[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68107-68108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26819]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0564; Special Conditions No. 25-XXX-SC]


Special Conditions: Dassault Model Falcon 900EX Airplane; 
Electronic System-Security Protection From Unauthorized External Access

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Dassault Model Falcon 
900EX airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design 
feature associated with electronic system-security protection from 
unauthorized external access. 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: Effective December 15, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Varun Khanna, FAA, Airplane and 
Flightcrew Interface Branch, ANM-111, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington, 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1298; facsimile (425) 227-
1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 20, 2013, Dassault Aircraft Services applied for a type 
certificate for their new Model 900EX airplane.
    The Dassault Falcon 900EX is a business jet with seating for up to 
19 passengers. Three Allied Signal TFE 731-60-1C engines power the 
airplane, which has a maximum takeoff weight of 49,000 pounds.
    Contemporary transport-category airplanes have both safety-related 
and non-safety-related electronic system networks for many operational 
functions. However, electronic system-network-security considerations 
and functions have played a relatively minor role in the certification 
of such systems because of the isolation, protection mechanisms, and 
limited connectivity between the different networks.

Comments Invited

    We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by 
sending

[[Page 68108]]

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.

Type Certification Basis

    Under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, 
Dassault must show that the Model Falcon 900EX airplane meets the 
applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 
through 25-129.
    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 900EX airplane 
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, the 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 Falcon 900EX airplane 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 section 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).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Dassault Model Falcon 900EX airplane will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design feature:
    The digital systems architecture for the Dassault Model Falcon 
900EX airplane is composed of several connected networks. This network 
architecture is used for a diverse set of functions, providing data 
connectivity between systems, including:
    1. Airplane control, communication, display, monitoring and 
navigation systems,
    2. Operator business and administrative support systems,
    3. Passenger entertainment systems, and
    4. Access by systems external to the airplane.

Discussion

    The Dassault Model Falcon 900EX airplane network architecture and 
configuration may allow increased connectivity to, and access from, 
external network sources, and operator operations and maintenance 
networks to the airplane control domain and operator-information-
services domain. The airplane-control domain and operator-information-
services domain perform functions required for the safe operation and 
maintenance of the airplane. Previously, these domains had very limited 
connectivity with external network sources. The network architecture 
and configuration may allow the exploitation of network-security 
vulnerabilities resulting in intentional or unintentional destruction, 
disruption, degradation, or exploitation of data, systems, and networks 
critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane.
    The existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate 
these types of airplane system architectures. Furthermore, 14 CFR 
regulations and current system-safety assessment policy and techniques 
do not address potential security vulnerabilities, which could be 
exploited by unauthorized access to airplane networks, data buses, and 
servers. Therefore, these special conditions are to ensure that 
unauthorized wired or wireless electronic connections do not compromise 
the security (i.e., confidentiality, integrity, and availability) of 
airplane systems.
    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 apply to the Dassault 
Model Falcon 900EX airplane. Should Dassault apply later 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 Model Falcon 900EX airplane. 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 special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.

The Special Conditions

    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 Dassault Model Falcon 900EX airplanes.
    1. The applicant must ensure airplane electronic system-security 
protection from access by unauthorized sources external to the 
airplane, including those possibly caused by maintenance activity.
    2. The applicant must ensure that electronic system-security 
threats are identified and assessed, and that effective electronic 
system-security protection strategies are implemented to protect the 
airplane from all adverse impacts on safety, functionality, and 
continued airworthiness.
    3. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the 
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the airplane is 
maintained, including all post-type-certification modifications that 
may have an impact on the approved electronic system-security 
safeguards.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 5, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-26819 Filed 11-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P