Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/10/31/2013-25851/special-conditions-learjet-model-45-series-airplanes-isolation-or-security-protection-of-the
Timestamp: 2018-04-24 05:27:03
Document Index: 724312857

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 25', 'art 25', '§\u200921', 'art 34', 'art 36', '§\u2009611']

Docket No. FAA-2013-0919
Special Conditions No. 25-13-11-SC
Isolation or Security Protection of the Aircraft Control Domain and the Airline Information Services Domain From the Passenger Services Domain
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-25851 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-25851
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 65155
These special conditions are issued for the Learjet Model 45 series airplanes. These airplanes will have novel or unusual design features associated with connectivity of the passenger service computer systems to the airplane critical systems and data networks. 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.
Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2013-0919 using any of the following methods:
The FAA has determined that notice of, and opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions are impracticable because these procedures would significantly delay issuance of the design approval and thus delivery of the affected aircraft. 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.
On April 21, 2010, Learjet applied for both a change to Type Certificate No. T00008WI and for a supplemental type certificate (STC) change in the digital systems architecture in the Learjet Model 45 series airplanes. The Learjet Model No. 45 series airplanes are a swept-wing aircraft equipped with two Honeywell TFE731-40BR turbojet engines, weighing 13,890 pounds empty and capable of carrying up to nine passengers plus two crew members.
The proposed Learjet Model 45 architecture is new and novel for commercial transport airplanes by allowing connection to previously isolated data networks connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane. This proposed data network and design integration may result in security vulnerabilities from intentional or unintentional corruption of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane. The existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate this type of system architecture or electronic access to aircraft 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 aircraft data buses and servers. The intent of these special conditions is to ensure that security, integrity, and availability of aircraft systems are not compromised by certain wired or wireless electronic connections between airplane data busses and networks. A separate Learjet Model 45 project special condition addresses aircraft electronic system security protection from unauthorized external access.
Under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, Learjet must show that the Model 45 series meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-128.
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 45 series because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under § 21.16.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and proposed special conditions, the Learjet Model 45 series airplane must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise certification requirements of 14 Start Printed Page 65156CFR part 36 and the FAA must issue a finding of regulatory adequacy under § 611 of Public Law 92-574, the “Noise Control Act of 1972.”
The Learjet Model 45 series airplanes will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features: The proposed architecture and network configuration may be used for, or interfaced with, a diverse set of functions, including:
2. Operator business and administrative support (operator information domain); and
3. Passenger information and entertainment systems (passenger entertainment domain).
In addition, the operating systems (OS) for current aircraft systems are usually and historically proprietary. Therefore, they are not as susceptible to corruption from worms, viruses, and other malicious actions as more widely used commercial operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows NT, because access to the design details of these proprietary OS is limited to the system developer and aircraft integrator. Some systems installed on the Learjet Model 45 series airplanes will use operating systems that are widely used and commercially available from third party software suppliers. The security vulnerabilities of these operating systems may be more widely known than proprietary operating systems currently used by avionics manufacturers.
The integrated network configurations in the Learjet Model 45 series airplanes may allow increased connectivity with external network sources and will have more interconnected networks and systems, such as passenger entertainment and information services than previous airplane models. This may allow the exploitation of network security vulnerabilities and increased risks potentially resulting in unsafe conditions for the airplanes and occupants. This potential exploitation of security vulnerabilities may result in intentional or unintentional destruction, disruption, degradation, or exploitation of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane. The existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate these types of 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 and servers. Therefore, these special conditions are being issued to ensure that the security (i.e., confidentiality, integrity, and availability) of airplane systems is not compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless electronic connections between airplane systems and the passenger entertainment services.
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the Learjet Model 45 series airplanes. Should Learjet apply at a later date 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.
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 Learjet Model 45 series airplanes.
2. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the aircraft is maintained, including all post-type-certification modifications that may have an impact on the approved electronic system security safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2013-25851 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]