U.S.Department

of TransportatiOn

Federal Aviation

Administration

May 12,2010

Mr. Robert Glasscock

Product Development Team Lead

GVI Airworthiness and Certification

Gulfstrcam Aerospace Corporation

P.O. Box 2206, MIS R-03

Savannah, GA 31402-2206

Dear Mr. Glasscock:

Transport Airplane Directorate

1601 Lind Avenue, S.W.

Renton, Washington 98057-3356

We have received your petition (letter A&C-IO-129) for an c, emption dated April 19, 2010.

The petition requests an exemption from the requirement or Title 14, Code of Federal

Regulations (14 CFR) 25.813(e) at amendment 25-116, for ttie not yet certificated GVI

model. This exemption, if granted, would allow the installation of interior doors between

passenger seats that are occupiable for takeoff and landing and the forward left hand

passenger emergency exit.

Your petition has been added to public docket no. FAA-20 10r0446. However, before we

begin processing your petition, we require more information related to items that you have

proposed as compensating factors in your petition. The item~ are:

a. The location and number of the over wing exits which le listed as "Factors supporting

the petition." I J

b. The "Additional GVI Design Considerations" section akes note of two future

demonstrations. I

I. The first one will show that the over wing exit pair is equivalent to the size and

number of exits required by 14 CFR 25.807(g). This demonstration will also

show that the over wing main entry door is an emergency exit in excess of the

minimum required on the left hand side of the aircraft.

2. The second demonstration will show the egress cababilities of the over wing exit

pair(s) are equivalent to that ofa required Type III exit.

As you are aware, Gulfstream is currently in the process of Jorking with the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify the GVI model aj~~~ane. During this process the

FAA has expressed its concern regarding the design of the dCforative trim in the vicinity of

the ovcrwing exits. The concern includes the effect that the trim may have with respect to

Gulfstream demonstrating compliance with the requirements pf 14 CFR 25.809(c) which

states, in part, '''lbe means of opening emergency exits must be simple and obvious; may not

require exceptional effort; and must be arranged and marked ~o that it can be readily located
2

and operated, even in darkness." The design of the decorative trim might have a significant

impact on one or more of the following:

1. Ease of indentifying the means of opening the exit.

2. Ease of removing and disposing of the trim. 1

3. Ease of opening the exit from inside and outside tHe fuselage.

4. Ease of disposing of the exit hatch. I

5. Ease of performing the functions, noted above, in darkness.

I

These issues, in turn, may have an impact on the capability of persons to evacuate through

the over wing exits.

Before this petition for exemption can be processed further, tfinal Gulfstream proposed

design details must be submitted to the FAA, so we can dete . one if additional

compensating factors need to be provided to support this peri ion. The design details should

include, as a minimum, information on whether or not the deJorative trim will be detachable

from the exit hatch and the total sequence of operations to rerove and stow the exit hatch.

Tfthe trim is detachable, then details should be provided on tae steps necessary to detach the

trim, and the estimated size and weight of each component thkt will need to be removed

from the exit opening by a passenger during an emergency egress operation.

After we receive the additional information, we will advise ylm of our final decision on your

petition as soon as possible. We will hold the docket open fo~ 30 days awaiting this

information. If we do not receive a response in 30 days we will close the docket. If you have

questions in the meantime, you may call Dan Jacquet at (425) 227- 2676, e-mail

dan.jacquet@faa.gov.

Sincerely,

f}~':J~1O

Franklin Tiangsing

Manager, Airframe and Cabin Safety Branch

Transport Standards Staff

Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification service

l