Document ID: FAA-2014-0711-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Special Conditions: Boeing Model 767-2C Series Airplanes; Airplane Electronic-system Security Protection From Unauthorized External Access
Posted Date: 2015-02-26T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10328-10330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03970]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0711; Special Conditions No. 25-575-SC]

Special Conditions: Boeing Model 767-2C Series Airplanes; 
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 Boeing Model 767-2C 
series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by The Boeing Company, 
will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with airplane 
electronic-system security protection or isolation 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: This action is effective on The Boeing Company on February 26, 
2015. We must receive your comments by April 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2014-0711 
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

[[Page 10329]]

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: 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: The FAA has determined that notice of, and 
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is 
impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay 
issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected 
airplane. In addition, the substance of these special conditions has 
been subject to the public-comment process in several prior instances 
with no substantive comments received. The FAA therefore finds that 
good cause exists for making these special conditions effective upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

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 January 18, 2010, Boeing applied for an amendment to Type 
Certificate No. A1NM to include a new Model 767-2CX series airplane, a 
derivative of the 767-200, which later was renamed 767-2C. Later, 
Boeing requested, and the FAA approved, an extension to the date of 
application for FAA amended type certification to December 22, 2010.
    The Model 767-2C is a freighter airplane equipped with Pratt & 
Whitney PW4062 engines. This freighter has a maximum takeoff weight of 
415,000 pounds and can be configured to carry up to 11 supernumeraries 
(see Exemption No. 10691).

Type-Certification Basis

    The regulations listed in the type certificate are commonly 
referred to as the ``original type-certification basis.'' The 
regulations to be listed in A1NM are as follows:
    Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) 21.101, Boeing must show that the Boeing Model 767-2C series 
airplane meets the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by 
Amendments 25-1 through 25-130, and 14 CFR 25.1316 at Amendment 25-134, 
except for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA. These 
regulations will be listed in Type Certificate No. A1NM after type-
certification approval of the 767-2C.
    14 CFR part 26 as amended by Amendments 26-1 through 26-6, and any 
later amendments in existence at the time of certification per 14 CFR 
26.5. For any future part 26 Amendments, the holder of this type 
certificate must demonstrate compliance with the applicable sections.
    14 CFR part 34 as amended by Amendments 34-1 through 34-5A, and any 
later amendments in existence at the time of certification.
    14 CFR part 36 as amended by Amendments 36-1 through 36-29, and any 
later amendments in existence at the time of certification.
    The certification basis also includes certain special conditions, 
exemptions, or later amended sections of the applicable part that are 
not relevant to these special conditions.
    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 767-2C series 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, 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 767-2C series 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 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.  21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Feature

    The Boeing Model 767-2C series airplane will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design feature:
    The electronic-system network architecture for the Model 767-2C 
series airplane introduces potential security risks and vulnerabilities 
not addressed in current regulations and airplane-level or system-level 
safety-assessment methods. This network architecture allows connection 
to airplane electronic systems and networks, and access from airplane 
external sources (e.g., operator networks, wireless devices, Internet 
connectivity, service-provider satellite communications, electronic 
flight bags, etc.), to the previously isolated airplane electronic 
assets. Airplane electronic assets include electronic equipment and 
systems, instruments, networks, servers, software and electronic 
components, field-loadable software and hardware applications, and 
databases.

Discussion

    The Boeing Model 767-2C series airplane design introduces the 
potential for unauthorized persons to access airplane-control domain 
and operator-information-services domain in the passenger-services 
domain. The 767-2C design further introduces the potential for security 
vulnerabilities related to the introduction of viruses, worms, user 
mistakes, and intentional sabotage of airplane networks, systems, and

[[Page 10330]]

databases. As such, these special conditions address these 
vulnerabilities.
    The digital systems architecture for the Boeing Model 767-2C series 
airplanes 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.
    The Model 767-2C series airplane electronic-system network 
architecture allows connection to airplane electronic systems and 
networks, and access from airplane external sources (e.g., operator 
networks, wireless devices, Internet connectivity, service-provider 
satellite communications, electronic flight bags, etc.) to the 
previously isolated airplane electronic assets.
    This design may result in network-security vulnerabilities from 
intentional or unintentional corruption of data and systems required 
for the safety, operations, and maintenance of the airplane. The 
existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate this type 
of system architecture, or external wired and wireless electronic 
access to airplane electronic systems. Furthermore, regulations, and 
current system safety-assessment policy and techniques, do not address 
potential security vulnerabilities, which could be caused by 
unauthorized access to airplane electronic systems and networks.
    Special conditions have been applied on past airplane programs to 
require consideration of related security vulnerabilities. These 
special conditions are similar to those previously applied, except that 
the scope has been adjusted to be consistent with those features unique 
to the Model 767-2C series airplane.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions apply to Boeing Model 
767-2C series airplanes. Should Boeing 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 one model series of airplane. 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, because a delay would 
significantly affect the certification of the airplane, the FAA has 
determined that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and 
impracticable, 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.

    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 Boeing Model 767-2C series 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 February 19, 2015.
John J. Piccola, Jr.,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-03970 Filed 2-25-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P