11554 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 33 / Tuesday, February 19, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

25.672, the following requirements 

apply: 

a. The system design must ensure that 

the flightcrew is made suitably aware 

whenever the primary control means 

nears the limit of control authority. 

Note: The term ‘‘suitably aware’’ indicates 

annunciations provided to the flightcrew are 

appropriately balanced between nuisance 

and that necessary for crew awareness. 

b. If the design of the flight control 

system has multiple modes of operation, 

a means must be provided to indicate to 

the flightcrew any mode that 

significantly changes or degrades the 

normal handling or operational 

characteristics of the airplane. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 

12, 2013. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–03656 Filed 2–15–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 25 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1216; Special 

Conditions No. 25–479–SC] 

Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., 

Model EMB–550 Airplane, Limit Pilot 

Forces for Sidestick Control 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final special conditions. 

SUMMARY: These special conditions for 

the Embraer S.A. Model EMB–550 

airplane. This airplane will have a novel 

or unusual design feature, specifically 

sidestick controllers designed to be 

operated with only one hand. 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: March 21, 2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Todd Martin, FAA, Airframe and Cabin 

Safety Branch, ANM–115, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, Washington, 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1178; facsimile 

425–227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On May 14, 2009, Embraer S.A. 

applied for a type certificate for their 

new Model EMB–550 airplane. The 

Model EMB–550 airplane is the first of 

a new family of jet airplanes designed 

for corporate flight, fractional, charter, 

and private owner operations. The 

aircraft has a conventional configuration 

with low wing and T-tail empennage. 

The primary structure is metal with 

composite empennage and control 

surfaces. The Model EMB–550 airplane 

is designed for 8 passengers, with a 

maximum of 12 passengers. It is 

equipped with two Honeywell 

HTF7500–E medium bypass ratio 

turbofan engines mounted on aft 

fuselage pylons. Each engine produces 

approximately 6,540 pounds of thrust 

for normal takeoff. The primary flight 

controls consist of hydraulically 

powered fly-by-wire elevators, ailerons, 

and rudder, controlled by the pilot or 

copilot sidestick. 

Current regulations reference pilot 

effort loads for the cockpit pitch and roll 

controls that are based on a two-handed 

effort. The cockpit roll and pitch 

controls for the Model EMB–550 

airplane are designed for one-handed 

operation. 

Type Certification Basis 

Under the provisions of Title 14, Code 

of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, 

Embraer S.A. must show that the Model 

EMB–550 airplane meets the applicable 

provisions of part 25, as amended by 

Amendments 25–1 through 25–127 

thereto. 

If the Administrator finds that the 

applicable airworthiness regulations 14 

CFR part 25 do not contain adequate or 

appropriate safety standards for the 

Model EMB–550 airplane 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 type certificate 

for that model be amended later to 

include any other model that 

incorporates the same or similar 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 Model EMB–550 

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 and the FAA must issue a 

finding of regulatory adequacy under 

section 611 of Public Law 92–574, the 

‘‘Noise Control Act of 1972.’’ 

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 

§ 21.17(a)(2). 

Novel or Unusual Design Features 

The Embraer S.A. Model EMB–550 

airplane will incorporate the following 

novel or unusual design features: The 

Model EMB–550 airplane is equipped 

with a sidestick controller instead of a 

conventional wheel or control stick. 

This kind of controller is designed to be 

operated using only one hand. The 

requirement of 14 CFR 25.397(c), which 

defines limit pilot forces and torques for 

conventional wheel or stick controls, is 

not appropriate for a sidestick 

controller. Therefore, a special 

condition is necessary to specify the 

appropriate loading conditions for this 

kind of controller. 

Discussion 

The Embraer S.A. Model EMB–550 

airplane is equipped with a sidestick 

controller instead of a conventional 

wheel or control stick. This kind of 

controller is designed to be operated 

using only one hand. The requirement 

of 14 CFR 25.397(c), which defines limit 

pilot forces and torques for conventional 

wheel or stick controls, is not 

appropriate for a sidestick controller, 

because pilot forces are applied to 

sidestick controllers with only the wrist, 

not arms. 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. 

Discussion of Comments 

Notice of proposed special conditions 

No. 25–12–13–SC for the Embraer S.A. 

Model EMB–550 airplanes was 

published in the Federal Register on 

November 20, 2012, (77 FR 69571). No 

comments were received, and the 

special conditions are adopted as 

proposed. 

Applicability 

As discussed above, these special 

conditions are applicable to the Model 

EMB–550 airplane. Should Embraer 

S.A. apply at a later date for a change 

to the type certificate to include another 

model incorporating the same novel or 

unusual design feature, the special 

conditions would apply to that model as 

well. 

Conclusion 

This action affects only certain novel 

or unusual design features on one model 


sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 33 / Tuesday, February 19, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 11555 

of airplanes. 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 Embraer S.A. 

Model EMB–550 airplanes. 

■ 1. Limit Pilot Forces for Sidestick 

Control. 

In lieu of the pilot forces specified in 

§ 25.397(c): 

■ (a) The limit pilot forces are: 

Pitch Roll 

Nose up 200 pounds 

force (lbf).

Nose left 100 lbf 

Nose down 200 lbf ....... Nose right 100 lbf 

■ (b) For all other components of the 

sidestick control assembly, excluding 

the internal components of the electrical 

sensor assemblies, to avoid damage as a 

result of an in-flight jam. 

Pitch Roll 

Nose up 125 lbf ............. Nose left 50 lbf 

Nose down 125 lbf ......... Nose right 50 lbf 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 

12, 2013. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–03657 Filed 2–15–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 25 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1241; Special 

Conditions No. 25–480–SC] 

Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., 

Model EMB–550 Airplane; Design Roll 

Maneuver for Electronic Flight 

Controls 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final special conditions. 

SUMMARY: These special conditions are 

issued for the Embraer S.A. Model 

EMB–550 airplane. This airplane will 

have a novel or unusual design 

feature(s) associated with the design roll 

maneuver for electronic flight controls, 

specifically an electronic flight control 

system that provides control of the 

aircraft through pilot inputs to the flight 

computer. 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: March 21, 2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Todd Martin, FAA, Airframe and Cabin 

Safety Branch, ANM–115, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, Washington, 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1178; facsimile 

425–227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On May 14, 2009, Embraer S.A. 

applied for a type certificate for their 

new Model EMB–550 airplane. The 

Model EMB–550 airplane is the first of 

a new family of jet airplanes designed 

for corporate flight, fractional, charter, 

and private owner operations. The 

aircraft has a conventional configuration 

with low wing and T-tail empennage. 

The primary structure is metal with 

composite empennage and control 

surfaces. The Model EMB–550 airplane 

is designed for 8 passengers, with a 

maximum of 12 passengers. It is 

equipped with two Honeywell 

HTF7500–E medium bypass ratio 

turbofan engines mounted on aft 

fuselage pylons. Each engine produces 

approximately 6,540 pounds of thrust 

for normal takeoff. The primary flight 

controls consist of hydraulically 

powered fly-by-wire elevators, ailerons, 

and rudder, controlled by the pilot or 

copilot sidestick. 

The flight control system for the 

Model EMB–550 airplane does not have 

a direct mechanical link or a linear gain 

between the airplane flight control 

surface and the pilot’s cockpit control 

device, which is not accounted for in 

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 

(14 CFR) 25.349(a). Instead, a flight 

control computer commands the 

airplane flight control surfaces, based on 

input received from the cockpit control 

device. The pilot input is modified by 

the flight control computer before the 

command is given to the flight control 

surface. 

Type Certification Basis 

Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, 

Embraer S.A. must show that the Model 

EMB–550 airplane meets the applicable 

provisions of part 25, as amended by 

Amendments 25–1 through 25–127 

thereto. 

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 Model EMB–500 airplane 

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 type certificate 

for that model be amended later to 

include any other model that 

incorporates the same or similar 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 Model EMB–550 

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 and the FAA must issue a 

finding of regulatory adequacy under 

section 611 of Public Law 92–574, the 

‘‘Noise Control Act of 1972.’’ 

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 

§ 21.17(a)(2). 

Novel or Unusual Design Features 

The Embraer S.A. Model EMB–550 

airplane will incorporate the following 

novel or unusual design features: The 

Model EMB–550 airplane is equipped 

with an electronic flight control system 

that provides control of the aircraft 

through pilot inputs to the flight 

computer. Current part 25 airworthiness 

regulations account for ‘‘control laws’’ 

where aileron deflection is proportional 

to control stick deflection. They do not 

address any nonlinearities, i.e., 

situations where output does not change 

in the same proportion as input, or other 

effects on aileron actuation that may be 

caused by electronic flight controls. 

Discussion 

These special conditions differ from 

current regulatory requirements in that 

they require that the roll maneuver 

result from defined movements of the 

cockpit roll control as opposed to 

defined aileron deflections. Also, these 

special conditions require an additional 


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