Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/08/26/2015-21118/special-conditions-bombardier-inc-model-bd-100-1a10-airplane-installed-rechargeable-lithium
Timestamp: 2018-07-21 14:06:02
Document Index: 703173192

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 25', '§\u200921', 'art 34', 'art 36', 'art 4', 'art 25', '§\u200925', '§\u200925', '§\u200925', '§\u200925', '§\u200925', '§\u200925', '§\u200925']

Federal Register :: Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 Airplane; Installed Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery Systems
A Rule by the Federal Aviation Administration on 08/26/2015
This action is effective on Bombardier Inc. on August 26, 2015. We must receive your comments by September 25, 2015.
51723-51725 (3 pages)
Docket No. FAA-2015-3463
Special Conditions No. 25-590-SC
FAA-2015-3463
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-21118 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-21118
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 51723
These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Inc. Model BD-100-1A10 airplane. This airplane, as modified by S4A, Solutions for Aviation, S.L., 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 the installation of an Aspire 200 satellite communications (satcom) system with wireless handsets that use rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems. Rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems have certain failure, operational, and maintenance characteristics that differ significantly from those of the nickel-cadmium and lead-acid rechargeable batteries currently approved for installation on transport category airplanes. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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-2015-3463 using any of the following methods:
On June 18, 2014, S4A, Solutions for Aviation, S.L. applied for a supplemental type certificate to install an Aspire 200 satcom system with wireless handsets in the Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplane (known as the “Challenger 300”). The BD-100-1A10 airplane is a corporate jet with an eight-passenger and two-crew capacity. It is equipped with two, rear-mounted Honeywell HTF7000 turbofan engines and has a maximum takeoff weight of 38,850 lb/17,622 kg.
Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.101, S4A, Solutions for Aviation, S.L. must show that the BD-100-1A10 airplane, as changed, continues to meet the regulations listed in T00005NY or the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the change except for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA.
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 BD-100-1A10 airplane because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16.Start Printed Page 51724
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the BD-100-1A10 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 BD-100-1A10 airplane will incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature: The installation of an Aspire 200 satcom system with wireless handsets that will use rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems. Rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems that have certain failure, operational, and maintenance characteristics that differ significantly from those of the nickel-cadmium and lead-acid rechargeable batteries currently approved for installation on large, transport category airplanes.
The current regulations governing installation of batteries in large, transport category airplanes were derived from Civil Air Regulations (CAR) part 4b.625(d) as part of the recodification of CAR 4b that established part 25 in February 1965. The recodified battery requirements, § 25.1353(c)(1) through (c)(4), basically reworded the CAR requirements.
Increased use of nickel-cadmium batteries in small airplanes resulted in increased incidents of battery fires and failures that led to additional rulemaking affecting large, transport category airplanes as well as small airplanes. On September 1, 1977, and March 1, 1978, with Amendments 25-41 and 25-42 respectively, the FAA added paragraphs (c)(5) and (c)(6) to § 25.1353 governing nickel-cadmium battery installations on large, transport category airplanes. On December 10, 2007, Amendment 25-123 moved the contents of paragraph (b) in § 25.1353 to the new subpart H, resulting in the relocation of the regulations governing the installation of batteries in § 25.1353 from paragraph (c) to paragraph (b).
The use of rechargeable lithium batteries for equipment and systems prompted the FAA to review the adequacy of these existing regulations. Our review indicated that the existing regulations do not adequately address several failure, operational, and maintenance characteristics of rechargeable lithium batteries that could affect the safety and reliability of the Bombardier BD-100-1A10 lithium battery installations.
At present, there is limited experience with the use of lithium batteries in applications involving commercial aviation. However, other users of this technology, ranging from wireless telephone manufacturers to the electric vehicle industry, have noted safety problems with lithium batteries. These problems include overcharging, over-discharging, and flammability of cell components.
These problems experienced by users of lithium batteries raise concern about the use of these batteries in commercial aviation. The intent of these special conditions is to establish appropriate airworthiness standards for lithium battery installations in the BD-100-1A10 airplane and to ensure, as required by §§ 25.601, that these battery installations are not hazardous or unreliable.
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the Model No. BD-100-1A10 airplane. Should S4A, Solutions for Aviation, S.L. apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. T00005NY to incorporate the same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as well.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.Start Printed Page 51725
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 Bombardier BD-100-1A10 airplane modified by S4A, Solutions for Aviation, S.L.
In lieu of the requirements of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 25.1353(c)(1) through (c)(4) at Amendment 25-101 for rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems, all installations must be designed and installed as follows:
These special conditions are not intended to replace § 25.1353(c) at Amendment 25-101 in the certification basis of the BD-100-1A10 airplane. These special conditions apply only to rechargeable lithium batteries and lithium battery systems and their installations. The requirements of § 25.1353(c) at Amendment 25-101 remain in effect for batteries and battery installations on the BD-100-1A10 airplane that do not use lithium batteries.