Rule2024-00484
Special Conditions: Lufthansa Tecknik AG, Airbus Models A319-133 and A321-200 Series Airplanes; Supercapacitor Systems and Installation
Primary source
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Published
January 12, 2024
Effective
January 12, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A319- 133 and A321-200 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Lufthansa Tecknik AG (Lufthansa), 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 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system based on supercapacitor technology. The current 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
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 9 (Friday, January 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2126-2127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00484]
[[Page 2126]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0205; Special Conditions No. 25-844-SC]
Special Conditions: Lufthansa Tecknik AG, Airbus Models A319-133
and A321-200 Series Airplanes; Supercapacitor Systems and Installation
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A319-
133 and A321-200 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by
Lufthansa Tecknik AG (Lufthansa), 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 uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
system based on supercapacitor technology. The current 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 January 12, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Poblete, Electrical Systems,
AIR-626A, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division,
Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 3960
Paramount Blvd., Suite 100, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; telephone and fax
(562) 627-5335; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0c4c1cec9c5cc8ec48ed0cfc2ccc5d4c5e0c6c1c18ec7cfd6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2d6d3dcdbd7de9cd69cc2ddd0ded7c6d7f2d4d3d39cd5ddc4">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 17, 2021, Lufthansa applied for a supplemental type
certificate for the installation of a UPS system in the Model A319-133
and A321-200 series airplanes. The Airbus Model A319-133 and A321-200
series airplanes are twin-engine, transport category airplanes. The
Airbus Model A319-133 airplane has a maximum passenger seating capacity
of 160, and a maximum takeoff weight of 154,322 pounds. The Airbus
Model A321-200 airplane has a maximum passenger seating capacity 230,
and a maximum takeoff weight of 213,848 pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Lufthansa must show that the Model A319-133 and A321-200
series airplanes, as changed, continue to meet the applicable
provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A28NM 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 for the Airbus Model A319-133 and A321-200
series airplanes 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 a supplemental type
certificate 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 Airbus Model A319-133 and A321-200 series airplanes
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 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 Airbus Model A319-133 and A321-200 series airplanes will
incorporate the following novel or unusual design features:
This design feature for this installation of a UPS system is based
on supercapacitor technology.
Discussion
Currently, there are no regulatory or industry standards for
supercapacitors and their installation on transport category airplanes.
Supercapacitors are used to provide power to non-essential cabin
equipment when the normal power source is interrupted for a short
period of time. In this design, the supercapacitor UPS system will
allow connected equipment to be provided back-up power if normal
electrical power source is interrupted, and remain operational such as
during power transfers as well as provide transient voltage surge
suppression should harmful high voltage transients occur. The UPS is
only used for systems not critical to continued safe flight and
landing.
Since the supercapacitor is being used as a high-capacity
electrical storage device and functions similarly to rechargeable
batteries, the special conditions used for lithium batteries are
appropriate for supercapacitor installations and the hazardous
conditions that could be presented. These special conditions are
necessary to assist in the testing and installation of this
supercapacitor on the aircraft.
Special condition 1 requires that the supercapacitor installation
be designed to preclude propagation of a thermal event, such as self-
sustained, uncontrolled increases in temperature or pressure. Special
condition 1 is intended to ensure that the supercapacitor system is
designed to eliminate the potential for uncontrollable failures.
However, a certain number of failures will occur due to various factors
beyond the control of the supercapacitor designer. Therefore, other
special conditions are intended to protect the airplane and its
occupants if other failures occur.
Special conditions 2, 6, 8, and 9 are self-explanatory.
Special condition 3 makes it clear that the flammable fluid fire
protection requirements of Sec. 25.863 apply to supercapacitor
installations. Section 25.863 is applicable to areas of the airplane
that could be exposed to flammable fluid leakage from airplane systems.
Supercapacitors may contain an electrolyte that is a flammable fluid.
Special condition 4 requires that each supercapacitor installation
not damage surrounding structure or adjacent systems, equipment, or
electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) components from
corrosive fluids or gases that may escape in such a way as to cause a
hazardous condition.
While special condition 4 addresses corrosive fluids and gases,
special condition 5 addresses heat. Special condition 5 requires that
each supercapacitor installation have provisions to prevent any
hazardous effect on surrounding structure or adjacent systems,
equipment, or EWIS components, caused by the maximum amount of heat the
supercapacitor installation can generate due to any failure of the
supercapacitor installation or any of the individual supercapacitors.
The means of meeting special conditions 4 and 5 may be the same, but
the requirements are independent and address different hazards.
[[Page 2127]]
Special condition 7 requires that supercapacitor be disconnected or
otherwise removed from its charging source without the need for crew
intervention should the supercapacitor become overheated or fail in a
manner that may create a safety hazard. This requirement applies to all
supercapacitor installations and is not limited to those whose proper
functioning is required for the safe operation of the airplane.
The 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
The FAA issued Notice of Proposed Special Conditions No. 25-22-02-
SC for the Airbus Model A319-133 and A321-200 series airplanes, which
was published in the Federal Register on June 1, 2023 (88 FR 35781).
The FAA received one comment from The Boeing Company (Boeing).
Boeing recommended the FAA add a definition of what constitutes a
supercapacitor and high-capacity electrical storage device and to
include their thresholds such as capacity, voltage, and dialectic
strength. Boeing stated that this clarification of supercapacitor
terminology will avoid any ambiguity and confusion when applying
special conditions and their applicability, specifically with the
inapplicability to small capacitors that are used on various electrical
systems used in electronics.
The FAA acknowledges Boeing's recommendation that adding a
definition of what constitutes a supercapacitor is important for
clarification and to ensure these special conditions' inapplicability
to small capacitors used in various electrical systems in aviation
electronics. However, the FAA declines to create a definition for
supercapacitors through special conditions. Currently, the FAA is not
aware of an industry standard regarding the design and installation of
supercapacitors. With no supercapacitor industry standard currently
available, the similarity of the function of the supercapacitor closely
relates to the rechargeable lithium batteries. Therefore, the special
conditions used for lithium batteries are being used for this
supercapacitor installation. The applicant and the FAA will review the
design and installation of the supercapacitor to ensure these special
conditions will apply only to supercapacitors used as energy storage
devices similar to rechargeable lithium batteries.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Airbus Model A319-133 and A321-200 series airplanes. Should Lufthansa
apply at a later date for a change to the supplemental type certificate
to include another model incorporating the same novel or unusual design
feature included on Type Certificate No. A28NM, these special
conditions would apply to that model as well.
Under standard practice, the effective date of final special
conditions would be 30 days after the date of publication in the
Federal Register. However, as the certification date for the Airbus
Model A319-133 and A321-200 series airplanes is imminent, the FAA finds
that good cause exists to make these special conditions effective upon
publication.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature
on Airbus Models A319-133 and A321-200 series airplanes. It is not a
rule of general applicability and affects only the applicant who
applied to the FAA for approval of these features on the airplane.
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, 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 A319-133 and A321-200
series airplanes, as modified by Lufthansa Technik AG. Each
supercapacitor installation must:
1. Be designed to preclude the occurrence of uncontrolled increases
in temperature or pressure under all foreseeable operating and failure
conditions to prevent fire and explosion.
2. Not emit explosive or toxic gasses, in normal operation or as
the result of its failure that may accumulate in hazardous quantities
in any area of the airplane.
3. Meet the requirements of Sec. 25.863.
4. Not damage surrounding structure or adjacent systems, equipment,
or electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) components from
corrosive fluids or gases that may escape to cause a hazardous
condition.
5. Have provisions to prevent any hazardous effect on surrounding
structure or adjacent systems, equipment, or EWIS components, caused by
the maximum amount of heat it can generate during any failure including
any individual supercapacitors.
6. Have a means to prevent overheating or overcharging of the
supercapacitor.
7. Have a means to automatically disconnect it from its charging
source in the event of an over-temperature condition or failure.
8. Have a monitoring and alerting feature that alerts the
flightcrew when the capacity has fallen below acceptable levels if its
function is required for safe operation of the airplane. The flightcrew
alerting must be in accordance with the requirements of Sec. 25.1322.
9. Have a means to prevent insufficient charging if required for
safe operation of the airplane.
Note: A supercapacitor installation consists of the
supercapacitor(s) and any protective, monitoring and alerting
circuitry or hardware inside or outside of the supercapacitor. This
includes EWIS components as defined by Sec. 25.1701. It also
includes any venting or cooling system and packaging. For the
purpose of these special conditions, a supercapacitor and the
supercapacitor installation is referred to as a supercapacitor.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 8, 2024.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00484 Filed 1-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 12, 2024.
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