Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A Airplanes; High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final special conditions; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FAA issues these special conditions for a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A airplane modified by AeroMech Incorporated. This modified airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The modification incorporates the installation of Innovative Solutions and Support integrated air data display units (ADDU). These systems perform critical functions. 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 established by the existing airworthiness standards.

DATES:

The effective date of these special conditions is December 29, 2006. We must receive your comments on or before February 9, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

You may mail or deliver comments on these special conditions in duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Attention: Rules Docket (ANM-113), Docket No. NM363, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356. You must mark your comments Docket No. NM363.

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 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2799; facsimile (425) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for prior public comment for these special conditions is impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay certification and 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. We therefore find that good cause exists for making these special conditions effective upon issuance. However, we invite interested persons to take part in this rulemaking by submitting written comments. 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 about 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 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 postcard on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the postcard and mail it back to you.

Background

On September 29, 2006, AeroMech Incorporated, 1616 Hewitt Avenue, Suite 312, Everett, Washington 98201, applied for a supplemental type certificate (STC) to modify a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation model G-1159A airplane. The Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A airplane is a small transport category airplane powered by two turbine engines. It operates with a 2-pilot crew and can seat up to 15 passengers. The modification incorporates the installation of Innovative Solutions and Support integrated air data display units. These systems have a potential to be vulnerable to high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF) external to the airplane.

Type Certification Basis

Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, AeroMech Incorporated must show that Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A airplane, as changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. A12EA, 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 specific regulations are 14 CFR part 25 as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-8, 25-10, 25-12, 25-16 through 25-22, 25-24, 25-26, 25-27, 25-29 through 25-34, 25-37, 25-40 (as applicable to a new APU installation); § 25.1309 as amended by Amendment 25-41, and § 25.1329 (as applied to a new autopilot installation), § 25.994 (crashworthiness fuel system components), and § 25.581 (lightning protection), as amended by Amendment 25-23; and Special part 27, as amended by Amendment 27-2 (fuel venting emission). The special conditions contained in the FAA's letter to Grumman dated September 27, 1965, applicable to the Gulfstream Model G-1159 airplane, are also applicable to the Gulfstream Model G-1159A airplane, except that reference to Civil Air Regulations 4b.450 in the “Cooling Systems” special conditions is replaced by § 25.1043, effective February 1, 1965. In addition, the special conditions pertaining to dynamic gust loads contained in the FAA AEA-212 letter dated July 22, 1980.

If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations (i.e., part 25, as amended) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A airplane because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under § 21.16.

In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A airplane must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.

The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in § 11.19, under § 11.38, and they become part of the type certification basis under the provisions of § 21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

As noted earlier, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G-1159A airplane modified by AeroMech Incorporated will incorporate Innovative Solutions and Support integrated air data display units that will perform critical functions. These systems may be vulnerable to high-intensity radiated fields external to the airplane. Current airworthiness standards of part 25 do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for protecting this equipment from adverse effects of HIRF. So this system is considered to be a novel or unusual design feature.

Discussion

There is no specific regulation that addresses protection requirements 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 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G-1159A airplane modified by AeroMech Incorporated. These special conditions require that new avionics/electronics and electrical systems that perform critical functions be designed and installed to preclude component damage and interruption of function because of HIRF.

High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)

High-power radio frequency transmitters for radio, radar, television, and satellite communications can adversely affect operation of airplane electric and electronic systems. Therefore, the immunity of critical avionics/electronics and electrical systems to HIRF must be established.

Based on surveys and analysis of existing HIRF emitters, an adequate level of protection exists when airplane system immunity is demonstrated when exposed to the HIRF environments in 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. System elements and their associated wiring harnesses must be exposed to the environment without benefit of airframe shielding.

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

2. An environment external to the airframe of the field strengths shown in the table below for the frequency ranges indicated. Immunity to both peak and average field strength components from the table must be demonstrated.

The environmental levels identified above are the result of an FAA review of existing studies on the subject of HIRF and of the work of the Electromagnetic Effects Harmonization Working Group of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.

Applicability

These special conditions are applicable to a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A airplane modified by AeroMech Incorporated. Should AeroMech Incorporated apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other similar model included on Type Certificate No. A12EA to incorporate the same or similar novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well under § 21.101.

Conclusion

This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A airplane modified by AeroMech Incorporated. It is not a rule of general applicability and affects only the applicant who applied to the FAA for approval of these features on the airplane.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

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

The Special Conditions

Therefore, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of the supplemental type certification basis for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159A airplane modified by AeroMech Incorporated.

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.