6198 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 20 / Wednesday, January 30, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

24, 2013. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–01928 Filed 1–29–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 25 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0699; Special 

Conditions No. 25–474–SC] 

Special Conditions: Airbus, Model 

A318–112 Airplane (S/N 3238); 

Certification of Cooktops 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final special conditions. 

SUMMARY: These special conditions are 

issued for the Airbus Model A318–112 

airplane, serial number (S/N) 3238. This 

airplane, as modified by Fokker Services 

B.V., will have a novel or unusual 

design feature associated with a cooktop 

installation. 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: Effective Date: January 24, 2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan 

Jacquet, FAA, Airframe and Cabin 

Safety Branch, ANM–115, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, Washington 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–2676; facsimile 

425–227–1100; email 

daniel.jacquet@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background 

On January 12, 2010, Fokker Services 

B.V. applied for a supplemental type 

certificate for an interior conversion on 

an Airbus Model A318–112 airplane, S/ 

N 3238. The Airbus Model A318–112 

airplane is a large, transport-category 

airplane powered by two CFM56–5B9/P 

engines, with a basic maximum takeoff 

weight of 130,071 pounds. 

At the time of the notice of proposed 

special conditions No. 25–12–02–SC, 

Fokker Services B.V. requested 

certification to convert an Airbus Model 

A318–112 (S/N 3238) to a corporate jet, 

operating for both common carriage and 

private use. As of this publication, 

Fokker Services B.V. requested 

certification for common carriage only. 

The aircraft will now be certified for a 

maximum of 8 crew and 19 passengers 

and limited to common carriage only. 

The aircraft will be subdivided into an 

entrance way, executive lounge, two 

private lounges, and a private bathroom. 

The entry will include the installation 

of two wet galleys. One of the galleys 

will include the installation of two 

combined cooktop pan units. The 

addition of a cooktop to this interior 

conversion can lead to hazards to both 

the occupants and the aircraft. Special 

consideration is needed to address the 

safety standards associated with this 

installation. 

Type Certification Basis 

Under the provisions of Title 14, Code 

of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101, 

Fokker Services B.V. must show that the 

Airbus Model A318–112 (S/N 3238) 

airplane, as changed, continues to meet 

the applicable provisions of the 

regulations incorporated by reference in 

Type Certificate No. A28NM 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. A28NM are 14 CFR part 

25, as amended by Amendments 25–1 

through 25–56, with reversions to 

earlier amendments, voluntary 

compliance to later amendments, 

special conditions, equivalent safety 

findings, and exemptions listed in the 

type certificate data sheet. 

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 Airbus Model A318–112 (S/N 

3238) because of a novel or unusual 

design feature, special conditions are 

prescribed under the provisions of 

§ 21.16. 

Special conditions are initially 

applicable to the model for which they 

are issued. Should the applicant apply 

for a supplemental type certificate to 

modify any other model included on the 

same type certificate to incorporate the 

same novel or unusual design feature, 

the special conditions would also apply 

to the other model under § 21.101. 

In addition to the applicable 

airworthiness regulations and special 

conditions, the Airbus Model A318–112 

(S/N 3238) 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 § 11.38, and they become part of 

the type-certification basis under 

§ 21.101. 

Novel or Unusual Design Features 

The Airbus Model A318–112 airplane, 

S/N 3238, will incorporate the following 

novel or unusual design feature: 

Cooktops in the passenger cabin. 

Cooktops introduce high heat, smoke, 

and the possibility of fire into the 

passenger cabin environment. The 

current airworthiness standards of part 

25 do not contain adequate or 

appropriate safety standards to protect 

the airplane and its occupants from 

these potential hazards. The applicant’s 

proposed system is considered to be a 

novel or unusual design feature. 

Discussion 

Currently, ovens are the prevailing 

means of heating food on airplanes. 

Ovens are characterized by an enclosure 

that contains both the heat source and 

the food being heated. The hazards 

presented by ovens are thus inherently 

limited and are well understood through 

years of service experience. Cooktops, 

on the other hand, are characterized by 

exposed heat sources and the presence 

of relatively unrestrained hot cookware 

and heated food. These may represent 

unprecedented hazards to both the 

occupants and the airplane. 

Cooktops could have serious 

passenger and aircraft safety 

implications if appropriate requirements 

are not established for their installation 

and use. The requirements identified in 

these proposed special conditions are in 

addition to those considerations 

identified in Advisory Circular (AC) 20– 

168, Certification Guidance for 

Installation of Non-Essential, NonRequired Aircraft Cabin Systems and 

Equipment (CS&E), and those in AC 25– 

17A, Transport Airplane Cabin Interiors 

Crashworthiness Handbook. The intent 

of these proposed special conditions is 

to provide a level of safety that is 

consistent with that on similar aircraft 

without cooktops. 

In similar cooktop installations, the 

FAA has required a deployable cover 

and a means to automatically shut off 

the power when the cover was in use. 

In lieu of these requirements, the 

cooktop installation in this Airbus 

A318–112 (S/N 3238) will have a lid 

and a timer that is not covered by the 

lid. The timer switches the heating 

elements on and off, has a maximum 

time of 20 minutes, and is still 

accessible when the lid is closed. The 


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 20 / Wednesday, January 30, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 6199 

cabin crew will be instructed on its use. 

In addition to the lid and timer, the 

applicant will supply a fire blanket that 

is 1,100 by 1,100 mm (catalogue no. 

SAP–967–T). The fire blanket meets the 

requirements of British Standard BS 

6575:1965. These specifications contain 

the requirements for flexibility, heat, 

electrical resistance, and fire 

extinguishing including cooking oil fires 

for light duty and heavy duty 

(industrial) applications. 

For this cooktop installation, the FAA 

requires evidence that with the cooktop 

lid closed, the temperature set on 

‘‘high,’’ and the timer at maximum, the 

cooktop will maintain safe operation 

and will not create a hazardous 

condition even with cooking oil in the 

cooktop. 

Discussion of Comments 

Notice of proposed special conditions 

No. 25–12–02–SC for the Airbus Model 

A318–112 airplane (S/N 3238) was 

published in the Federal Register on 

August 28, 2012 (77 FR 51944–51946). 

No comments were received, and the 

special conditions are adopted as 

proposed. 

Applicability 

As discussed above, these special 

conditions are applicable to the Airbus 

Model A318–112 (S/N 3238). Should 

Fokker Services B.V. apply at a later 

date for a supplemental type certificate 

to modify any other model included on 

Type Certificate No. A28NM to 

incorporate the same novel or unusual 

design feature, these special conditions 

would apply to that model as well. 

Under standard practice, the effective 

date of final special conditions would 

be 30 days after the date of publication 

in the Federal Register; however, as the 

certification date for the Airbus Model 

A318–112 airplane (S/N 3238) is 

imminent, the FAA finds that good 

cause exists to make these special 

conditions effective upon issuance. 

Conclusion 

This action affects only certain novel 

or unusual design features on one model 

of airplane. 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 

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 Airbus Model 

A318–112 airplane, serial number 3238, 

modified by Fokker Services B.V. 

Cooktop installations with electrically 

powered burners must comply with the 

following criteria: 

1. Means, such as conspicuous 

burner-on indicators, physical barriers, 

or handholds, must be installed to 

minimize the potential for inadvertent 

personnel contact with hot surfaces of 

both the cooktop and cookware. 

Conditions of turbulence must be 

considered. 

2. Sufficient design means must be 

included to restrain cookware while in 

place on the cooktop, as well as 

representative contents, e.g., soup, 

sauces, etc., from the effects of flight 

loads and turbulence. Restraints must be 

provided to preclude hazardous 

movement of cookware and contents. 

These restraints must accommodate any 

cookware that is identified for use with 

the cooktop. Restraints must be 

designed to be easily utilized and 

effective in service. The cookware 

restraint system should also be designed 

so that it will not be easily disabled, 

thus rendering it unusable. Placarding 

must be installed which prohibits the 

use of cookware that cannot be 

accommodated by the restraint system. 

3. Placarding must be installed that 

prohibits the use of cooktops (i.e., 

power on any burner) during taxi, 

takeoff, and landing. 

4. Means must be provided to address 

the possibility of a fire occurring on or 

in the immediate vicinity of the 

cooktop. Two acceptable means of 

complying with this requirement are as 

follows: 

a. Placarding must be installed that 

prohibits any burner from being 

powered when the cooktop is 

unattended, which would prohibit a 

single person from cooking on the 

cooktop and intermittently serving food 

to passengers while any burner is 

powered; a fire detector must be 

installed in the vicinity of the cooktop 

that provides an audible warning in the 

passenger cabin; and a fire extinguisher 

of appropriate size and extinguishing 

agent must be installed in the 

immediate vicinity of the cooktop. 

Access to the extinguisher must not be 

blocked by a fire on or around the 

cooktop. One of the fire extinguishers 

required by § 25.851 may be used to 

satisfy this requirement. If this is not 

possible, then the extinguisher in the 

galley area would be additional; or, 

b. An automatic, thermally activated, 

fire-suppression system must be 

installed to extinguish a fire at the 

cooktop and immediately adjacent 

surfaces. The agent used in the system 

must be an approved, total-flooding 

agent suitable for use in an occupied 

area. The fire-suppression system must 

have a manual override. The automatic 

activation of the fire-suppression system 

must also automatically shut off power 

to the cooktop. 

5. The surfaces of the galley 

surrounding the cooktop, which would 

be exposed to a fire on the cooktop 

surface or in cookware on the cooktop, 

must be constructed of materials that 

comply with the flammability 

requirements of 14 CFR part 25, 

appendix F, part III. This requirement is 

in addition to the flammability 

requirements typically required of the 

materials in these galley surfaces. 

During the selection of these materials, 

consideration must also be given to 

ensure that the flammability 

characteristics of the materials will not 

be adversely affected by the use of 

cleaning agents and utensils used to 

remove cooking stains. 

6. The cooktop ventilation system 

ducting must be protected by a flame 

arrestor. In addition, procedures and 

time intervals must be established and 

included in the instructions for 

continued airworthiness to inspect and 

clean or replace the ventilation system 

to prevent a fire hazard from the 

accumulation of flammable oils. [Note: 

The applicant may find additional 

useful information in the Society of 

Automotive Engineers, Aerospace 

Recommended Practice 85, Rev. E, 

entitled, ‘‘Air Conditioning Systems for 

Subsonic Airplanes,’’ dated August 1, 

1991.] 

7. Means must be provided to contain 

spilled foods or fluids in a manner that 

prevents the creation of a slipping 

hazard to occupants, and that will not 

lead to the loss of structural strength 

due to corrosion. 

8. Cooktop installations must provide 

adequate space for the user to 

immediately escape a hazardous 

cooktop condition. 

9. A means to shut off power to the 

cooktop must be provided at the galley 

containing the cooktop and in the 

cockpit. If additional switches are 

introduced in the cockpit, revisions to 

smoke or fire emergency procedures of 

the airplane flight manual (AFM) will be 

required. 

10. Cooktop installations must 

incorporate a timer that will switch the 


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6200 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 20 / Wednesday, January 30, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

heating elements off after a maximum 

time of 20 minutes. 

11. Instructions for the cabin crew to 

ensure safe operation of the cooktop lid 

and timer must be provided. 

12. Evidence must be provided that 

with the cooktop lid closed, the 

temperature set on ‘‘high,’’ and the 

timer at maximum, the cooktop will 

maintain safe operation and will not 

create a hazardous condition even with 

cooking oil in the cooktop. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

24, 2013. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–01939 Filed 1–29–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0183; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–131–AD; Amendment 

39–17328; AD 2013–02–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 737–600, 

–700, –700C, –800, –900, and –900ER 

series airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by reports from the manufacturer that 

center overhead stowage (COS) boxes 

could fall from their supports under 

forward load levels less than the 9 g 

forward load requirements as defined by 

certain regulations. This AD requires 

modifying COS boxes by installing new 

brackets, stiffeners, and hardware as 

needed. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent detachment of COS boxes at 

forward load levels less than 9 g during 

an emergency landing, which would 

cause injury to passengers and/or crew, 

and could impede subsequent rapid 

evacuation. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 6, 

2013. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of March 6, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; 

telephone 206–544–5000, extension 1; 

fax 206–766–5680; Internet https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may 

review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sarah Piccola, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental 

Systems Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, 

Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA 98057–3356; phone: 425– 

917–6483; fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

sarah.piccola@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on February 27, 2012 (77 FR 

11416). That NPRM proposed to require 

modifying COS boxes by installing new 

brackets, stiffeners, and hardware as 

needed. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal (77 FR 11416, 

February 27, 2012) and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. United 

Airlines and two private citizens 

support the NPRM. Aviation Partners 

Boeing stated that the installation of 

winglets per Supplemental Type 

Certificate (STC) ST00830SE does not 

affect the actions specified in the NPRM 

or Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 737–25–1641, Revision 1, dated 

August 8, 2011. 

Request To Revise the Compliance 

Time 

American Airlines requested that we 

extend the compliance time in the 

NPRM (77 FR 11416, February 27, 2012) 

from 60 months to 72 months to align 

with the heavy maintenance program 

driven by the Model 737 Maintenance 

Review Board. 

We do not agree with extending the 

compliance time to 72 months, because 

an operator has experienced an event 

where the COS box did not remain fully 

attached. An increase in compliance 

time is not in the interest of public 

safety. We have not changed the final 

rule regarding this issue. In developing 

an appropriate compliance time for this 

action, we considered the safety 

implications, parts availability, and 

normal maintenance schedules for the 

timely accomplishment of the 

modification. In consideration of these 

items, as well as the reports where the 

COS box did not remain fully attached, 

we have determined that a 60-month 

compliance time will ensure an 

acceptable level of safety and allow the 

modifications to be done during 

scheduled maintenance intervals for 

most affected operators. We have not 

changed the AD in this regard. 

Request To Revise Language 

Boeing requested that we clarify the 

language of the NPRM (77 FR 11416, 

February 27, 2012) and replace the 

words ‘‘other products of this same type 

design’’ in the paragraph ‘‘FAA’s 

Determination,’’ with the words ‘‘the 

Boeing 737 Next Generation (737NG) 

airplane prior to L/N 3518 excluding 

Boeing Sky Interior (BSI).’’ Boeing 

considered the existing language too 

general and confusing for operators. 

We disagree with changing the AD. 

This standard language contained under 

‘‘FAA’s Determination’’ is in all 

proposed airworthiness directives to 

show adherence to Part 39 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

39), and is not restated in the final rule. 

Request To Revise Maximum Load 

Arkefly Airlines suggested that Boeing 

give the option to reduce the maximum 

load to a load that would meet the 9 g 

requirement without modification. The 

commenter suggested this could be 

incorporated by installing a placard 

with the new (reduced) maximum load. 

We disagree because the customer 

COS box configuration has already been 

taken into account. This AD addresses 

optional COS boxes. These boxes 

typically contain life rafts, palletized 

equipment, or miscellaneous 

equipment. Boeing based its original 


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