[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14794-14795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6323]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. NM436; Special Conditions No. 25-421-SC]


Special Conditions: Boeing Model 747-8 Airplanes, Systems and 
Data Networks Security--Isolation or Protection From Unauthorized 
Passenger Domain Systems Access

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 747-8 
airplanes. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features 
associated with connectivity of the passenger domain computer systems 
to the airplane critical systems and data networks. The applicable 
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety 
standards for these design features. 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: Effective Date: April 18, 2011

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Will Struck, FAA, Airplane and Flight 
Crew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-
2764; facsimile (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 4, 2005, The Boeing Company, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, WA 
98124, applied for an amendment to Type Certificate Number A20WE to 
include the new Model 747-8 passenger airplane. The Model 747-8 is a 
derivative of the 747-400. The Model 747-8 is a four-engine jet 
transport airplane that will have a maximum takeoff weight of 970,000 
pounds and new General Electric GEnx-2B67 engines. The Model 747-8 will 
have two flight crew and the capacity to carry 605 passengers.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Boeing must show that the Model 747-8 (hereafter referred 
to as the 747-8) continues to meet the applicable provisions of 14 CFR 
part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-117, except for 
Sec. Sec.  25.809 and 25.812, which will remain at Amendment 25-115. 
These regulations will be incorporated into Type Certificate No. A20WE 
after type certification approval of the 747-8.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., part 25) do not contain adequate or appropriate 
safety standards for the 747-8 because of a novel or unusual design 
feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of 
Sec.  21.16.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended 
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or 
unusual design feature, or should any other model already included on 
the same type certificate be modified to incorporate the same novel or 
unusual design feature, the special conditions would also apply to the 
other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the 747-8 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 Sec.  11.19, are issued under 
Sec.  11.38, and become part of the type certification basis under 
Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Boeing Model 747-8 airplane will incorporate the following 
novel or unusual design features: Digital systems architecture composed 
of several connected networks. The network architecture would be used 
for a diverse set of functions, including:
    1. Flight-safety related control, communication, and navigation 
systems (Aircraft Control Domain),
    2. Airline business and administrative support (Airline Information 
Domain),
    3. Passenger information and entertainment systems (Passenger 
Entertainment Domain), and
    4. The capability to allow access to or by external network 
sources.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of proposed special conditions No. 25-10-01-SC for the 
Boeing Model 747-8 airplane was published in the Federal Register on 
December 9, 2010 (75 FR 76647). No comments were received and the 
special conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to 
Boeing

[[Page 14795]]

Model 747-8 airplanes. Should Boeing apply at a later date for a change 
to the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same 
novel or unusual design features, the special conditions would apply to 
that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
of the Boeing Model 747-8 airplane. It is not a rule of general 
applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

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

The Special Conditions

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of 
the type certification basis for the Boeing Model 747-8 airplane.

    The design must prevent all inadvertent or malicious changes to, 
and all adverse impacts upon, all systems, networks, hardware, 
software, and data in the Aircraft Control Domain and in the Airline 
Information Domain from all points within the Passenger Information 
and Entertainment Domain.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6323 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P