................................           ML18088A176
                                             Proposed Technical Specifications, Appendix B .........................................................................................................................           ML18088A178
                                             Preliminary Safety Evaluation Report ..........................................................................................................................................   ML18088A181



                                                The NRC may post materials related                                10165(g), 10168, 10198(a)); 44 U.S.C. 3504                            DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                             to this document, including public                                   note.
                                             comments, on the Federal Rulemaking                                                                                                        Federal Aviation Administration
                                                                                                                  ■ 2. In § 72.214, Certificate of
                                             website at http://www.regulations.gov
                                                                                                                  Compliance 1015 is revised to read as
                                             under Docket ID NRC–2018–0075. The                                                                                                         14 CFR Part 25
                                                                                                                  follows:
                                             Federal Rulemaking website allows you
                                             to receive alerts when changes or                                    § 72.214 List of approved spent fuel                                  [Docket No. FAA–2016–4136; Special
                                             additions occur in a docket folder. To                               storage casks.                                                        Conditions No. 25–621B–SC]
                                             subscribe: (1) Navigate to the docket
                                                                                                                  *     *     *     *     *
                                             folder (NRC–2018–0075); (2) click the                                                                                                      Special Conditions: The Boeing
                                             ‘‘Sign up for Email Alerts’’ link; and (3)                             Certificate Number: 1015.                                           Company (Boeing), Model 777 Series
                                             enter your email address and select how                                Initial Certificate Effective Date:                                 Airplanes; Dynamic Test Requirements
                                             frequently you would like to receive                                 November 20, 2000.                                                    for Single Occupant Oblique Seats,
                                             emails (daily, weekly, or monthly).                                                                                                        With or Without Airbag Devices or 3-
                                                                                                                    Amendment Number 1 Effective Date:
                                                                                                                                                                                        Point Restraints
                                             List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 72                                   February 20, 2001.
                                               Administrative practice and                                          Amendment Number 2 Effective Date:                                  AGENCY:Federal Aviation
                                             procedure, Hazardous waste, Indians,                                 December 31, 2001.                                                    Administration (FAA), DOT.
                                             Intergovernmental relations, Nuclear                                   Amendment Number 3 Effective Date:                                  ACTION: Amended final special
                                             energy, Penalties, Radiation protection,                             March 31, 2004.                                                       conditions; request for comments.
                                             Reporting and recordkeeping
                                             requirements, Security measures,                                       Amendment Number 4 Effective Date:                                  SUMMARY:   These amended special
                                             Whistleblowing.                                                      October 11, 2005.                                                     conditions are issued for the Boeing
                                               For the reasons set out in the                                       Amendment Number 5 Effective Date:                                  Model 777 series airplanes. These
                                             preamble and under the authority of the                              January 12, 2009.                                                     special conditions are for oblique (side-
                                             Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended;                                 Amendment Number 6 Effective Date:                                  facing) seats, installed in Boeing Model
                                             the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974,                               January 7, 2019.                                                      777 series airplanes, at an angle of 18 to
                                             as amended; the Nuclear Waste Policy                                                                                                       45 degrees to the airplane centerline and
                                             Act of 1982, as amended; and 5 U.S.C.                                  SAR Submitted by: NAC                                               which may include a 3-point or airbag
                                             552 and 553; the NRC is adopting the                                 International, Inc.                                                   restraint system, or both, for occupant
                                             following amendments to 10 CFR part                                    SAR Title: Final Safety Analysis                                    restraint and injury protection. This
                                             72:                                                                  Report for the NAC–UMS Universal                                      amendment adds a note and one special
                                                                                                                  Storage System.                                                       condition to the Special Conditions
                                             PART 72—LICENSING                                                                                                                          section. This airplane will have novel or
                                             REQUIREMENTS FOR THE                                                   Docket Number: 72–1015.
                                                                                                                                                                                        unusual design features when compared
                                             INDEPENDENT STORAGE OF SPENT                                           Certificate Expiration Date: November                               to the state of technology envisioned in
                                             NUCLEAR FUEL, HIGH–LEVEL                                             20, 2020.                                                             the airworthiness standards for
                                             RADIOACTIVE WASTE, AND                                                 Model Number: NAC–UMS.                                              transport category airplanes. These
                                             REACTOR–RELATED GREATER THAN                                                                                                               design features are oblique (side-facing)
                                             CLASS C WASTE                                                        *     *     *     *     *
                                                                                                                                                                                        single-occupant passenger seats
                                                                                                                    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day                          equipped with or without airbag devices
                                             ■ 1. The authority citation for part 72                              of October 2018.                                                      or 3-point restraints. The applicable
                                             continues to read as follows:                                          For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                              airworthiness regulations do not contain
                                               Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954,                              Margaret M. Doane,                                                    adequate or appropriate safety standards
                                             secs. 51, 53, 57, 62, 63, 65, 69, 81, 161, 182,                                                                                            for this design feature. These special
                                             183, 184, 186, 187, 189, 223, 234, 274 (42                           Executive Director for Operations.
                                                                                                                  [FR Doc. 2018–22912 Filed 10–19–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                                        conditions contain the additional safety
                                             U.S.C. 2071, 2073, 2077, 2092, 2093, 2095,
                                             2099, 2111, 2201, 2210e, 2232, 2233, 2234,                                                                                                 standards that the Administrator
                                                                                                                  BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
                                             2236, 2237, 2238, 2273, 2282, 2021); Energy                                                                                                considers necessary to establish a level
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES




                                             Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202,                                                                                                of safety equivalent to that established
                                             206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846, 5851);                                                                                               by the existing airworthiness standards.
                                             National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
                                             (42 U.S.C. 4332); Nuclear Waste Policy Act                                                                                                 DATES: This action is effective on The
                                             of 1982, secs. 117(a), 132, 133, 134, 135, 137,                                                                                            Boeing Company on October 22, 2018.
                                             141, 145(g), 148, 218(a) (42 U.S.C. 10137(a),                                                                                              Send comments on or before December
                                             10152, 10153, 10154, 10155, 10157, 10161,                                                                                                  6, 2018.


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014       16:28 Oct 19, 2018       Jkt 247001     PO 00000       Frm 00005      Fmt 4700     Sfmt 4700      E:\FR\FM\22OCR1.SGM            22OCR1


                                             53164            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                             ADDRESSES:   Send comments identified                   Comments Invited                                      of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise
                                             by Docket No. FAA–2016–4136 using                         We invite interested people to take                 certification requirements of 14 CFR
                                             any of the following methods:                           part in this rulemaking by sending                    part 36.
                                                • Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to                 written comments, data, or views. The
                                                                                                                                                             The FAA issues special conditions, as
                                             http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow                                                                        defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in accordance
                                                                                                     most helpful comments reference a
                                             the online instructions for sending your                                                                      with § 11.38, and they become part of
                                                                                                     specific portion of the special
                                             comments electronically.                                                                                      the type certification basis under
                                                                                                     conditions, explain the reason for any
                                                • Mail: Send comments to Docket                                                                            § 21.101.
                                                                                                     recommended change, and include
                                             Operations, M–30, U.S. Department of                    supporting data.                                      Novel or Unusual Design Features
                                             Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey                     We will consider all comments we                       The business-class seating
                                             Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West                           receive by the closing date for                       configuration Boeing proposes is novel
                                             Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC                   comments. We may change these special                 or unusual due to the seat installation
                                             20590–0001.                                             conditions based on the comments we                   at 30 degrees to the airplane centerline,
                                                • Hand Delivery or Courier: Take                     receive.                                              the airbag-system installation, and the
                                             comments to Docket Operations in                                                                              seat/occupant interface with the
                                             Room W12–140 of the West Building                       Background
                                                                                                                                                           surrounding furniture that introduces
                                             Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey                           On November 22, 2017, Boeing                        occupant alignment and loading
                                             Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9                    applied for an amendment to Type                      concerns. The proposed business-class
                                             a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through                         Certificate No. T00001SE for the                      seating configuration is also beyond the
                                             Friday, except Federal holidays.                        installation of oblique (side-facing)                 limits of current acceptable equivalent-
                                                • Fax: Fax comments to Docket                        passenger seats with or without airbag                level-of-safety findings. These oblique
                                             Operations at 202–493–2251.                             devices or 3-point restraints in the                  (side-facing) seats may be installed at an
                                                Privacy: The FAA will post all                       Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. The                angle of 18 to 45 degrees to the airplane
                                             comments it receives, without change,                   Boeing Model 777 series airplanes are                 centerline and may include a 3-point or
                                             to http://www.regulations.gov/,                         twin-engine, transport category                       airbag restraint system, or both, for
                                             including any personal information the                  airplanes with a maximum certified                    occupant restraint and injury protection.
                                             commenter provides. Using the search                    passenger capacity of up to 550 and a                    The existing regulations do not
                                             function of the docket website, anyone                  maximum takeoff weight of                             provide adequate or appropriate safety
                                             can find and read the electronic form of                approximately 775,000 lbs.                            standards for occupants of oblique-
                                             all comments received into any FAA                      Type Certification Basis                              angled seats with airbag systems. To
                                             docket, including the name of the                                                                             provide a level of safety that is
                                             individual sending the comment (or                         Under the provisions of title 14, Code             equivalent to that afforded occupants of
                                             signing the comment for an association,                 of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101,               forward- and aft-facing seats, additional
                                             business, labor union, etc.). DOT’s                     Boeing must show that the Model 777                   airworthiness standards, in the form of
                                             complete Privacy Act Statement can be                   series airplanes meet the applicable                  special conditions, are necessary. These
                                             found in the Federal Register published                 provisions of the regulations listed in               special conditions supplement part 25
                                             on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–19478).                  Type Certificate No. T00001SE, or the                 and, more specifically, supplement
                                                Docket: Background documents or                      applicable regulations in effect on the               §§ 25.562 and 25.785.
                                             comments received may be read at                        date of application for the change,                      The requirements contained in these
                                             http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time.                except for earlier amendments as agreed               special conditions consist of both test
                                             Follow the online instructions for                      upon by the FAA.                                      conditions and injury pass/fail criteria.
                                             accessing the docket or go to Docket                       If the Administrator finds that the
                                                                                                     applicable airworthiness regulations                  Discussion
                                             Operations in Room W12–140 of the
                                             West Building Ground Floor at 1200                      (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain                   The FAA has been conducting and
                                             New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,                       adequate or appropriate safety standards              sponsoring research on appropriate
                                             DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday                   for the Boeing Model 777 series                       injury criteria for oblique (side-facing)
                                             through Friday, except Federal holidays.                airplanes because of novel or unusual                 seat installations. However, the FAA
                                                                                                     design features, special conditions are               research program is not complete and
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John                   prescribed under the provisions of                    we may update these criteria as we
                                             Shelden, Airframe and Cabin Safety                      § 21.16.                                              obtain further research results. To
                                             Section, AIR–675, Transport Standards                      Special conditions are initially                   reflect current research findings, the
                                             Branch, Policy and Innovation Division,                 applicable to the model for which they                FAA issued policy statement PS–ANM–
                                             Aircraft Certification Service, Federal                 are issued. Should the type certificate               25–03–R1 to update injury criteria for
                                             Aviation Administration, 2200 South                     for that model be amended later to                    fully side-facing seats, and policy
                                             216th Street, Des Moines, Washington                    include any other model that                          statement PS–AIR–25–27, to define
                                             98198; telephone and fax 206–231–                       incorporates the same novel or unusual                injury criteria for oblique (side-facing)
                                             3214; email John.Shelden@faa.gov.                       design feature, or should any other                   seats.
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                          model already included on the same                      The proposed Boeing Model 777
                                             substance of these special conditions                   type certificate be modified to                       series airplanes business-class seat
                                             has been published in the Federal                       incorporate the same novel or unusual                 installation is novel such that the
                                             Register for public comment in several                  design feature, these special conditions              current Boeing Model 777 series
                                             prior instances with no substantive                     would also apply to the other model                   airplanes certification basis does not
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                                             comments received. The FAA therefore                    under § 21.101.                                       adequately address protection of the
                                             finds it unnecessary to delay the                          In addition to the applicable                      occupant’s neck and spine for seat
                                             effective date and finds that good cause                airworthiness regulations and special                 configurations that are positioned at an
                                             exists for making these special                         conditions, the Boeing Model 777 series               angle greater than 18 degrees from the
                                             conditions effective upon publication in                airplanes must comply with the fuel                   airplane centerline. The FAA issued
                                             the Federal Register.                                   vent and exhaust emission requirements                special conditions No. 25–569–SC for


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                         53165

                                             Model 777–300ER airplanes on                            system. Since an actual crash is                      Administrator, the following special
                                             September 25, 2014, and special                         frequently composed of a series of                    conditions are issued as part of the type
                                             conditions No. 25–621–SC for certain                    impacts before the airplane comes to                  certification basis for the Boeing Model
                                             Model 777–300ER airplanes on August                     rest, this could render the airbag                    777 series airplanes.
                                             3rd, 2016. These special conditions                     restraint system useless if a larger
                                                                                                                                                           Side-Facing Seats Special Conditions
                                             contained injury criteria for oblique                   impact follows the initial impact. This
                                             seats based on the best knowledge the                   situation does not exist with energy                    In addition to the requirements of
                                             FAA had at the time. These special                      absorbing pads or upper torso restraints,             § 25.562:
                                             conditions for oblique seat installations               which tend to provide protection                      1. Head Injury Criteria (HIC)
                                             do not adequately address oblique seats,                according to the severity of the impact.
                                             reflecting the current research results,                Therefore, the installation of the airbag                Compliance with § 25.562(c)(5) is
                                             with or without 3-point or airbag                       restraint system should be such that the              required, except that, if the ATD has no
                                             restraint systems. Therefore, Boeing’s                  airbag restraint system will provide                  apparent contact with the seat/structure
                                             proposed configuration will require                     protection when it is required, and will              but has contact with an airbag, a HIC
                                             amended special conditions.                             not expend its protection when it is not              unlimited score in excess of 1000 is
                                                The installation of passenger seats at               needed.                                               acceptable, provided the HIC15 score for
                                             angles of 18 to 45 degrees to the airplane                 Because these airbag restraint systems             that contact (calculated in accordance
                                             centerline are unique due to the seat/                  may or may not activate during various                with 49 CFR 571.208) is less than 700.
                                             occupant interface with the surrounding                 crash conditions, the injury criteria                 2. Body-to-Wall/Furnishing Contact
                                             furniture that introduces occupant                      listed in these special conditions and in
                                             alignment/loading concerns with or                      § 25.562 must be met in an event that is                 If a seat is installed aft of structure
                                             without the installation of a 3-point or                slightly below the activation level of the            (e.g., interior wall or furnishings) that
                                             airbag restraint system, or both. On-                   airbag restraint system. If an airbag                 does not provide a homogenous contact
                                             going research has invalidated                          restraint system is included with the                 surface for the expected range of
                                             previously released special conditions                  oblique seats, the system must meet the               occupants and yaw angles, then
                                             for oblique (side-facing) seat                          requirements in one of the airbag                     additional analysis and tests may be
                                             installations. These updated special                    (inflatable restraint) special conditions             required to demonstrate that the injury
                                             conditions further address potential                    applicable to the Boeing Model 777                    criteria are met for the area which an
                                             injuries to the occupant’s neck and                     series airplanes.                                     occupant could contact. For example,
                                             spine. As a result, these special                          These amended special conditions                   different yaw angles could result in
                                             conditions replace special conditions                   will provide head injury criteria, neck               different airbag device performance,
                                             25–569–SC and 25–621–SC. This                           injury criteria, spine injury criteria, and           then additional analysis or separate tests
                                             amendment adds a note to special                        body-to-wall contact criteria. They                   may be necessary to evaluate
                                             condition number 7 and adds special                     contain the additional safety standards               performance.
                                             condition number 8 to the Special                       that the Administrator considers                      3. Neck Injury Criteria
                                             Condition section. The note and special                 necessary to establish a level of safety
                                             condition 8 were unintentionally                        equivalent to that established by the                    The seating system must protect the
                                             omitted from the previous issuance of                   existing airworthiness standards.                     occupant from experiencing serious
                                             these special conditions. This additional                                                                     neck injury. The assessment of neck
                                             text is standard, in all material respects,             Applicability                                         injury must be conducted with the
                                             in previously issued special conditions                   As discussed above, these special                   airbag device activated, unless there is
                                             of the same topic.                                      conditions are applicable to the Boeing               a reason to also consider that the neck-
                                                FAA-sponsored research has found                     Model 777 series airplane. Should                     injury potential would be higher for
                                             that an un-restrained flailing of the                   Boeing apply at a later date for a change             impacts below the airbag-device
                                             upper torso, even when the pelvis and                   to the type certificate to include another            deployment threshold.
                                             torso are nearly aligned, can produce                   model incorporating the same novel or                    a. The Nij, calculated in accordance
                                             serious spinal and torso injuries. At                   unusual design feature, these special                 with 49 CFR 571.208, must be below
                                             lower impact severities, even with                      conditions would apply to that model as               1.0, where Nij = Fz/Fzc + My/Myc, and Nij
                                             significant misalignment between the                    well.                                                 critical values are:
                                             torso and pelvis, these injuries did not                                                                      i. Fzc = 1,530 lbs for tension
                                             occur. Tests with an FAA H–III                          Conclusion                                            ii. Fzc = 1,385 lbs for compression
                                             anthropomorphic test device (ATD)                         This action affects only certain novel              iii. Myc = 229 lb-ft in flexion
                                             have identified a level of lumbar spinal                or unusual design features on one model               iv. Myc = 100 lb-ft in extension
                                             tension corresponding to the no-injury                  series of airplanes. It is not a rule of                 b. In addition, peak upper-neck Fz
                                             impact severity. This level of tension is               general applicability.                                must be below 937 lbs. in tension and
                                             included as a limit in the special                                                                            899 lbs. in compression.
                                             conditions. The spine tension limit                     List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25                       c. Rotation of the head about its
                                             selected is conservative with respect to                  Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting                vertical axis, relative to the torso is
                                             other aviation injury criteria since it                 and recordkeeping requirements.                       limited to 105 degrees in either
                                             corresponds to a no-injury loading                                                                            direction from forward-facing.
                                             condition.                                              Authority Citation
                                                                                                                                                              d. The neck must not impact any
                                                As noted in the special conditions for                 The authority citation for these                    surface that would produce
                                             each airbag restraint system, because an                special conditions is as follows:
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                                                                                                                                                           concentrated loading on the neck.
                                             airbag restraint system is essentially a                  Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113,
                                             single use device, there is the potential                                                                     4. Spine and Torso Injury Criteria
                                                                                                     44701, 44702, 44704.
                                             that it could deploy under crash                                                                                 a. The lumbar spine tension (Fz)
                                             conditions that are not sufficiently                    The Special Conditions                                cannot exceed 1,200 lbs.
                                             severe as to require head injury                          Accordingly, pursuant to the                           b. Significant concentrated loading on
                                             protection from the airbag restraint                    authority delegated to me by the                      the occupant’s spine, in the area


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                                             53166            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                             between the pelvis and shoulders                          Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on                Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
                                             during impact, including rebound, is                    October 4, 2018.                                      Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9
                                             not acceptable. During this type of                     Victor Wicklund,                                      a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
                                             contact, the interval for any rearward (X               Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy           Friday, except Federal holidays.
                                             direction) acceleration exceeding 20g                   and Innovation Division, Aircraft                       • Fax: Fax comments to Docket
                                                                                                     Certification Service.
                                             must be less than 3 milliseconds as                                                                           Operations at 202–493–2251.
                                             measured by the thoracic                                [FR Doc. 2018–22933 Filed 10–19–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                              Privacy: The FAA will post all
                                             instrumentation specified in 49 CFR                     BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
                                                                                                                                                           comments it receives, without change,
                                             part 572, subpart E, filtered in                                                                              to http://www.regulations.gov/,
                                             accordance with SAE recommended                                                                               including any personal information the
                                                                                                     DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                             practice J211/1, ‘‘Instrumentation for                                                                        commenter provides. Using the search
                                             Impact Test–Part 1–Electronic                           Federal Aviation Administration                       function of the docket website, anyone
                                             Instrumentation.’’                                                                                            can find and read the electronic form of
                                               c. The occupant must not interact                     14 CFR Part 25                                        all comments received into any FAA
                                             with the armrest or other seat                                                                                docket, including the name of the
                                                                                                     [Docket No. FAA–2018–0932; Special
                                             components in any manner significantly                  Conditions No. 25–733–SC]
                                                                                                                                                           individual sending the comment (or
                                             different than would be expected for a                                                                        signing the comment for an association,
                                             forward-facing seat installation.                       Special Conditions: Mitsubishi Aircraft               business, labor union, etc.). DOT’s
                                                                                                     Corporation Model MRJ–200 Airplane;                   complete Privacy Act Statement can be
                                             5. Pelvis Criteria                                      Passenger Seats With Non-Traditional,                 found in the Federal Register published
                                                                                                     Large, Non-Metallic Panels                            on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–19478).
                                                Any part of the load-bearing portion
                                                                                                                                                              Docket: Background documents or
                                             of the bottom of the ATD pelvis must                    AGENCY:  Federal Aviation
                                                                                                                                                           comments received may be read at
                                             not translate beyond the edges of the                   Administration (FAA), DOT.
                                                                                                                                                           http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time.
                                             seat bottom seat-cushion supporting                     ACTION: Final special conditions; request
                                                                                                                                                           Follow the online instructions for
                                             structure.                                              for comments.                                         accessing the docket or go to Docket
                                             6. Femur Criteria                                       SUMMARY:   These special conditions are               Operations in Room W12–140 of the
                                                                                                     issued for the Mitsubishi Aircraft                    West Building Ground Floor at 1200
                                               Axial rotation of the upper leg (about                Corporation Model MRJ–200 airplane.                   New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
                                             the z-axis of the femur per SAE                         This airplane will have novel or                      DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
                                             Recommended Practice J211/1) must be                    unusual design features when compared                 through Friday, except Federal holidays.
                                             limited to 35 degrees from the nominal                  to the state of technology envisioned in              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                             seated position. Evaluation during                      the airworthiness standards for                       Nicholas Wilson, International Section,
                                             rebound does not need to be considered.                 transport category airplanes. These                   AIR–676, Transport Standards Branch,
                                             7. ATD and Test Conditions                              design features include passenger seats               Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft
                                                                                                     that incorporate non-traditional, large,              Certification Service, Federal Aviation
                                                Longitudinal tests conducted to                      non-metallic panels in lieu of the                    Administration, 2200 South 216th
                                             measure the injury criteria above must                  traditional metal frame covered by                    Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
                                             be performed with the FAA Hybrid III                    fabric. The applicable airworthiness                  telephone and fax 206–231–3230; email
                                             ATD, as described in SAE 1999–01–                       regulations do not contain adequate or                Nicholas.Wilson@faa.gov.
                                             1609, ‘‘A Lumbar Spine Modification to                  appropriate safety standards for this
                                                                                                     design feature. These special conditions              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     The
                                             the Hybrid III ATD for Aircraft Seat                                                                          substance of these special conditions
                                             Tests.’’ The tests must be conducted                    contain the additional safety standards
                                                                                                     that the Administrator considers                      has been published in the Federal
                                             with an undeformed floor, at the most-                                                                        Register for public comment in several
                                                                                                     necessary to establish a level of safety
                                             critical yaw cases for injury, and with                                                                       prior instances with no substantive
                                                                                                     equivalent to that established by the
                                             all lateral structural supports (e.g.,                                                                        comments received. The FAA, therefore,
                                                                                                     existing airworthiness standards.
                                             armrests or walls) installed.                                                                                 finds it unnecessary to delay the
                                                                                                     DATES: This action is effective on
                                                Note: Boeing must demonstrate that the                                                                     effective date and finds that good cause
                                                                                                     Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation on
                                             installation of seats via plinths or pallets                                                                  exists for making these special
                                                                                                     October 22, 2018. Send comments on or
                                             meets all applicable requirements.                                                                            conditions effective upon publication in
                                                                                                     before December 6, 2018.
                                             Compliance with the guidance contained in                                                                     the Federal Register.
                                                                                                     ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
                                             policy memorandum PS–ANM–100–2000–                                                                            Comments Invited
                                                                                                     by Docket No. FAA–2018–0932 using
                                             00123, ‘‘Guidance for Demonstrating
                                                                                                     any of the following methods:
                                             Compliance with Seat Dynamic Testing for
                                                                                                        • Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to                 We invite interested people to take
                                             Plinths and Pallets,’’ dated February 2, 2000,
                                                                                                     http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow                part in this rulemaking by sending
                                             is acceptable to the FAA.                                                                                     written comments, data, or views. The
                                                                                                     the online instructions for sending your
                                                                                                     comments electronically.                              most helpful comments reference a
                                             8. Inflatable Airbag Restraint Systems                     • Mail: Send comments to Docket                    specific portion of the special
                                             Special Conditions                                      Operations, M–30, U.S. Department of                  conditions, explain the reason for any
                                                                                                                                                           recommended change, and include
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                                               If inflatable airbag restraint systems                Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey
                                                                                                     Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West                         supporting data.
                                             are installed, the airbag systems must
                                                                                                     Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC                   We will consider all comments we
                                             meet the requirements in one of the
                                                                                                     20590–0001.                                           receive by the closing date for
                                             airbag (inflatable restraint) special
                                                                                                        • Hand Delivery or Courier: Take                   comments. We may change these special
                                             conditions applicable to the Boeing
                                                                                                     comments to Docket Operations in                      conditions based on the comments we
                                             Model 777 series airplanes.                             Room W12–140 of the West Building                     receive.


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Document Created: 2018-10-20 01:49:29
Document Modified: 2018-10-20 01:49:29
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
ActionAmended final special conditions; request for comments.
DatesThis action is effective on The Boeing Company on October 22, 2018. Send comments on or before December 6, 2018.
ContactJohn Shelden, Airframe and Cabin Safety Section, AIR-675, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3214; email [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 53163 
CFR AssociatedAircraft; Aviation Safety and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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