Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 1337 

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. 

We will consider all comments we 

receive on or before the closing date for 

comments. We may change these special 

conditions based on the comments we 

receive. 

Background 

On August 25, 2008, Airbus applied 

for a type certificate for their new Model 

A350–900 series airplane. Later, Airbus 

requested and the FAA approved an 

extension to the application for FAA 

type certification to June 28, 2009. The 

Model A350–900 series has a 

conventional layout with twin wingmounted Rolls-Royce Trent engines. It 

features a twin aisle 9-abreast economy 

class layout, and accommodates side-byside placement of LD–3 containers in 

the cargo compartment. The basic 

Model A350–900 series configuration 

will accommodate 315 passengers in a 

standard two-class arrangement. The 

design cruise speed is Mach 0.85 with 

a Maximum Take-Off Weight of 602,000 

lbs. Airbus proposes the Model A350– 

900 series to be certified for extended 

operations (ETOPS) beyond 180 minutes 

at entry into service for up to a 420- 

minute maximum diversion time. 

The longitudinal control law design of 

the Airbus Model A350–900 

incorporates an overspeed protection 

system in the normal mode; this would 

prevent the pilot from inadvertently or 

intentionally exceeding a speed 

approximately equivalent to VFC or 

attaining VDF. Current Title 14 Code of 

Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 25 

sections do not relate to a high speed 

limiting protection system that might 

preclude or modify flying qualities 

assessments in the overspeed region. 

However, the requirements of § 25.253 

(High-speed characteristics) and its 

related policy are applicable to the 

Model A350–900 series and not affected 

by this proposed special condition. 

Type Certification Basis 

Under Title 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, Airbus must 

show that the Model A350–900 series 

meets the applicable provisions of 14 

CFR part 25, as amended by 

Amendments 25–1 through 25–129. 

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 A350–900 series 

because of a novel or unusual design 

feature, special conditions are 

prescribed under § 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 proposed 

special conditions, the Model A350–900 

series 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, under § 11.38, 

and they become part of the typecertification basis under § 21.17(a)(2). 

Novel or Unusual Design Features 

The Model A350–900 series will 

incorporate the following novel or 

unusual design features: An overspeed 

protection system which prevents the 

pilot from inadvertently or intentionally 

exceeding a speed approximately 

equivalent to VFC or attaining VDF. 

At VMO + 10 knots or MMO + 0.02, an 

automatic nose up pitch is applied with 

phase advance in case of high 

acceleration. The speed stabilizes at VD

¥ 10kts/MD ¥ 0.02 if the stick is full 

forward, or the speed will return below 

VMO/MMO if the stick is released. 

Discussion 

This proposed special condition 

establishes requirements to ensure that 

operation of the high speed limiting 

protection system does not impede 

normal attainment of speeds up to the 

overspeed warning. Its main features 

are: 

1. It protects the airplane against high 

speed/high Mach number flight 

conditions beyond VMO/MMO. 

2. It does not interfere with flight at 

VMO/MMO, even in turbulent air. 

3. It still provides load factor 

limitation through the ‘‘pitch limiting’’ 

function described below. 

4. It restores positive static stability 

beyond VMO/MMO. 

Applicability 

As discussed above, these proposed 

special conditions apply to Airbus 

Model A350–900 series airplanes. 

Should Airbus apply later for a change 

to the type certificate to include another 

model incorporating the same novel or 

unusual design feature, the proposed 

special conditions would apply to that 

model as well. 

Conclusion 

This action affects only certain novel 

or unusual design features on the Airbus 

Model A350–900 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. 

The authority citation for these 

special conditions is as follows: 

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

44702, 44704. 

The Proposed Special Conditions 

Accordingly, the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) proposes the 

following special condition as part of 

the type certification basis for Airbus 

Model A350–900 series airplanes. 

In addition to § 25.143, the following 

requirements apply: Operation of the 

high speed limiter during all routine 

and descent procedure flight must not 

impede normal attainment of speeds up 

to overspeed warning 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 

22, 2013. 

Stephen P. Boyd, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–00100 Filed 1–7–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 25 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0892; Notice 

No. 25–13–21–SC] 

Special Conditions: Airbus, A350–900 

Series Airplane; Crashworthiness— 

Emergency Landing Conditions 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed special 

conditions. 

SUMMARY: This action proposes special 

conditions for the Airbus Model A350– 

900 series airplanes. These airplanes 

will have a novel or unusual design 

feature associated with crashworthiness 

of carbon fiber reinforced plastic used in 

the construction of the fuselage. The 

applicable airworthiness regulations do 

not contain adequate or appropriate 

safety standards for this design feature. 

These proposed special conditions 

contain the additional safety standards 

that the Administrator considers 

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1338 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

necessary to establish a level of safety 

equivalent to that established by the 

existing airworthiness standards. 

DATES: Send your comments on or 

before February 24, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by docket number FAA–2013–0892 

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 Web site, 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), 

as well as at http://DocketsInfo. 

dot.gov/. 

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 the 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: 

Todd Martin, FAA, Airframe/Cabin 

Safety, ANM–115, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification 

Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, Washington, 98057–3356; 

telephone (425) 227–1178; facsimile 

(425) 227–1320. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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 proposed special 

conditions, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. We ask that you send 

us two copies of written comments. 

We will consider all comments we 

receive on or before the closing date for 

comments. We may change these 

proposed special conditions based on 

the comments we receive. 

Background 

On August 25, 2008, Airbus applied 

for a type certificate for their new Model 

A350–900 series airplane. Later, Airbus 

requested and the FAA approved an 

extension to the application for FAA 

type certification to June 28, 2009, The 

Model A350–900 series has a 

conventional layout with twin wingmounted Rolls-Royce Trent XWB 

engines. It features a twin aisle 9-abreast 

economy class layout, and 

accommodates side-by-side placement 

of LD–3 containers in the cargo 

compartment. The basic Model A350– 

900 series configuration will 

accommodate 315 passengers in a 

standard two-class arrangement. The 

design cruise speed is Mach 0.85 with 

a Maximum Take-Off Weight of 602,000 

lbs. Airbus proposes the Model A350– 

900 series to be certified for extended 

operations (ETOPS) beyond 180 minutes 

at entry into service for up to a 420- 

minute maximum diversion time. 

Changes in the structural behavior of 

the Airbus Model A350–900 series 

airplanes compared to currently 

certificated designs could degrade the 

survivability of Model A350–900 series 

occupants in crash conditions that are 

within the limits of survivability for 

other designs. 

There is no aircraft-level survivable 

crash condition specified in the 

airworthiness regulations, and metallic 

aircraft have not been specifically 

designed against survivable impact 

conditions. However, the structural 

behavior of previously certificated 

aircraft in a survivable crash event and 

the associated limits are considered 

generally acceptable. It is therefore 

reasonable to expect that a design using 

new materials, such as the Model A350– 

900 series airplanes use, should be 

assessed to ensure that the material 

meets the currently accepted level of 

safety. The FAA and industry have 

collected a significant amount of 

experimental data as well as data from 

crashes of transport category airplanes 

that show a high occupant survival rate 

at vertical descent velocities up to 30 ft/ 

sec. Based on this information, the FAA 

finds it appropriate and necessary for an 

assessment of the Model A350–900 

series airplanes to span a range of 

airplane vertical descent speeds up to 

30 ft/sec. 

Type Certification Basis 

Under Title 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, Airbus must 

show that the Model A350–900 series 

meets the applicable provisions of 14 

CFR part 25, as amended by 

Amendments 25–1 through 25–129. 

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 A350–900 series because 

of a novel or unusual design feature, 

special conditions are prescribed under 

§ 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 A350–900 series 

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 § 611 of Public Law 92– 

574, the ‘‘Noise Control Act of 1972.’’ 

The FAA issues special conditions, as 

defined in 14 CFR 11.19, under § 11.38, 

and they become part of the typecertification basis under § 21.17(a)(2). 

Novel or Unusual Design Features 

The Airbus Model A350–900 series 

will incorporate the following novel or 

unusual design feature: fuselage 

fabricated with a combination of carbon 

fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and 

metallic structure. This is a novel and 

unusual design feature for a large 

transport airplane. Structure fabricated 

from CFRP may behave differently than 

metallic structure in crash conditions 

because of differences in material 

ductility, stiffness, failure modes, and 

energy absorption characteristics. 

Therefore, the impact response 

characteristics of the Model A350–900 

series airplane must be evaluated to 

ensure that its survivable 

crashworthiness characteristics provide 

at least the same level of safety as those 

of a similarly sized airplane constructed 

from traditionally used metallic 

materials. 

There are no existing regulations that 

adequately address this potential 

difference in impact response 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 1339 

characteristics for what are considered 

survivable crash conditions. The 

proposed special conditions are 

necessary to ensure a level of safety 

equivalent to that provided by 14 CFR 

part 25. 

Discussion 

Factors in crash survivability are 

retention of items of mass, maintenance 

of occupant emergency egress paths, 

maintenance of acceptable acceleration 

and loads experienced by the occupants, 

and maintenance of a survivable 

volume. To provide the same level of 

safety as exists with conventional 

airplane construction, Airbus should 

show that the Model A350–900 series 

airplanes have sufficient 

crashworthiness capabilities under 

foreseeable survivable impact events. To 

show this, Airbus should evaluate the 

impact response characteristics of the 

Model A350–900 series airplane to 

ensure that its crashworthiness 

characteristics are not significantly 

different from those of a similarly sized 

airplane built from traditionally used 

metallic materials. 

In their evaluation of the Model 

A350–900 series airplane response to an 

impact event, Airbus should 

demonstrate that the structural behavior 

is similar to that expected from a 

metallic airframe of similar size to the 

Model A350–900, or incorporate 

mitigating design features that provide a 

similar level of safety. 

Airbus should demonstrate either 

through analysis using validated 

analytical tools or by direct test 

evidence that the crash dynamics of the 

A350 fuselage structure provides a level 

of occupant protection consistent with 

previously certificated large transport 

category airplanes. 

Applicability 

As discussed above, these proposed 

special conditions apply to Airbus 

Model A350–900 series airplanes. 

Should Airbus apply later for a change 

to the type certificate to include another 

model incorporating the same novel or 

unusual design feature, the proposed 

special conditions would apply to that 

model as well. 

Conclusion 

This action affects only certain novel 

or unusual design features on the Airbus 

Model A350–900 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. 

The authority citation for these 

special conditions is as follows: 

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

44702, 44704. 

The Proposed Special Conditions 

Accordingly, the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) proposes the 

following special conditions as part of 

the type certification basis for Airbus 

Model A350–900 series airplanes. 

The Airbus Model A350–900 series 

airplanes must provide an equivalent 

level of occupant safety and 

survivability to that provided by 

previously certificated wide-body 

transports of similar size under 

foreseeable survivable impact events for 

the following four criteria. In order to 

demonstrate an equivalent level of 

occupant safety and survivability, the 

applicant must demonstrate that Model 

A350–900 series airplanes meet the 

following criteria for a range of airplane 

vertical descent velocities up to 30 ft/ 

sec. 

1. Retention of items of mass. The 

occupants, i.e., passengers, flight 

attendants, and flightcrew, must be 

protected during the impact event from 

release of seats, overhead bins, and 

other items of mass due to the impact 

loads and resultant structural 

deformation of the supporting airframe 

and floor structures. The applicant must 

show that loads due to the impact event 

and resultant structural deformation of 

the supporting airframe and floor 

structure at the interface of the airplane 

structure to seats, overhead bins, and 

other items of mass are comparable to 

those of previously certificated widebody transports of similar size for the 

range of descent velocities stated above. 

The attachments of these items need not 

be designed for static emergency 

landing loads in excess of those defined 

in § 25.561 if impact response 

characteristics of the Airbus Model 

A350–900 series airplanes yield load 

factors at the attach points that are 

comparable to those for a previously 

certificated wide-body transport 

category airplane. 

2. Maintenance of acceptable 

acceleration and loads experienced by 

the occupants. The applicant must show 

that the impact response characteristics 

of the Airbus Model A350–900 series 

airplane, specifically the vertical 

acceleration levels experienced at the 

seat/floor interface and loads 

experienced by the occupants during 

the impact events, are consistent with 

those found in § 25.562(b) or with levels 

expected for a previously certificated 

wide-body transport category airplane 

for the conditions stated above. 

3. Maintenance of a survivable 

volume. For the conditions stated above, 

the applicant must show that all areas 

of the airplane occupied for takeoff and 

landing provide a survivable volume 

comparable to that of previously 

certificated wide-body transports of 

similar size during and after the impact 

event. This means that structural 

deformation will not result in 

infringement of the occupants’ normal 

living space so that passenger 

survivability will not be significantly 

affected. 

4. Maintenance of occupant 

emergency egress paths. The evacuation 

of occupants must be comparable to that 

from a previously certificated widebody transport of similar size. To show 

this, the applicant must show that the 

suitability of the egress paths, as 

determined following the vertical 

impact events, is comparable to the 

suitability of the egress paths of a 

comparable, certificated wide-body 

transport, as determined following the 

same vertical impact events. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 

22, 2013. 

Stephen P. Boyd, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–00104 Filed 1–7–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 25 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0911; Notice 

No. 25–13–22–SC] 

Special Conditions: Airbus, Model 

A350–900 Series Airplane; Lateral Trim 

Function Through Differential Flap 

Setting 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed special 

conditions. 

SUMMARY: This action proposes special 

conditions for the Airbus Model A350– 

900 series airplanes. These airplanes 

will have a novel or unusual design 

feature associated with a lateral trim 

function that deploys flaps 

asymmetrically for airplane lateral trim 

control. This function replaces the 

traditional method of providing airplane 

lateral trim over a small range through 

flap and aileron mechanical rigging. The 

applicable airworthiness regulations do 

not contain adequate or appropriate 

safety standards for this design feature. 

These proposed special conditions 

contain the additional safety standards 

that the Administrator considers 

necessary to establish a level of safety 

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