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AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION:

Final special conditions; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

These special conditions are issued for Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes. These airplanes will have novel and unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The modification incorporates the installation of dual Honeywell Model AM-250 digital altimeters. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF). These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that provided by the existing airworthiness standards.

DATES:

The effective date of these special conditions is April 14, 2006. We must receive your comments by June 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

You must mail two copies of your comments to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Attn: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM345, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056. You may deliver two copies to the Transport Airplane Directorate at the above address. You must mark your comments: Docket No. NM345. You can inspect comments in the Rules Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Greg Dunn, FAA, Airplane and Flight Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2799; facsimile (425) 227-1320.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable, because these procedures would significantly delay certification of the airplane and thus delivery of the affected aircraft. In addition, the substance of these special conditions has been subject to the public comment process in several prior instances with no substantive comments received. The FAA, therefore, finds that good cause exists for making these special conditions effective upon issuance; however, 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 ask that you send us two copies of written comments.

We will file in the docket all comments we receive as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning these special conditions. You may inspect the docket before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble between 7:30 a.m., and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

We will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for comments. We will consider comments filed late if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. We may change these special conditions, based on the comments we receive.

If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on these special conditions, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped Start Printed Page 26190postcard on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the postcard and mail it back to you.

Background

On May 17, 2005, Flight Test Associates of Mojave, California, applied to the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, for a supplemental type certificate (STC) to modify Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes. This model, currently approved under Type Certificate No. A2WE, is powered by two Pratt and Whitney Turbo Wasp JT12A-8 engines and carries up to ten passengers. The modification incorporates installation of dual Honeywell Model AM-250 digital altimeters that perform critical functions. These digital altimeters have the potential to be vulnerable to high-intensity radiated fields external to the airplanes.

Type Certification Basis

Under 14 CFR 21.101, Flight Test Associates must show that the Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes, as modified, continue to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A2WE, or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the change. The regulations incorporated by reference in the type certificate are commonly referred to as the “original type certification basis.” The regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A2WE include Civil Air Regulations 4b, as amended by Amendments 4b-1 through 4b-9.

If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the modified Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16.

In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the Sabreliner Model NA265-60 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.

Special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, are issued under § 11.38 and become part of the type certification basis under § 21.101.

Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which they are issued. Should Flight Test Associates apply at a later date for an STC to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. A2WE to incorporate the same or similar novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would also apply to the other model under § 21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

As noted earlier, the Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates will incorporate dual primary altimeters that perform critical functions. These systems may be vulnerable to HIRF external to the airplane. The current airworthiness standards do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of this equipment from the adverse effects of HIRF. Accordingly, this system is considered to be a novel or unusual design feature.

Discussion

There is no specific regulation that addresses protection for electrical and electronic systems from HIRF. Increased power levels from ground-based radio transmitters and the growing use of sensitive avionics/electronics and electrical systems to command and control airplanes have made it necessary to provide adequate protection.

To ensure that a level of safety is achieved equivalent to that intended by the regulations incorporated by reference, special conditions are needed for the Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates. These special conditions require that new primary altimeters that perform critical functions be designed and installed to preclude component damage and interruption of function due to both the direct and indirect effects of HIRF.

High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)

With the trend toward increased power levels from ground-based transmitters and the advent of space and satellite communications coupled with electronic command and control of the airplane, the immunity of critical digital avionics/electronics and electrical systems to HIRF must be established.

It is not possible to precisely define the HIRF to which the airplane will be exposed in service. There is also uncertainty concerning the effectiveness of airframe shielding for HIRF. Furthermore, coupling of electromagnetic energy to cockpit-installed equipment through the cockpit window apertures is undefined. Based on surveys and analysis of existing HIRF emitters, an adequate level of protection exists when compliance with the HIRF protection special condition is shown with either paragraph 1 or 2 below:

1. A minimum threat of 100 volts rms (root-mean-square) per meter electric field strength from 10 KHz to 18 GHz.

a. The threat must be applied to the system elements and their associated wiring harnesses without the benefit of airframe shielding.

b. Demonstration of this level of protection is established through system tests and analysis.

2. A threat external to the airframe of the field strengths indicated in the following table for the frequency ranges indicated. Both peak and average field strength components from the table are to be demonstrated.

The threat levels identified above are the result of an FAA review of existing studies on the subject of HIRF, in light of the ongoing work of the Electromagnetic Effects Harmonization Working Group of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.

Applicability

As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates. Should Flight Test Associates apply at a later date for an STC to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. A2WE to incorporate the same or similar novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well as under § 21.101.

Conclusion

This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on the Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes. It is not a rule of general applicability and affects only the applicant which applied to the FAA for approval of these features on the airplane. Start Printed Page 26191

The substance of the special conditions for these airplanes has undergone the notice and comment procedure in several prior instances and has been derived without substantive change from those previously issued. Because a delay would significantly affect the certification of the airplane, which is imminent, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting these special conditions upon issuance. The FAA is requesting comments to allow interested persons to submit views that may not have been submitted in response to the prior opportunities for comment described above.

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List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

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The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

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Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.

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The Special Conditions

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of the supplemental type certification basis for the Sabreliner Model NA-265-60 airplanes modified by Flight Test Associates.

1. Protection from Unwanted Effects of High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF). Each electrical and electronic system that performs critical functions must be designed and installed to ensure that the operation and operational capability of these systems to perform critical functions are not adversely affected when the airplane is exposed to high-intensity radiated fields.

2. For the purpose of these special conditions, the following definition applies:

Critical Functions: Functions whose failure would contribute to or cause a failure condition that would prevent the continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

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