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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30316-30317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13948]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0602; Special Conditions No. 25-729-SC]

Special Conditions: Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 Series 
Airplanes; Electronic System Security Protection From Unauthorized 
Internal Access

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A318, 
A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel 
or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology 
envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category 
airplanes. This design feature is airplane electronic systems and 
networks that allow access, from aircraft internal sources (e.g., 
wireless devices, internet connectivity), to the airplane's previously 
isolated, internal, electronic components. 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: This action is effective on Airbus on June 28, 2018. Send 
comments on or before August 13, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2018-0602 using 
any of the following methods:
     Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for sending 
your comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal 
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the 
docket website, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all 
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the 
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478).
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Varun Khanna, Airplane and Flight Crew 
Interface Section, AIR-671, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and 
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; 
telephone and fax 206-231-3159; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions 
previously has been published in the Federal Register for public 
comment. These special conditions have been derived without substantive 
change from those previously issued. It is unlikely that prior public 
comment would result in a significant change from the substance 
contained herein. Therefore, the FAA has determined that prior public 
notice and comment are unnecessary, and finds that, for the same 
reason, good cause exists for adopting these special conditions upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

Comments Invited

    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.

[[Page 30317]]

    We will consider all comments we receive by the closing date for 
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments 
we receive.

Background

    On February 2, 2017, Airbus applied for a change to Type 
Certificate No. A28NM for the installation of electronic network system 
architecture or Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (FOMAX) 
equipment in the Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. The 
Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes are twin-
engine, transport category airplanes with a passenger seating capacity 
of 136 to 230 and a maximum takeoff weight of 123,458 to 213,848 
pounds, depending on the specific design.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Airbus must show that the Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 
series airplanes as changed, continue to meet the applicable provisions 
of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A28NM or the 
applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the 
change, except for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA.
    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, A319, A320 and 
A321 series airplanes 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, these special conditions would also apply to 
the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, the Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series 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.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38, and they become part of the type 
certification basis under Sec.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes will 
incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:
    The installation and activation of electronic network system 
architecture or Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (FOMAX) 
equipment that allows access from internal sources (e.g., wireless 
devices, internet connectivity) to the airplane's once isolated 
internal electronic components.

Discussion

    The Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes 
architecture is novel or unusual for commercial transport airplanes 
because it allows connection to previously isolated data networks 
connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe 
operation of the airplane. This data network and design integration may 
result in security vulnerabilities from intentional or unintentional 
corruption of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance 
of the airplane. The existing regulations and guidance material did not 
anticipate this type of system architecture or electronic access to 
aircraft systems. Furthermore, 14 CFR regulations and the current 
system safety assessment policy and techniques do not address potential 
security vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by unauthorized 
access to airplane networks and servers. Therefore, these special 
conditions are to ensure that the security of airplane systems and 
networks is not compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless internal 
access.
    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.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. Should Airbus apply 
at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another 
model incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these 
special conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature 
on Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. It is not a 
rule of general applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Authority Citation

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

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

The Special Conditions

0
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 Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 
series airplanes.
    1. The applicant must ensure that the design provides isolation 
from, or airplane electronic system security protection against, access 
by unauthorized sources internal to the airplane. The design must 
prevent inadvertent and malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts 
upon, airplane equipment, systems, networks, or other assets required 
for safe flight and operations.
    2. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the 
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the aircraft is 
maintained, including all post type certification modifications that 
may have an impact on the approved electronic system security 
safeguards.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on June 25, 2018.
Victor Wicklund,
Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-13948 Filed 6-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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