Rule2023-15468
Special Conditions: Textron Aviation, Inc. Model 560XL(XLS+) Airplane; Electronic System Security Protection From Unauthorized Internal Access
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 21, 2023
Effective
July 21, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
These special conditions are issued for the Textron Aviation, Inc. (Textron) Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane. This airplane 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 associated with the installation of a digital system that contains a wireless and hardwired network with hosted application functionality that allows access, from a source internal to the airplane, to the airplane's internal electronic component. 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.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46955-46956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15468]
[[Page 46955]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1242; Special Conditions No. 25-839-SC]
Special Conditions: Textron Aviation, Inc. Model 560XL(XLS+)
Airplane; Electronic System Security Protection From Unauthorized
Internal Access
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Textron Aviation,
Inc. (Textron) Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane. This airplane 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 associated with the
installation of a digital system that contains a wireless and hardwired
network with hosted application functionality that allows access, from
a source internal to the airplane, to the airplane's internal
electronic component. 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: This action is effective on Textron Aviation, Inc. on July 21,
2023. Send comments on or before September 5, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2023-1242 using
any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a> and follow the online instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
<bullet> Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
<bullet> Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
<bullet> Docket: Background documents or comments received may be
read at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a> at any time. Follow the online
instructions for accessing the docket or go to Docket Operations in
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thuan T. Nguyen, Avionics Software &
Components Unit, AIR-626D, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy
and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal
Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
Washington 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3365; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#61350914000f4f354f2f061418040f210700004f060e17"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f0b372a3e31710b7111382a263a311f393e3e71383029">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substance of these special conditions
has been published in the Federal Register for public comment in
several prior instances with no substantive comments received.
Therefore, the FAA finds, pursuant to 14 CFR 11.38(b), that new
comments are unlikely, and notice and comment prior to this publication
are unnecessary.
Privacy
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in title
14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 11.35, the FAA will post all
comments received without change to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a>,
including any personal information you provide. The FAA will also post
a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about
these special conditions.
Confidential Business Information
Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552),
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to
these special conditions contain commercial or financial information
that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as
private, and that is relevant or responsive to these special
conditions, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and the indicated comments will not be
placed in the public docket of these special conditions. Send
submissions containing CBI to Thuan T. Nguyen, Avionics Software &
Components Unit, AIR-626D, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy
and Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal
Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
Washington 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3365; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e3b78b96828dcdb7cdad84969a868da3858282cd848c95"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="23774b56424d0d770d6d44565a464d634542420d444c55">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments the FAA receives, which are not
specifically designated as CBI, will be placed in the public docket for
these special conditions.
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested people to take part in this rulemaking
by sending written comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments
reference a specific portion of the special conditions, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data.
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date for
comments, and will consider comments filed late if it is possible to do
so without incurring delay. The FAA may change these special conditions
based on the comments received.
Background
On June 30, 2021, Textron Aviation, Inc. applied for an amended
type certificate (ATC) for the installation of a digital system that
contains a wireless and hardwired network with hosted application
functionality that allows access, from sources internal to the
airplane, to the airplane's internal electronic components. The Textron
Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane, which is a derivative of the Model 560XL
currently approved under Type Certificate No. A22CE, is a two-engine
transport category airplane. The maximum seating capacity is 12
passengers and 2 crew members. The maximum takeoff weight is 20,200 to
20,330 pounds, depending on the specific variant.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Textron must show that the Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane, as
changed, continues to meet the applicable provisions of the regulations
listed in Type Certificate No. A22CE 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 (e.g., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards
[[Page 46956]]
for the Textron Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane because of a novel or
unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the
provisions of Sec. 21.16.
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. Should the applicant apply for an ATC to modify any
other model included on the same type certificate to incorporate the
same novel or unusual design feature, these special conditions would
also apply to the other model under Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Textron Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane must comply with the
exhaust-emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34, and the noise-
certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in
accordance with Sec. 11.38, and they become part of the type
certification basis under Sec. 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Textron Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane will incorporate a novel or
unusual design feature, which is the installation of a digital system
that contains a wireless and hardwired network with hosted application
functionality that allows access, from sources internal to the
airplane, to the airplane's internal electronic components.
Discussion
The Textron Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane electronic system
architecture and network configuration change is novel or unusual for
commercial transport airplanes because it is composed of several
connected wireless and hardwired networks. This proposed system and
network architecture is used for a diverse set of airplane functions,
including:
<bullet> Flight-safety related control and navigation systems,
<bullet> Airline business and administrative support, and
<bullet> Passenger entertainment.
The airplane's control domain and airline information services
domain of these networks perform functions required for the safe
operation and maintenance of the airplane. Previously, these domains
had very limited connectivity with other network sources. This network
architecture creates a potential for unauthorized persons to access the
aircraft control domain from sources internal to the airplane, and
presents security vulnerabilities related to the introduction of
computer viruses and worms, user errors, and intentional sabotage of
airplane electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases) critical
to the safety and maintenance of the airplane.
The existing FAA regulations did not anticipate these networked
airplane-system architectures. Furthermore, these regulations and the
current guidance material do not address potential security
vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by unauthorized access to
airplane networks, data buses, and servers. Therefore, these special
conditions ensure that the security (i.e., confidentiality, integrity,
and availability) of airplane systems will not be compromised by
unauthorized wireless or hardwired electronic connections from within
the airplane. These special conditions also require the applicant to
provide appropriate instruction to the operator to maintain all
electronic-system safeguards that have been implemented as part of the
original network design so that this feature does not allow or
reintroduce security threats.
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.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Textron Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane. Should Textron apply at a later
date for an amended type certificate to modify any other model included
on Type Certificate No. A22CE to incorporate the same novel or unusual
design feature, these special conditions would apply to that model as
well.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature
on Textron Model 560XL(XLS+) airplane. It is not a rule of general
applicability.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority Citation
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, and
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 the Textron 560XL(XLS+) airplane for
airplane electronic-system internal access.
1. The applicant must ensure that the design provides isolation
from, or airplane electronic-system security protection against, access
by unauthorized sources internal to the airplane. The design must
prevent inadvertent and malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts
upon, airplane equipment, systems, networks, and other assets required
for safe flight and operations.
2. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the airplane is
maintained, including all post-type-certification modifications that
may have an impact on the approved electronic-system security
safeguards.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 17, 2023.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-15468 Filed 7-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 21, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.