Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/31/2017-11160/special-conditions-airbus-model-a350-series-airplanes-non-rechargeable-lithium-battery-installations
Timestamp: 2017-08-22 15:14:30
Document Index: 189869790

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 25', 'art 25', '§\u200921', 'art 34', 'art 36', 'art 25', '§\u200925']

Federal Register :: Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A350 Series Airplanes; Non-Rechargeable Lithium Battery Installations
24834-24837 (4 pages)
FAA-2017-0370
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-11160 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-11160
Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2017-0370 using any of the following methods:
Airbus holds type certificate no. T00063IB, which provides the certification basis for the A350 series airplanes. The A350 series airplanes are twin engine, transport category airplanes with a passenger seating capacity of 330 to 440 and a maximum takeoff weight of 590,838 to 606,270 pounds, depending on the specific design.
The FAA is issuing these special conditions for non-rechargeable lithium battery installations on the A350 series airplanes. The current battery requirements in title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 25 are inadequate for addressing an airplane with non-rechargeable lithium batteries.
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Airbus must show that the A350 series airplanes meet the applicable provisions of the regulations listed in type certificate no. T00063IB or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the change, except for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA. In addition, the certification basis includes certain special conditions, exemptions, or later amended sections 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 A350 series airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the A350 series airplanes 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 derived the current regulations governing installation of batteries in transport category airplanes Start Printed Page 24836from Civil Air Regulations (CAR) 4b.625(d) as part of the recodification of CAR 4b that established 14 CFR part 25 in February 1965. This recodification basically reworded the CAR 4b battery requirements, which are currently in § 25.1353(b)(1) through (4). Non-rechargeable lithium batteries are novel and unusual with respect to the state of technology considered when these requirements were codified. These batteries introduce higher energy levels into airplane systems through new chemical compositions in various battery cell sizes and construction. Interconnection of these cells in battery packs introduces failure modes that require unique design considerations, such as provisions for thermal management.
These special conditions are applicable to the A350 series airplanes. Should Airbus 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.
These special conditions are not applicable to changes to previously certified non-rechargeable lithium battery installations where the only change is either cosmetic or to relocate the installation to improve the safety of the airplane and occupants. Previously certified non-rechargeable lithium battery installations, as used in this paragraph, are those installations approved for certification projects applied for on or before the effective date of these special conditions. A cosmetic change is a change in appearance only, and does not change any function or safety characteristic of the battery installation. These special conditions are also not applicable to unchanged, previously certified non-rechargeable lithium battery installations that are affected by a change in a manner that improves the safety of its installation. The FAA determined that these exclusions are in the public interest because the need to Start Printed Page 24837meet all of the special conditions might otherwise deter these design changes that improve safety.
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 the Airbus Model A350 series airplanes.