[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33673-33674]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13666]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0896; Special Conditions No. 25-529-SC]

Special Conditions: Airbus Model A350-900 Series, Limit Pilot
Force Because of Side Stick Controller

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for Airbus Model A350-900
series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design
feature associated with side stick controllers which require limited
pilot force because they are operated by only one hand. 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: Effective July 14, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Martin, FAA, Airframe and Cabin
Safety Branch, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington, 98057-
3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; facsimile<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 25, 2008, Airbus applied for a type certificate for their
new Model A350-900 series airplane. Later, Airbus requested and the FAA
approved an extension to the application for FAA type certification to
June 28, 2009. The Model A350-900 series airplane has a conventional
layout with twin wing-mounted Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. It
features a twin aisle 9-abreast economy class layout, and accommodates
side-by-side placement of LD-3 containers in the cargo compartment. The
basic Model A350-900 series configuration will accommodate 315
passengers in a standard two-class arrangement. The design cruise speed
is Mach 0.85 with a Maximum Take-Off Weight of 602,000 lbs.
    The Airbus Model A350-900 series airplane is equipped with two side
stick controllers instead of the conventional control columns and
wheels. This kind of controller is designed for only one-hand
operation. The requirement of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 25.397(c), which defines limit pilot forces and torques for
conventional wheel or stick controls, is not adequate for a side stick
controller. Special conditions are necessary to specify the appropriate
loading conditions for this kind of controller.

Type Certification Basis

    Under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, Airbus
must show that the Model A350-900 series meets the applicable
provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 through 25-
129.
    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 A350-900 series because of a
novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed
under 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 or similar
novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would also
apply to the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Model A350-900 series 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 issue a
finding of regulatory adequacy under Sec.  611 of Public Law 92-574,
the ``Noise Control Act of 1972.''
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19,
under Sec.  11.38, and they become part of the type-certification basis
under Sec.  21.17(a)(2).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Airbus Model A350-900 series airplane will incorporate the
following novel or unusual design feature: a side stick controller for
only one-hand operation by wrist and not by arms.

Discussion

    Special conditions for Airbus side stick controllers have been
developed and applied during previous Airbus certification programs.
These special conditions are also appropriate for the Model A350-900
series side stick controller.
    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.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of proposed special conditions No. 25-13-27-SC for Airbus
Model A350-900 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register
on December 17, 2013 (78 FR 76248). No comments were received, and the
special conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions apply to Airbus Model
A350-900 series airplanes. Should Airbus apply later 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.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on the Airbus Model A350-900 series airplanes. It is not a rule of
general applicability.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 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 Airbus Model A350-900 series airplanes
in lieu of Sec.  25.397(c), which are identical to A320, A340, and A380
special conditions on the same subject:
    For the Airbus Model A350-900 series airplane equipped with stick
controls designed for forces to be applied by one wrist and not arms,
the limit pilot forces are as follows:
    1. For all components between and including the handle and its
control stops.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Pitch                                Roll
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Nose up 200 lbf...........................  Nose left 100 lbf.
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    2. For all other components of the side stick control assembly, but
excluding the internal components of the electrical sensor assemblies,
to avoid damage as a result of an in-flight jam.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Pitch                                Roll
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nose up 125 lbf...........................  Nose left 50 lbf.
Nose down 125 lbf.........................  Nose right 50 lbf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on: April 22, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-13666 Filed 6-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P