[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10422-10423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03968]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1079; Notice No. 25-15-01-SC]


Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVII Series Airplanes; Limit 
Pilot Forces for Side-Stick Controller

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Gulfstream 
Model GVII-G500 (GVII 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 associated with side-stick controllers that 
require limited pilot force because they are operated by one hand only. 
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 
equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

DATES: Send your comments on or before April 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2014-1079 
using any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for sending 
your comments electronically.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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: 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 425-227-1320.

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 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 March 29, 2012, Gulfstream Aerospace applied for a type 
certificate for their new Model GVII-G500 airplane.
    The Model GVII series airplanes are large-cabin business jets 
capable of accommodating up to 19 passengers. The GVII series will 
certify a base configuration GVII-G500, which

[[Page 10423]]

incorporates a low, swept-wing design with winglets and a T-tail. The 
airplanes have two aft-fuselage-mounted Pratt & Whitney turbofan 
engines. Avionics include four primary display units and multiple 
touchscreen controllers. The flight-control system is a three-axis, 
fly-by-wire system using active control/coupled side sticks.
    The GVII-G500 has a wingspan of 87 ft and a length of 91 ft. 
Maximum takeoff weight is 76,850 lbs. Maximum takeoff thrust is 15,135 
lbs, maximum range is 5,000 nautical miles (nm), and maximum operating 
altitude is 51,000 ft.
    The Model GVII series airplanes are equipped with two side-stick 
controllers instead of the conventional control columns and wheels. 
This side-stick controller is designed for one-hand operation. The 
requirement of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
25.397(c), which defines limit pilot forces and torques for 
conventional wheel or stick controls, is not adequate for a side-stick 
controller. Special conditions are necessary to specify the appropriate 
loading conditions for this controller design.

Type-Certification Basis

    Under 14 CFR 21.17, Gulfstream must show that the Model GVII-G500 
airplanes meet the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended 
by Amendments 25-1 through 25-137.
    The certification of the GVII-G500 airplane is 14 CFR part 25, 
effective February 1, 1965, including Amendments 25-1 through 25-137; 
14 CFR part 34, as amended by Amendments 34-1 through the most current 
amendment at the time of design approval; and 14 CFR part 36, Amendment 
36-29. In addition, the certification basis includes special conditions 
and equivalent-safety findings related to the flight-control system.
    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 series airplanes 
because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are 
prescribed under 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, these special conditions would also apply to 
the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and 
proposed special conditions, the Model GVII 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 must issue a finding of regulatory adequacy under Sec.  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 Sec.  11.38, and they become part of the type-certification basis 
under Sec.  21.17(a)(2) for new type certificates, and Sec.  21.101 for 
amended type certificates.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Gulfstream Model GVII series airplanes will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design feature:
    A side-stick controller for one-hand operation requiring wrist 
motion only, not arms.

Discussion

    Current regulations reference pilot-effort loads for the flight 
deck pitch-and-roll controls that are based on two-handed effort. 
Special conditions are being proposed for Gulfstream GVII series 
airplanes based on similar airplane programs that include side-stick 
controllers. These proposed special conditions are also appropriate for 
the Model GVII series airplane's side-stick controller.
    These proposed 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 proposed special conditions apply to 
Gulfstream Model GVII series airplanes. Should Gulfstream apply later 
for a change to the type certificate to include another model 
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these proposed 
special conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the Gulfstream Model GVII 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 proposed 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 in lieu of Sec.  25.397(c):
    For the Gulfstream Model GVII series airplanes equipped with side-
stick controls designed for forces to be applied by one wrist and not 
arms, the limit pilot forces are as follows.
    1. For all components between and including the side-stick control-
assembly handle and its control stops:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Pitch                                Roll
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nose up, 200 lbf..........................  Nose left, 100 lbf.
Nose down, 200 lbf........................  Nose right, 100 lbf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. For all other components of the side-stick control assembly, but 
excluding the internal components of the electrical sensor assemblies, 
to avoid damage to the control system as the 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 19, 2015.
John J. Piccola, Jr.,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-03968 Filed 2-25-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P