Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2010/01/04/E9-31116/special-conditions-boeing-model-787-8-airplane-overhead-flightcrew-rest-compartment-occupiable
Timestamp: 2015-04-18 23:35:05
Document Index: 89399492

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 25', '§ 25', 'art 25', '§ 21', 'art 34', 'art 36', '§ 21', 'art 25', '§ 21', 'art 25', 'art 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', 'art 25', 'art 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25']

Federal Register | Special Conditions: Boeing Model 787-8 Airplane; Overhead Flightcrew Rest Compartment Occupiable During Taxi, Take-Off, and Landing
Dates: We must receive your comments by February 18, 2010.
-89 (9 pages)
Document Number: E9-31116
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/E9-31116 Related Topics
Jeff Gardlin, FAA, Airframe/Cabin Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Standards Staff, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2136; facsimile (425) 227-1320. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Back to Top
Under provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, Boeing must show that the Boeing Model 787-8 airplane (hereafter referred to as “the 787”) meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-117, 25-120, 25-124, 25-125 and 25-128, except that § 25.1309 remains at Amendment 25-117 for cargo fire protection systems. 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 787 because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16.
In addition to complying with the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the 787 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 also issue a finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to section 611 of 92, the “Noise Control Act of 1972.”
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 features, the special conditions would also apply to the other model under provisions of § 21.101.
Crew rest compartments have been installed and certificated on several Boeing airplane models in locations as varied as the main passenger seating area, the overhead space above the main passenger cabin seating area, and below the passenger cabin seating area within the cargo compartment. In each case, the Administrator has determined that the applicable regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) did not provide all of the necessary requirements because each installation had unique features by virtue of its design, location, and use on the airplane. When the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16. The proposed special conditions contain safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Consideration of a Requirement for an External Exit Back to Top
For Boeing Model 777 Special Conditions No. 25-260-SC, the FAA considered whether or not a special condition should require that the OFCR compartment have an external exit leading directly outside the airplane. The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), and International Federation of Air Line Pilots (IFALPA) reviewed the design of the 777 OFCR compartment and informed the FAA that in their opinion an external exit was not needed because two independent, internal evacuation routes were provided. That input, and the fact that flight crewmembers would be the only occupants of the compartment during TT&L, supported the FAA in determining that a special condition requiring an external exit was not required. The FAA considers that the following, in addition to Special Conditions No. 25-260-SC, provide a level of safety equivalent to that established by part 25 for main deck occupants:
Operational Evaluations and Approval Back to Top
Discussion of Rescue Crew Training Materials Back to Top
Discussion of Proposed Special Conditions Back to Top
These proposed special conditions would apply to OFCR compartments that are occupiable during TT and are installed immediately aft of the Door 1 exits on the 787. These proposed special conditions would supplement 14 CFR part 25. Except as noted below, these proposed special conditions for the 787 will be identical to Boeing Model 777 Special Conditions No. 25-260-SC.
Proposed Special Conditions No. 6 and 16 contain requirements for the exit signs that must be provided in the OFCR compartment. As stated in the proposed special conditions, symbol signs in OFCR compartments that satisfy the equivalent level of safety finding established for the 787 may be used in lieu of the text signs required by § 25.812(b)(1)(i).
Proposed Special Condition No. 18 contains the requirements for materials used in the construction of the OFCR compartment. Special Conditions No. 25-260-SC stated that § 25.853 as amended by Amendment 25-83 is the appropriate regulation. Section 25.853 has since been further amended, and these proposed special conditions reference the latest amendment level for § 25.853 (Amendment 25-116).
Compliance with these proposed special conditions does not relieve the applicant from the existing airplane certification basis requirements. One particular area of concern is that installation of OFCR compartments leaves a smaller compartment volume within the overhead area of the airplane. The applicant must comply with the pressurized compartment loads requirements of § 25.365(e), (f), and (g) for the OFCR compartment, as well as for any other airplane compartments whose decompression characteristics are affected by the installation of an OFCR compartment. Compliance with § 25.813 emergency exit access requirements must be demonstrated for all phases of flight during which occupants will be present.
The proposed configuration includes a seat installed adjacent to the OFCR compartment exit which will be occupiable during TT&L. It should be noted that the emergency landing conditions requirements of §§ 25.561(d) and 25.562(c)(8) are applicable to this configuration. Hence, deformations resulting from required static and dynamic structural tests must not impede rapid evacuation of the OFCR compartment occupants. Seat deformations must not prevent opening of the secondary escape hatch or rapid evacuation through the secondary escape route.
(b) Doors installed across emergency egress routes must have a means to latch them in the open position. The latching means must be able to withstand the loads imposed upon it when the door is subjected to the ultimate inertia forces, relative to the surrounding structure, listed in § 25.561(b).
(c) A placard must be displayed in a conspicuous place on the outside of the entrance door of the OFCR compartment, and on any other door(s) installed across emergency egress routes of the OFCR compartment, requiring those doors to be latched open during TT&L when the OFCR compartment is occupied. This requirement does not apply to emergency escape hatches installed in the floor of the OFCR compartment. A placard must be displayed in a conspicuous place on the outside of the entrance door to the OFCR compartment that requires it to be closed and locked when it is not occupied. Procedures for meeting these requirements must be transmitted to the operator for incorporation into its training programs and appropriate operational manuals.
3. In addition to the requirements of § 25.562 for seats, which are occupiable during takeoff and landing, and restraint systems, the OFCR compartment structure must be compatible with the loads imposed by the seats as a result of the conditions specified in § 25.562(b).
Compliance by Inspection Back to Top
Compliance by Analysis Back to Top
Analysis must consider design features affecting access to the evacuation routes. Possibilities for design components affecting evacuation that should be considered include, but are not limited to, seat deformations (reference §§ 25.561(d) and 25.562(c)(8)), seat back break-over, rigid structure that reduces access from one part of the compartment to another, and items known to be the cause of potential hazards. Factors that also should be considered are availability of emergency equipment to address fire hazards, availability of communications equipment, supplemental restraint devices to retain items of mass that, if broken loose, could hinder evacuation, and load path isolation between components containing evacuation routes.
(c) Emergency evacuation procedures, including procedures for emergency evacuation of an incapacitated occupant from the OFCR compartment, must be established. The applicant must transmit all of these procedures to the operator for incorporation into its training programs and appropriate operational manuals. (d) There must be a limitation in the airplane flight manual or other suitable means to require that crewmembers be trained in the use of the OFCR compartment evacuation routes. This training must instruct them to ensure that the OFCR compartment (including seats, doors, etc.) is in its proper TT&L configuration during TT&L.
(a) At least one exit sign, located near each OFCR compartment outlet, meeting the emergency lighting requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i). One allowable exception would be a sign with reduced background area of no less than 5.3 square inches (excluding the letters), provided that it is installed so that the material surrounding the exit sign is light in color (white, cream, light beige, for example). If the material surrounding the exit sign is not light in color, a sign with a minimum of a one-inch-wide background border around the letters would be acceptable. Another allowable exception is a sign with a symbol that the FAA has determined to be equivalent for use as an exit sign in an OFCR compartment.
8. There must be means for two-way voice communications between crewmembers on the flight deck and occupants of the OFCR compartment. There must also be two-way communications between occupants of the OFCR compartment and each flight attendant station in the passenger cabin that is required per § 25.1423(g) to have a public address system microphone. In addition, the public address system must include provisions to provide only the relevant information to the crewmembers in the OFCR compartment (for example fire in flight, aircraft depressurization, preparation of the compartment for landing, etc.). That is, provisions must be made so that occupants of the OFCR compartment will not be disturbed with normal, non-emergency announcements made to the passenger cabin.
11. PBE devices must be provided in accordance with § 25.1439, except that in lieu of a device for each crewmember, the following PBE devices, approved to Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C116 or equivalent, must be provided: Two PBE devices suitable for firefighting, or one PBE for each hand-held fire extinguisher, whichever is greater. The following equipment must also be provided in the OFCR compartment:
(a) A visual indication to the flight deck within one minute after the start of a fire. (b) An aural warning in the OFCR compartment.
(2) Emergency illumination requirement (Proposed Special Condition No. 7). (3) Emergency alarm system requirement (Proposed Special Condition No. 9).
(c) OFCR compartments that are visually divided to the extent that evacuation could be affected must have exit signs directing occupants to the primary stairway outlet. The exit signs must be provided in each separate section of the OFCR compartment, except for curtained bunks, and must meet requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i). An exit sign with reduced background area or a symbolic exit sign as described in Proposed Special Condition No. 6(a) may be used to meet this requirement.
(4) In each section, there must be exit signs meeting requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i), or shown to have an equivalent level of safety, that direct occupants to the primary stairway outlet. An exit sign with reduced background area or a symbolic exit sign as described in Proposed Special Condition No. 6(a) may be used to meet this requirement.
17. If a waste disposal receptacle is fitted in the OFCR compartment, it must be equipped with an automatic fire extinguisher that meets the performance requirements of § 25.854(b).
18. Materials (including finishes or decorative surfaces applied to the materials) must comply with the requirements of § 25.853 as amended by Amendment 25-116. Seat cushions and mattresses must comply with the flammability requirements of § 25.853(c) as amended by Amendment 25-116 and the test requirements of part 25, appendix F, part II, or other equivalent methods.
20. Each stowage compartment in the OFCR compartment, except for underseat compartments for occupant convenience, must be completely enclosed. All enclosed stowage compartments within the OFCR compartment that are not limited to stowage of emergency equipment or airplane-supplied equipment must meet the design criteria given in the table below. Enclosed stowage compartments greater than 200 ft.
in interior volume are not addressed by this proposed special condition. The in-flight accessibility of very large enclosed stowage compartments and the subsequent impact on the crewmembers' ability to effectively reach any part of the compartment with the contents of a hand fire extinguisher will require additional fire protection considerations similar to those required for inaccessible compartments such as Class C cargo compartments.
Design Criteria for Enclosed Stowage Compartments Not Limited to Stowage of Emergency or Airplane-Supplied Equipment Back to Top
1Compliant Materials of Construction
The material used to construct each enclosed stowage compartment must at least be fire resistant and must meet the flammability standards established for interior components (i.e., 14 CFR part 25 Appendix F, Parts I, IV, and V) per the requirements of § 25.853. For compartments less than 25 ft.3in interior volume, the design must ensure the ability to contain a fire likely to occur within the compartment under normal use.
2Smoke or Fire Detectors
Enclosed stowage compartments equal to or exceeding 25 ft.3in interior volume must be provided with a smoke or fire detection system to ensure that a fire can be detected within a one-minute detection time. Flight tests must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement. Each system (or systems) must provide:
3Liner If it can be shown that the material used to construct the stowage compartment meets the flammability requirements of a liner for a Class B cargo compartment (i.e., § 25.855 at Amendment 25-116, and Appendix F, part I, paragraph (a)(2)(ii)), then no liner would be required for enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 25 ft.3but less than 57 ft.3in interior volume. For all enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 57 ft.3in interior volume but less than or equal to 200 ft.3, a liner must be provided that meets the requirements of § 25.855 for a Class B cargo compartment.
4Fire Location Detector
If an OFCR compartment has enclosed stowage compartments exceeding 25 ft.3interior volume that are located separately from the other stowage compartments (located, for example, away from one central location, such as the entry to the OFCR compartment or a common area within the OFCR compartment, where the other stowage compartments are), that OFCR compartment would require additional fire protection features and/or devices to assist the firefighter in determining the location of a fire.
Compliant Materials of Construction1
Smoke or Fire Detectors2
Fire Location Detector4