( ^ 

### DFPIOFTR' ^

AP R 

### 2 1 201 0 BDCO- l 0-0088 7 ^ U.S
. Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t

Syste m 40 0 7 * Street , SW , Roo mPL40 1 Washington , D C 20591-000 1 V.) Ronal d J

. Hinderberge r Lead Administrato r Deiegate d Compliance Org

. Commercia i Airpiane s Th e Boein g Compan y P.O

. Bo x370 7 M C 67-L R Seattle , WA , 98124-220 7 ,:; j

Subject :

Model : BDC O Projec t

No
. Petitio n for

Exemptio n fromTitl e 1 4 Cod e o f Federa l Regulation s sectio n 25.809(a ) a t Amendmen t

25-11 6 Wit h Respec t

t o Certai n Requirement s for

th e Fligh t

Cre w Emergenc y Exi t 787-8 , 787- 9 PS06-0413,PS06-049 6
Th e Boein g Compan y respectfull y submit s thi s petitio n fo r exemptio n o f

th e Mode l 78 7 an dit s mino r

Mode l fro mth e requirement s o f Titl e 1 4 Cod e o f federal Regulation s sectio n 25.809(a ) amendmen t 25-11 6 wit h respec t

t o th e requiremen t

that th e outsid e viewin g mean s provide dfo r th e flight cre w emergenc y exi t

mus t permi t viewin g o f

th e likel y area s o f

evacue e groun d contact , that

th e likel y area s o f

evacue e groun dcontac t

mus t b e viewabl e durin g al l lightin g condition s with th e landin g gea r extende da s wel l a s i n al l condition s o f landin g gea

r collapse
. Tli e enclosur e t o thi s lette r provide s th e detail s o f

th e petitio n i n accordanc e with Titl e 1 4 Cod e o f Federal Regulation s sectio n 11.81
. Th e followin g summary i s provide dfor th e Federal Registe r

i n accordanc e with 14CFR§11.81(f)
. Summar y fo r

Federa l Registe r Petitioner : Th e Boein g Company
. Sectio n o f

1 4 CFRAffected : Sec
. 25.809(a)
. Descriptio n o f

Relie f Sought : T o allo w th e Boein g Mode l 78 7 relie f fromth e requiremen t

that th e outsid e viewin g mean s provide dfor th e flight cre w emergenc y exi t

mus t peiTnit viewin g o f

th e likel y area s o f

evacue e groun d contact , that

th e likel y area s o f

evacue e groun dcontac t

mus t b e viewabl e durin g al l lightin g condition s with th e landin g gea r extende da s wel l a s i n al l condition s o f landin g gea

r collapse
.

# & J

Very trul y yours .



# r Pag e 2 U.S
. DO T BDCO- l 0-0088 7

> Christin e Thompso n LeadProjec t

Administrator , Developmen t Project s (425 ) 266-6572 , M C 67-L R FAX : (425)294-934 0
Enclosure : 78 7 Petitio n
c c Nam e Mr
. Robert

Breneman Mr
. Ke n Schroe r Mr
. Al i Bahrami Mr
. Frank Tiangsin g Mr.JeffGardli n Ms
. Juli e Alge r Mr
. Robert

Kaufinan for

Exemptio n from§25.809(a ) Amend m
Lette r Pape r Pape r Pape r Pape r ED T Pape r ED T Enclosure s

Pape r Pape r Pape r Pape r ED T Pape r ED T Comment s

ANM-IOO S ANM-IOO S ANM-10 0 ANM-11 5 ANM-11 5 ANM-150 S ANM-150 SEnclosur e t o BDCO-0088 7 Pag e 1 o f 3
Th e Boein g Compan y Petitio n fo r Exemptio n t o Allo w Partia l Relie f fro m1 4 CF R 25.809(a ) fo r

th e Mode l 78 7 Fligh t

Cre w Emergenc y Exi t Summar y Paragrap h Under th e provision s se t

fort h i n Titl e 1 4 Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s (1 4 CFR ) 11.81 , Th e Boein g Compan y i s seekin g a n exemptio n t o allo w partia l relie f fro m§25.809(a ) a

t Amendmen t

25-11 6 for

th e flight cre w emergenc y exi t

o n Mode l 787- 8 an d- 9 airplanes
. Partia l relie f

i s bein g sough t

fromth e requiremen t

tha t th e outside viewin g means provide dfor th e flight cre w emergenc y exi t

permi t viewin g o f

th e likel y are ao f

evacue e groun dcontact , that th e likel y are ao f

evacue e contac t

b e viewabl e durin g al l lightin g condition s with th e landin g gea

r extende da s wel l a s i n al l condition s o f landin g gea

r collapse
. Th e FA A ha s acknowledge dthat

whil e th e outside viewin g capability provide db y th e flight dec k window s o n th e 78 7 shoul db e sufficient for a n overhea dflight

cre w exit , th e flight

dec k geometry result s i n aviewin g are afro mth e flight dec k window s whic h doe s no t mee t th e litera l languag e o f

th e rule
. Relie f

i s necessary sinc e literal complianc e with th e rul e woul drequir e extensiv e desig n change s t o th e airplane , includin g additiona l outside viewin g window s i n th e flight dec k and/o r an externa l vide o camer asystem , an dane w exterio r lightin g syste mt o permi t viewin g o f

th e likel y area s o f

evacue e groun dcontac t

durin g al l lightin g condition s an d with th e landin g gea

r extende dan di n condition s o f landin g gea

r collapse
. Makin g thes e extensiv e desig n change s woul dcreat e a n additiona l burde n fo

r th e airlin e operator s withou t an y materia l differenc e t o th e leve l o f safet y fro mtha t

provide db y th e curren t

78 7 flight

dec k design
. Backgroun d In a n emergenc y situatio n i t

i s generall y accepte dtha t a n exi t shoul dnot

b e opene di f

openin g i t woul dcreat e amor e hazardou s situatio n for th e occupant s o f

th e airplane
. Wit h Amendmen t 25-116 , th e FA A introduced , i n part , previousl y un-codifie drequirement s for airfram e manufacturer s t o provid e outside viewin g means at eac h emergenc y exit
. 1 4 CF R§25.809(a ) no w include s th e requiremen t tha t an outsid e viewin g mean s at emergenc y exit s permi t viewin g o f

th e likel y are ao f

evacue e groun dcontac t

an dtha t th e likel y are ao f

evacue e contac t b e viewabl e durin g al l lightin g condition s with th e landin g gea r extende da s wel l a s i n al l condition s o f

landin g gea

r collapse
. Whil e th e primary evacuatio n rout e fo r th e flight cre w i s typicall y throug h th e flight dec k doo r an dou t o f on e o f th e passenge r

cabi n emergenc y exits , a flight cre w emergenc y exi t

i s provide di n th e flight

deck
. Fo r

th e Mode l 787 , th e flight cre w exi t i s a n overhea descap e hatch
. Th e nearb y larg e flight dec k window s provid e a

n effectiv e means for th e flight cre w t o asses s externa l condition s whe n decidin g whethe r o r no t t o ope n th e overhea dhatch
. Thi s include s viewin g o f th e groun dnear

wher e th e evacuee s woul d normall y b e expecte dt o mak e thei r initia l contac t

whe n usin g th e emergenc y egres s assis t means provided
. Partia l relie f

from§25.809(a ) a

t Amendmen t

25-11 6 i s necessary becaus e basi c desig n o f th e Mode l 78 7 desig n i s complet e an di t woul drequir e extensiv e desig n change s for th e flight cre w exit s t o compl y wit

h th e outsid e viewin g requirement s with n o material differenc e i n th e leve l o f safety
. Th e emergenc y egres s assis t mean s provide da

t th e 787- 8 flight

cre w emergenc y exi t

ar e inerti a ree l descen t

devices
. Thes e devices , whic h are similar t o thos e commonl y use do n othe r models , provid e for

saf e evacuatio n o f

th e flight dec k occupant s whe n th e airplan e i s positione dnormall y o n it s landin g gear an dwhe n positione da

t th e advers e attitude s tha t correspon dt o th e los s o f

on e o r mor e landin g gear . Onc e an evacue e usin g a n inerti aree l descen t devic e clear s th e fiiselage, the y ar e essentiall y lowere dstraigh t dow n t o th e groun di n a controlle dmanner . Whil e th e flight dec k window s provid e a

n excellen t

mean s for

assessin g th e outsid e conditions , the y don' t allo w direc t

viewin g o f

th e groun dwher e th e evacuee s woul dnormall y b e expecte dt o mak e thei r initial groun dcontact . Thi s i s du e t o th e localEnclosur e t o BDCO-0088 7 Pag e 2 o f 3
curvatur e o f

th e fuselag e i n th e vicinity o f th e flight dec k an dth e vertica l path t o th e groun d evacuee s tak e whe n usin g th e emergenc y egres s assis t means provided
. Also , sinc e th e flight cre w exi t i s locate doverhead , th e flight dec k window s don' t

allo w viewin g jus t

outsid e o f

th e close dexit
. Thi s i s considere dacceptabl e sinc e i t i s very unlikel y that

ther e coul db e ahazar d directl y abov e th e airplan e that couldn' t b e detecte db y viewin g ou t th e flight dec k windows
. Th e FA A ha s acknowledge dthat th e flight dec k window s wil l normall y provid e a n adequat e means fo r assessin g outside condition s whe n determinin g whethe r t o ope n th e flight

dec k exit
. In th e preambl e t o Amendmen t 25-116 , th e FA A state dthat '7 n mos t cases , i t shoul db e possibl e t o view th e outside condition s sufficientl y wel l fro manearb y passenge r orflightdec k windo w t o ascertai n whethe r t o ope n a n overhea dexit
. Thi s i s considere dacceptable. " Sinc e th e outsid e viewin g capability provide db y th e Mode l 78 7 flight dec k window s i s consisten t wit h tha t o f nearl y ever y othe r

widebod y model in-servic e today , i t i s believe dtha t

th e us e o f th e flight dec k window s a s th e outsid e viewin g mean s for th e Mode l 78 7 flight

cre w exi t meet s th e inten t o f outside viewin g are arequiremen t i n §25.809(a)
. Sinc e ther e i s no t

adirec t lin e o f sigh t fromth e flight

dec k windo w t o th e poin t

o f evacue e groun dcontact , ther e i s very limite dbenefi t i n havin g adedicate dexterio r lightin g syste mt o illuminat e th e evacue e groun dcontac t point
. However , th e 78 7 flight dec k wil l b e equippe d with aminimu mo f

on e flashlight

tha t can b e use db y th e flight cre w t o ai di n th e assessmeii t o f th e general outside are ai n nigh t tim e condition s whe n ther e ar e n o externa l ligh t source s (e.g. , runway and/o r

airport lighting)
. In Denia l o f

Exemptio n No
. 9957 , th e FA A ha s acknowledge dthat

for th e typ e o f

flight cre w exi t an demergenc y egres s assis t mean s provide d o n th e Mode l 787 , "a n acceptabl e metho do f complianc e ma

y b e to provid e agenera l view o f th e outsid e area , an dprovid e portabl e illumination , e.g. , aflashligh t fo r th e flight cre w exit , tha t can b e use db

y th e crew . " Statemen t

of n o Advers e Effec t

o n Safet y Grantin g thi s petitio n wil l hav e n o appreciabl e effec t o n th e leve l o f

safety
. Th e FAA' s state d inten t wa s t o upgrad e th e regulation s t o improv e th e overal l leve l o f safet y i n area s wher e th e state-of-the-ar

t an dgoo ddesig n practic e hav e indicate dthat suc h upgrade s are warranted. Th e emergenc y exit , emergenc y egres s assis t means , outside viewin g means an demergenc y lightin g system s provide di n th e Mode l 78 7 flight dec k ar e al l consisten t

with goo dindustry desig n practic e an dar e considere dt o b e state-of-the-art i n al l regards
. Durin g a n airplan e emergenc y requirin g an evacuation , ther e i s th e potentia l for a n external hazar dtha

t coul dpos e a

n immediat e threat

t o th e occupant s o f

th e airplan e i f

a n exi t wer e opened
. Whil e fire i s th e principl e external hazard , ther e ar e othe r type s o f hazard s suc h a s wate r o r larg e obstruction s that

coul dmak e no t

openin g a

n exi t th e preferre dcours e o f

action
. However , sinc e th e Mode l 78 7 flight cre w exi t i s locate doverhea dan di t i s not equippe dwith a n automaticall y deployin g emergenc y assis t means , i t i s muc h les s likel y that

thes e type s o f externa l hazard s woul dactuall y pos e an immediat e threat t o th e occupant s o f

th e flight dec k jus t b y openin g th e overhea dexit
. Give n th e wid e viewin g are aprovide db y th e nearb y flight dec k window s an dth e availability o f aportabl e illuminatio n means , i t i s very likel y that

an y sever e external hazar dthat coul dcreat e an immediat e hazar dt o th e occupant s o f th e flight dec k coul db e detecte dprio r

t o decidin g whethe r

o r no t t o ope n th e overhea de^^it
. Boein g ha s reviewe dseveral airplan e acciden t database s an dfoun dn o evidenc e o f pertinen t servic e history that suggest s tha t

th e flight dec k window s d o not

provid e adequat e outside viewin g capability for th e flight cre w exits
. Furthermore , th e FAA' s inten t a s clearl y state di n NPR M 96- 9 wa s t o ensur e that

th e curren t

state-of-the-art

an dexistin g desig n practice s are maintaine dfor futur e airplan e programs . Therefore , ther e i s n o appreciabl e differenc e betwee n th e leve l o f safet y provide db y th e outsid e viewin g mean s provide dfor th e 787- 8 an d787- 9 flight cre w exi t

an d tha t intende db y th e ne w regulation
.Enclosur e t o BDCO-0088 7 Pag e 3 o f 3
Statemen t

o f Publi c Interes t Grantin g thi s petitio n i s i n th e public' s interes t becaus e th e outsid e viewin g means provide d for th e 787- 8 an d787- 9 flight cre w exits , i n combinatio n with a n availabl e flashlight, provid e th e leve l o f

safet y th e FAA intende dt o promulgat e with th e ne w rule
. No t grantin g th e exemptio n woul dlea dt o a n extensiv e unplanne ddesig n an dmanufacturin g effor t t o ad da n additiona l outsid e viewin g means (window s and/o r a n exterio r viewin g camer asystem ) an da ne w exterio r

emergenc y lightin g syste mfor th e flight cre w exits
. Incorporatin g thes e type s o f desig n change s woul dno t materiall y enhanc e th e leve l safet y provide dfor

th e flight cre w an d i t woul dimpac t

introductio n o f

th e Mode l 78 7 airplanes
. A gran t o f exemptio n i n thi s cas e woul dallo w th e avoidanc e o f th e adde dweight , flight

dec k complexity , an dmaintenanc e cost s associate dwith th e additiona l outside viewin g means an d lightin g system . Conversely , i f require dt o ad dthes e ne w systems , a n increas e i n weigh t

an d complexity t o th e 787- 8 an d787- 9 woul doccur , resultin g i n a n increase dburde n fo

r airlin e operator s du e t o increase dflight cre w wor k load , an dth e adde dmaintenanc e an dspar e part s provisionin g that

woul db e required
. Additionally , an y increas e i n weigh t result s i n increase d fue l consumptio n an demissions
. Therefore , grantin g th e exemptio n i s i n th e publi c interest
. Conclusio n Fo r th e Mode l 787- 8 an d787-9 , th e larg e flight dec k windows , i n combinatio n with an availabl e flashlight, provid e th e means for th e flight cre w t o quickl y asses s th e outsid e condition s whe n decidin g whethe r o r no t t o ope n th e overhea dflight cre w exit
. Thi s include s viewin g o f

th e groun dnear

wher e th e evacuee s woul dnormall y b e expecte dt o mak e thei r initia l contac t

whe n th e airplan e i s positione da t anorma l attitude
. Th e 787- 8 flight dec k windows , i n combinatio n with a n availabl e flashlight, provid e an externa l viewin g mean s nearl y equivalen t

t o that intende db y th e ne w regulatio n a s identifie di n th e preambl e t o Amendmen t

25-116
. The y provid e aleve l o f safet y that i s at leas t equivalen t

t o th e vas t majority o f

model s i n th e je t

transport fleet, whic h Boein g believe s was th e FAA' s state dintent whe n codifyin g th e requiremen t for an outside viewin g mean s at th e emergenc y exits
. Passenge r an dcre w safet

y wil l no t b e degrade db y agran t

o f thi s exemptio n petition
. Pe r § 11.8 1 (h) , Boein g request s th e privilege s o f thi s exemptio n b e extende doutsid e th e Unite d States
. Thi s extensio n o f

privilege s i s necessary for operation s base dwithi n foreig n countrie s havin g bilatera l agreement s with th e Unite dState s acceptin g FA A 1 4 CFRPart 2 5 a s thei r airworthines s standard s fo r transport category aircraft
. Th e 78 7 i s intende dfo r th e global marke t plac e with th e launc h custome r bein g base di n acountry utilizin g th e Unite dState s airworthines s standards
.