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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60241-60243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21079]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2015-6363; Special Conditions No. 25-637-SC]

Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc. Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-
2A13 Airplanes; Hydrophobic Coatings in Lieu of Windshield Wipers

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 Bombardier Inc. 
(Bombardier) Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. These 
airplanes will have a novel or unusual feature when compared to the 
state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for 
transport category airplanes. This design feature is hydrophobic 
coatings in lieu of windshield wipers. The applicable airworthiness 
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for 
these design features. 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 Bombardier on September 1, 2016. We 
must receive your comments by October 17, 2016.

[[Page 60242]]

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2015-6363 
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, FAA, Propulsion and 
Mechanical Systems Branch, ANM-112, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington, 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2683; facsimile 425-227-1232.

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 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 May 30, 2012, Bombardier applied for an amendment to type 
certificate no. T00003NY to include the new Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 airplanes. These airplanes are derivatives of the Model BD-700 
series of airplanes currently approved under type certificate no. 
T00003NY, and are marketed as the Bombardier Global 7000 (Model BD-700-
2A12) and Global 8000 (Model BD-700-2A13). These airplanes are ultra-
long-range, executive-interior business jets.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Bombardier must show that the Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 airplanes meet the applicable provisions of the regulations 
listed in type certificate no. T00003NY, 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 BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 
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 Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 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 Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes will 
have a novel or unusual design feature associated with flightdeck 
design, which incorporates a hydrophobic windshield coating to provide 
adequate pilot compartment view in the presence of precipitation. 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 standards.

Discussion

    14 CFR 25.773(b)(1) requires a means to maintain a sufficiently 
clear portion of the windshield for both pilots to have an extensive 
view along the flight path during precipitation conditions. The 
regulations require this means to maintain such an area during 
precipitation in heavy rain at speeds up to 1.5 VSR1. 
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 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 to land, where the airplane is at a 
higher-than-normal pitch attitude. In these cases, areas of airflow 
disturbance or separation on the windshield could cause a failure to 
maintain a clear vision area on the windshield.
    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 BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes. Should Bombardier 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 the other model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on two

[[Page 60243]]

model series of airplanes. 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, the FAA has determined 
that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary, 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.

0
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 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 Bombardier Model BD-700-2A12 and BD-
700-2A13 airplanes.
    1. In addition to meeting the requirements of Sec.  25.773(b)(1), 
the airplane must have a means to maintain a clear portion of the 
windshield, during precipitation conditions, such that both pilots to 
have a sufficiently extensive view along the ground or flight path in 
taxi and flight. This means must be designed to function, without 
continuous attention on the part of the crew, in conditions from light 
misting precipitation to heavy rain, at speeds from fully stopped in 
still air to 1.5 VSR1 with lift and drag devices retracted, 
and in icing conditions specified in Sec.  25.1419 if certification for 
flight in icing conditions is requested.
    2. The precipitation removal system must comply with Sec.  25.773.
    3. Instructions to maintain the precipitation-removal system must 
comply with Sec.  25.1529.
    4. The materials used in the precipitation removal system must 
comply with Sec.  25.603.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 23, 2016.
John P. Piccola, Jr.,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-21079 Filed 8-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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