Document ID: FAA-2022-0125-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 6X Airplane; Flight Envelope Protection: Pitch and Roll Limiting Functions
Posted Date: 2022-04-14T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22116-22117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07932]

[[Page 22116]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0125; Special Conditions No. 25-808-SC]

Special Conditions: Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 6X Airplane; 
Flight Envelope Protection: Pitch and Roll Limiting Functions

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Aviation 
(Dassault) Model Falcon 6X airplane. This airplane 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 an Electronic Flight Control System 
(EFCS) that limits pitch and roll functions to prevent the airplane 
from attaining certain pitch attitudes and roll angles. 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 Dassault on April 14, 2022. Send 
comments on or before May 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2022-0125 using 
any of the following methods:
     Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to https://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 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: Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as 
described in the following paragraph, and other information as 
described in title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 11.35, the 
FAA will post all comments received without change to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about these special conditions.
    Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both 
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from 
public disclosure. If your comments responsive to these special 
conditions contain commercial or financial information that is 
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and 
that is relevant or responsive to these special conditions, it is 
important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. 
Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' 
The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the 
FOIA, and the indicated comments will not be placed in the public 
docket of these special conditions. Send submissions containing CBI to 
Troy Brown, Performance and Environment Section, AIR-625, Technical 
Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 1801 S Airport 
Rd., Wichita, KS 67209-2190; telephone and fax 405-666-1050; email 
[email protected]. Comments the FAA receives, which are not 
specifically designated as CBI, will be placed in the public docket for 
these special conditions.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
https://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: Troy Brown, Performance and 
Environment Section, AIR-625, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, 
Policy and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 1801 S Airport Rd., Wichita, KS 67209-2190; 
telephone and fax 405-666-1050; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions 
has been published in the Federal Register for public comment in 
several prior instances with no substantive comments received. 
Therefore, the FAA finds, pursuant to 14 CFR 11.38(b), that new 
comments are unlikely, and notice and comment prior to this publication 
are unnecessary.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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.
    The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date for 
comments. The FAA may change these special conditions based on the 
comments received.

Background

    On July 1, 2012, Dassault Aviation applied for a type certificate 
for its new Model Falcon 5X airplane. However, Dassault has decided not 
to release an airplane under the model designation Falcon 5X, instead 
choosing to change that model designation to Falcon 6X.
    In February of 2018, due to engine supplier issues, Dassault 
extended the type certificate application date for its Model Falcon 5X 
airplane under new Model Falcon 6X. This airplane is a twin-engine 
business jet with seating for 19 passengers, and has a maximum takeoff 
weight of 77,460 pounds.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17, Dassault must show that the 
Model Falcon 6X airplane meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 
25, as amended by amendments 25-1 through 25-146.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (e.g., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane 
because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are 
prescribed under the provisions of 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 special 
conditions, the Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane must comply with the 
fuel-vent and exhaust-emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34, and the 
noise-

[[Page 22117]]

certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in 
accordance with 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 Aviation Model Falcon 6X airplane will incorporate the 
following novel or unusual design features:
    An Electronic Flight Control System (EFCS) that limits pitch and 
roll functions to prevent the airplane from attaining certain pitch 
attitudes and roll angles.

Discussion

    Part 25 of 14 CFR does not specifically relate to flight 
characteristics associated with fixed-attitude limits. The Dassault 
Aviation Model Falcon 6X airplane will incorporate pitch and roll 
attitude-limiting functions, via the Electronic Flight Control System 
(EFCS) normal modes, to prevent airplane pitch attitudes greater than 
+30 degrees and less than -15 degrees, and roll angles greater than 
plus or minus 67 degrees. In addition, positive spiral stability is 
introduced for roll angles greater than 35 degrees at speeds below 
VMO/MMO. At speeds greater than VMO 
and up to VDF, maximum aileron control force is limited to 
only 45 degrees maximum bank angle.
    The installed attitude-limiting functions are designed such that, 
at VMO + 6 knots or MMO + 0.012, an automatic 
nose-up pitch is applied with phase advance in case of high 
acceleration. The speed stabilizes at VD/MD if 
the stick is full forward, or the speed will return to VMO/
MMO if the stick is released.
    The basic envelope-protection requirement, historically applied, is 
to not unduly limit the maneuver capability of the airplane, nor 
interfere with its ability to perform maneuvers required for normal and 
emergency operations. The design details for the Dassault Model Falcon 
6X support the objective of not unduly limiting the maneuver 
capability, while also protecting the airplane from adverse attitudes.
    These special conditions are in addition to the requirements of 14 
CFR 25.143. 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 are applicable to the 
Dassault Model Falcon 6X airplane. Should Dassault apply at a later 
date for a change to the type certificate to include another model 
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special 
conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature 
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Authority Citation

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 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 Aviation Model Falcon 6X 
airplanes.
    In addition to Sec.  25.143, the following requirements apply:
    1. The pitch-limiting function must not impede normal maneuvering 
for pitch angles up to the maximum required for normal maneuvering, 
including a normal all-engines-operating takeoff, plus a suitable 
margin to allow for satisfactory speed control.
    2. The pitch- and roll-limiting functions must not restrict, or 
prevent attaining pitch attitudes necessary for, emergency maneuvering, 
or roll angles up to 66 degrees with flaps up, or 60 degrees with flaps 
down. Spiral stability, which is introduced above 35 degrees roll 
angle, must not require excessive pilot strength to achieve these roll 
angles. Other protections, which further limit the roll capability 
under certain extreme angle-of-attack, attitude, or high-speed 
conditions, are acceptable, if they allow at least 45 degrees of roll 
capability.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 8, 2022.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-07932 Filed 4-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P