### 55226 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**Federal Aviation Administration**

**14 CFR Part 25**

**[Docket No. FAA–2014–1075; Special Conditions No. 25–599–SC]** 

**Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 5X Airplane, Pilot**  **Compartment View Through Hydrophobic Windshield Coatings in**  **Lieu of Windshield Wipers**

**AGENCY :**  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

**ACTION :**  Final special conditions; request
for comment.

**SUMMARY :**  These special conditions are
issued for the Dassault Model Falcon 5X airplane. This airplane 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 hydrophobic windshield coatings in lieu of windshield wipers. 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 Dassault Aviation on September 15, 2015. We must receive your comments by October 30, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  Send comments identified by docket number FAA–2014–1075 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 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 :**  Bob Hettman, ANM–112, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425) 227–2683; facsimile (425) 227–1149.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The FAA has determined that notice of, and opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected airplane(s).

In addition, the substance of these special conditions has been subject to the public comment process in several prior instances with no substantive
comments received. The FAA therefore finds that good cause exists for making these special conditions effective 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.

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 July 1, 2012, Dassault Aviation applied for a type certificate for their new Model Falcon 5X airplane.

The Model Falcon 5X airplane is a large, transport-category airplane to be operated in private/corporate transportation with a maximum of 19 passengers. The airplane incorporates a low, swept-wing design with winglets; twin rear-fuselage-mounted engines; and the newest generation of Dassault Aviation’s EASy flightdeck.

Type Certification Basis

Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17,
Dassault Aviation must show that the Model Falcon 5X airplane meets the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by Amendments 25–1 through

25–136.

The certification basis includes certain special conditions, exemptions,
or later amended sections of the applicable part that are not relevant to these special conditions.

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 Falcon 5X 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 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 § 21.101.

In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the Model Falcon 5X airplane must comply with the fuel-vent and exhaust-emission requirements of part 34, and the noise-certification requirements of 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 Dassault Model Falcon 5X airplane will incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:

The airplane flightdeck design incorporates a hydrophobic windshield coating that, during precipitation, provides an adequate outside view from the pilot compartment. Sole reliance on such a coating, without windshield wipers, constitutes a novel or unusual design feature for which the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety


### 55227 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

standards. Therefore, special conditions are required to provide a level of safety equivalent to that established by the regulations.

Discussion

Section 25.773(b)(1) requires a means to maintain a clear portion of the windshield for both pilots operating a transport-category airplane to have a sufficiently extensive view along the flight path during precipitation conditions. The regulations require this
means to maintain such an area of clear vision during heavy-rain precipitation at airplane speeds up to 1.5 V SR1

.

This requirement has existed in principle since 1953 in part 4b of the ‘‘Civil Air Regulations’’ (CAR). Section 4b.351(b)(1) required that ‘‘Means shall be provided for maintaining a sufficient portion of the windshield clear so that both pilots are afforded a sufficiently extensive view along the flight path in all normal flight attitudes of the airplane. Such means shall be designed to function under the following
conditions without continuous attention on the part of the crew: (i) In heavy rain at speeds up to 1.6 VS1 , flaps retracted.’’

Effective December 26, 2002, Amendment 25–108 changed the speed
for effectiveness of the means to maintain an area of clear vision from up

to 1.6 VS1 to 1.5 V SR1 to accommodate
the redefinition of the reference stall speed from the minimum speed in the stall, V S1 , to greater than or equal to the 1g stall speed, VSR1 . As noted in the preamble to the final rule for that amendment, the reduced factor of 1.5 on

VSR1 is to maintain approximately the same speed as the 1.6 factor on V S1

.

The requirement that the means to
maintain a clear area of forward vision must function at high speeds and high precipitation rates is based on the use of windshield wipers as the means to maintain an adequate area of clear vision in precipitation conditions. The requirement in 14 CFR 121.313(b) and 125.213(b) to provide ‘‘. . . a windshield wiper or equivalent for each pilot station . . .’’ has remained unchanged since at least 1953.

The effectiveness of windshield wipers to maintain an area of clear vision normally degrades as airspeed and precipitation rates increase. It is assumed that because high speeds and high precipitation rates represent limiting conditions for windshield wipers, they will also be effective at lower speeds and precipitation levels. Accordingly, § 25.773(b)(1)(i) does not require maintenance of a clear area of forward vision at lower speeds or lower precipitation rates. A forced airflow blown directly over
the windshield has also been used to
maintain an area of clear vision in precipitation. The limiting conditions for this technology are comparable to those for windshield wipers. Accordingly, introduction of this technology did not present a need for special conditions to maintain the level of safety embodied in the existing regulations.

Hydrophobic windshield coatings may depend to some degree on airflow
to maintain a clear-vision area. The heavy rain and high speed conditions specified in the current rule do not necessarily represent the limiting condition for this new technology. For example, airflow over the windshield, which may be necessary to remove moisture from the windshield, may not be adequate to maintain a sufficiently
clear-vision area of the windshield in low-speed flight or during surface operations. Alternatively, airflow over the windshield may be disturbed during such critical times as the approach toland, where the airplane is at a higherthan-normal pitch attitude. In these cases, areas of airflow disturbance or separation on the windshield could
cause failure to maintain a clear-vision
area on the windshield.

In addition to potentially depending on airflow to function effectively, hydrophobic coatings may also be dependent on water-droplet size for effective precipitation removal. For example, precipitation in the form of a light mist may not be sufficient for the coating’s properties to result in maintaining a clear area of vision.

The current regulations identify speed and precipitation rate requirements that represent limiting conditions for windshield wipers and blowers, but not for hydrophobic coatings. Likewise, it is necessary to issue special conditions to maintain the level of safety represented by the current regulations.

These special conditions provide an appropriate safety standard for the hydrophobic-coating technology as the
means to maintain a clear area of vision by requiring the coating to be effective at low speeds and low precipitation rates, as well as at the higher speeds and precipitation rates identified in the current regulation. These special conditions are the only new or changed requirements relative to those in § 25.773(b)(1) at Amendment 25–108.

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 Dassault Falcon 5X airplane. Should Dassault 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 the Dassault Falcon 5X airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability.

The substance of these special conditions has been subjected to the notice and comment period in several prior instances and has 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, because a delay would significantly affect the certification of the airplane, which is imminent, the FAA has determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and impracticable, and good cause exists for adopting these special conditions upon publication in
the Federal Register . The FAA is requesting comments to allow interested persons to submit views that may not have been submitted in response to the prior opportunities for comment
described above.

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: 49106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702,

44704.
The Special Conditions

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the following specialconditions are issued as part of the typecertification basis for Dassault Falcon 5X airplanes.

The airplane must have a means to maintain a clear portion of the windshield, during precipitation conditions, enough for both pilots to have a sufficiently extensive view along the ground or flight path in normal taxi and flight attitudes of the airplane. This means must be designed to function,
without continuous attention on the part of the flightcrew, in conditions from light misting precipitation to heavy rain, at speeds from fully stopped in still air, to 1.5 V SR1 with lift and drag
devices retracted.


### 55228 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 9, 2015. Michael Kaszycki, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 2015–23099 Filed 9–14–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–13–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**Federal Aviation Administration**

**14 CFR Part 25**

**[Docket No. FAA–2015–1483; Special Conditions No. 25–598–SC]** 

**Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII–**  **G500 Airplanes; Limit Engine Torque**

**Loads**

**AGENCY :**  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

**ACTION :**  Final special conditions; request
for comments.

**SUMMARY :**  These special conditions are
issued for the Gulfstream Model GVII– G500 airplane. These airplanes have a novel or unusual design feature as compared to the state of technology
envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature includes engine size and the potential torque loads imposed by sudden engine stoppage. 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 :**  The effective date of these special conditions is September 15, 2015. We must receive your comments by October 30, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  Send comments identified by docket number FAA–2015–1483 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 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 :**  Walt Sippel, FAA, Airframe and Cabin Safety Branch, ANM–115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057–3356; telephone 425–227–2774; facsimile

425–227–1232.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The FAA has determined that notice of, and opportunity for, prior public comment on these special conditions are impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected airplane.

In addition, the substance of these special conditions has been subject to the public-comment process in several prior instances with no substantive
comments received. The FAA therefore finds that good cause exists for making these special conditions effective upon

issuance.

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.

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 March 29, 2012, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation applied for a type certificate for their new Model GVII–G500 airplane.

The GVII airplane is a large-cabin business jet with seating for 19passengers. It incorporates a low, sweptwing design with winglets and a T-tail. The Model GVII–G500 airplane is powered by two aft-fuselage-mounted Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines. Avionics will include four primary display units and multiple touchscreen controllers. The flight-control system is a three-axis fly-by-wire system controlled by active control/coupled
side sticks.

The Model GVII–G500 airplane wingspan is approximately 87 ft with a length of just over 91 ft. Maximum takeoff weight will be approximately 76,850 lbs and maximum takeoff thrust will be approximately 15,135 lbs. Maximum range will be approximately 5,000 nm and maximum operating altitude will be 51,000 ft.

Type Certification Basis

Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation must show that the Model GVII–500 airplane meets the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by Amendments 25–1 through 25–137 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 GVII–G500 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 GVII–G500 airplane must comply with the fuel-vent and exhaust-emission requirements of14 CFR part 34 and the noisecertification 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