DGT-DTC/F5X 372621 1/4

 

This document is the intellectual property of DASSAULT AVIATION. It may not be used, reproduced, modified or disclosed without its authorization. DASSAULT AVIATION Proprietary Data. 

DIRECTION GÉNÉRALE TECHNIQUE 

 Saint-Cloud, January 20th, 2015

DGT-DTC/F5X 372621 

MA/CM 

TO : 

Federal Docket Management System www.regulations.gov (transmitted electronically)

Please contact : Matthieu AMBERG Phone: +33 (0)1 47 11 32 52 

SUBJECT : Falcon 5X – Exemption to FAR25.1447c1 for high airfield oxygen 

presentation threshold – Official Petition 

Name and Address of the Petitioner [as per 14 CFR Part 11, §11.81(a)] 

Matthieu Amberg, 

Certification Manager 

DASSAULT AVIATION 

78, quai Marcel Dassault - Cedex 300 

92552 Saint-Cloud Cedex - France 

Phone: +33 1 47 11 32 52 

E-Mail: matthieu.amberg@dassault-aviation.com

Specific section of 14 CFR from which an exemption is required 

[as per 14 CFR Part 11, §11.81(b)] 

Section 25.1447(c)(1), Amendment 25-116: “There must be an oxygen dispensing unit 

connected to oxygen supply terminals immediately available to each occupant, wherever 

seated, and at least two oxygen dispensing units connected to oxygen terminals in each 

lavatory. The total number of dispensing units and outlets in the cabin must exceed the number 

of seats by at least 10 percent. The extra units must be as uniformly distributed throughout the 

cabin as practicable. If certification for operation above 30,000 feet is requested, the dispensing 

units providing the required oxygen flow must be automatically presented to the occupants 

before the cabin pressure altitude exceeds 15,000 feet. The crew must be provided with a 

manual means of making the dispensing units immediately available in the event of failure of 

the automatic system”. 

0900400080870896 - RELEASED - Certification Repository
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This document is the intellectual property of DASSAULT AVIATION. It may not be used, reproduced, modified or disclosed without its authorization. DASSAULT AVIATION Proprietary Data. 

Extent of Relief and Reason for Seeking Relief 

[as per 14 CFR Part 11, §11.81(c)] 

At the present time, no less than 4 civilian airports have Landing Field Elevation (LFE) higher 

than 14,000 feet in China, with for instance the highest one, Daocheng Yading Airport which 

LFE reaches 14,472 feet above sea level (barometric pressure variations excluded). 

In order to have Falcon 5X aircraft operable from and to these airports, Dassault Aviation seeks 

a relief from part of the here above section requiring the passenger oxygen dispensing units to 

be automatically presented to occupants before the cabin pressure altitude exceeds 15,000 feet. 

The Falcon 5X oxygen system design includes a “High Airfield mode” for operations to and 

from airfields with altitudes up to 15,000 feet, for which the threshold for automatic 

passengers’ masks deployment is potentially higher than 15,000 feet, in order to accommodate 

adequate margins with regard to standard atmospheric conditions. In “High Airfield mode”, the 

deployment threshold of the passenger oxygen masks is automatically set at 15,500 feet (+/- 

500 ft) instead of 14,500 feet (+/- 500 feet). 

On Falcon 5X, the oxygen system controller is able to change the deployment altitude threshold 

when high airfield operation is required. In normal mode (high airfield mode deactivated), the 

threshold is set to 14,500 feet (+/- 500 feet). When the High Airfield mode is activated , the 

threshold is set to 15,500 feet (+/- 500 feet); this mode is compatible with LFE up to 15,000 

feet. 

The High Airfield Mode is automatically activated any time the cabin pressure can reach values 

above the 14,000 feet equivalent pressure, except in decompression cases. 

 On ground, this mode is activated if the Cabin pressure altitude is above 14,000 feet. 

 In flight, the High airfield mode is activated if the barometric corrected landing/take-off 

airport LFE is equal or above 14,000 feet, and if the cabin pressure altitude is above 12,000 

feet and if the aircraft altitude is below 25,000 feet. 

The oxygen system deployment threshold is reset to normal mode whenever one of these 

conditions is not met anymore. 

Reasons why granting your request would be in the public interest 

[as per 14 CFR Part 11, §11.81(d)]

Whereas Dassault Aviation is not an American aircraft manufacturer, its completion center 

Dassault Falcon Jet (DFJ) is a large American facility settled for a long time within the United 

States aircraft industry. In addition, as for all Dassault Aviation Falcon aircraft programs, the 

Falcon 5X program involves numerous US Companies as aircraft systems and airframe and 

services suppliers. Falcon 5X business will increase the already established Falcon business 

which represents thousands of jobs over the United States. 

Denial of this petition would negatively impact the ability of the Falcon 5X to compete with 

other airplanes in the executive market, that have been already been granted with exactly the 
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This document is the intellectual property of DASSAULT AVIATION. It may not be used, reproduced, modified or disclosed without its authorization. DASSAULT AVIATION Proprietary Data. 

same exemption. This will adversely impact the economy and employment of French and US 

companies, which would be against the public interest. 

Reasons why granting the exemption would not adversely affect safety 

[as per 14 CFR Part 11, §11.81(e)] 

This exemption would enable to provide the required automatic oxygen protection to the falcon 

5X passengers flying from and to high elevation airports with LFE above 14,000 feet and then 

maintain the level of safety intended by the rule. 

This “High Airfield mode” of the passenger oxygen masks deployment threshold will reduce 

the occurrence of inadvertent deployment. 

Petition summary for Federal Register publication 

[as per 14 CFR Part 11, §11.81(f)] 

In accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 11, Dassault Aviation respectfully submits the present 

petition for exemption from Title 14 CFR Part 25, section §25.1447(c)(1). If granted, the 

present exemption, would permit relief from the requirement to automatically present passenger 

oxygen dispensing units to occupants before the cabin pressure altitude exceeds 15,000 feet for 

the Dassault Aviation Falcon 5X aircraft. 

Note: the present petition is similar to previously granted exemptions to § 25.1447(c)(1). 

Additional information, views or arguments available to support your 

request 

[as per 14 CFR Part 11, §11.81(g)] 

In the scope of this petition, DASSAULT AVIATION takes benefit from previous grant of 

exemptions issued by FAA dealing with the setting of oxygen mask deployment setpoint above 

15,000 ft for high airfield operations. Please note that FAA has previously granted such 

exemptions to several models with much larger passenger capacity than the DASSAULT 

Falcon 5X Series. 

Exempt. 

No 

Issue Date Expir. 

Date 

FAA 

Office 

Disp. Regulation Petitioner Aircraft 

6076 04/26/1995 (NoExpire) (NA) Granted 25.841(a) 

25.1447(c)(1) 

The Boeing 

Company 

B757 

6994 09/16/1999 (NoExpire) (NA) Partially 

Granted

25.1447(c)(1) Airbus Industrie A319, A320, 

A321 

8668 12/02/2005 (NoExpire) (NA) Granted 25.1447(c)(1) The Boeing 

Company

B737 

9801 12/12/2008 (NoExpire) (NA) Granted 25.1447(c)(1) The Boeing 

Company

B787 

10044 04/01/2010 (NoExpire) (NA) Granted 25.1447(c)(1) Gulfstream 

Aerospace 

Corporation

GIV-X 

GV-SP 
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This document is the intellectual property of DASSAULT AVIATION. It may not be used, reproduced, modified or disclosed without its authorization. DASSAULT AVIATION Proprietary Data. 

Request for waiver from publication and comments 

[as per 14 CFR 11.87] 

Considering the above listed exemptions, it is Dassault Aviation opinion that the requested 

exemption is identical to exemptions granted previously and that granting this petition would 

not set a precedent. As a result Dassault Aviation respectfully requests that action on this 

petition should not be delayed by publication and comment procedures.

Operation Outside of the United States 

[as per 14 CFR Part 11, §11.81(h)] 

Falcon 5X aircraft will be operated all other the world by its US registered operators, therefore 

Dassault Aviation requests to exercise the privileges of the exemption outside the United 

States. 

Conclusion 

Considering the proposed oxygen system design , Dassault Aviation believes that granting this 

exemption petition will be in the public interest and will not adversely affect safety of Falcon 

5X passengers. 

Respectfully Submitted. 

M. AMBERG J-L. CHAUVERGNE

Evidence of signature is provided by a red electronic stamp on the first page left hand margin.