Rule2024-01380
Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 Series Airplanes; Side Stick Controllers-Controllability and Maneuverability
Primary source
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Published
January 25, 2024
Effective
January 25, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes. These airplanes 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 side-stick controllers for pitch and roll control. 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
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4800-4802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01380]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2023-2444; Special Conditions No. 25-849-SC]
Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVIII-
G700 and GVIII-G800 Series Airplanes; Side Stick Controllers--
Controllability and Maneuverability
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800
series airplanes.
[[Page 4801]]
These airplanes 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
side-stick controllers for pitch and roll control. 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 Gulfstream on January 25, 2024. Send
comments on or before March 11, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2023-2444 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: Troy Brown, Performance and
Environment Unit, AIR-621A, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and
Standards Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 1801 S Airport Rd., Wichita, KS 67209-2190; telephone
and fax 405-666-1050; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dda9afb2a4f3bcf3bfafb2aab39dbbbcbcf3bab2ab"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a0e081503541b541808150d143a1c1b1b541d150c">[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 Troy Brown, Performance and Environment
Unit, AIR-621A, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division,
Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 1801 S
Airport Rd., Wichita, KS 67209-2190; telephone and fax 405-666-1050;
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81f5f3eef8afe0afe3f3eef6efc1e7e0e0afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80f4f2eff9aee1aee2f2eff7eec0e6e1e1aee7eff6">[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 December 31, 2019, Gulfstream applied for an amendment to Type
Certificate No. T00015AT to include the new Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-
G800 series airplanes. These airplanes, which are derivatives of the
Model GVI currently approved under Type Certificate No. T00015AT, are
twin-engine, transport-category airplanes, with a maximum seating for
19 passengers, and a maximum take-off weight of 107,600 pounds (GVIII-
G700) and 105,600 pounds (GVIII-G800).
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.101, Gulfstream must show that
the Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes meet the
applicable provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No.
T00015AT, 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 Gulfstream Model GVIII-G700 and
GVIII-G800 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 type certificate for that model be amended
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or
unusual design feature, or should any other model already included on
the same type certificate be modified 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 Gulfstream Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series
airplanes 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 14 CFR 11.38, and they become part of the type
certification basis under Sec. 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Feature
The Gulfstream Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes
will
[[Page 4802]]
incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:
Side-stick controllers for pitch and roll control.
Discussion
These special conditions for the Gulfstream Model GVIII-G700 and
GVIII-G800 series airplanes address the unique features of the side-
stick controllers. The Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes
will incorporate side-stick controllers controlling a fly-by-wire (FBW)
flight-control system. The FBW control laws are designed to provide
conventional flying qualities such as positive static longitudinal and
lateral stability as prescribed in part 25, subpart B. However, the
pilot-control forces prescribed in the referenced regulations are not
applicable for the side-stick controller design.
Because current FAA regulations do not specifically address the use
of side-stick controllers for pitch and roll control, the unique
features of the side stick therefore must be demonstrated, through
flight and simulator tests, to have suitable handling and control
characteristics when considering the following:
<bullet> The handling qualities tasks and requirements of the
Gulfstream Model GVIII Special Conditions and other 14 CFR part 25
requirements for stability, control, and maneuverability, including the
effects of turbulence.
<bullet> General ergonomics: Armrest comfort and support, local
freedom of movement, displacement-angle suitability, and axis harmony.
<bullet> Inadvertent pilot input in turbulence.
<bullet> Inadvertent pitch and roll crosstalk from pilot inputs on
the 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.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Gulfstream Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes. Should
Gulfstream apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate
to include another model that incorporates the same novel or unusual
design feature, or should any other model already included on the same
type certificate be modified to incorporate the same novel or unusual
design feature, these special conditions would apply to the other model
as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature
on Gulfstream Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 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.
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 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes:
(a) Pilot Strength
In lieu of the control-force limits shown in Sec. 25.143(d) for
pitch and roll, and in lieu of the specific pitch-force requirements of
Sec. Sec. 25.143(i)(2), 25.145(b), 25.173(c), 25.175(b), and
25.175(d), the applicant must show that the temporary and maximum
prolonged-force levels for the side-stick controllers are suitable for
all expected operating conditions and configurations, whether normal or
non-normal.
(b) Pilot-Control Authority
The electronic side-stick-controller coupling design must provide
for corrective and/or overriding control inputs by either pilot with no
unsafe characteristics. Annunciation of the controller status must be
provided and must not be confusing to the flightcrew.
(c) Pilot Control
The applicant must show by flight tests that the use of side-stick
controllers does not produce unsuitable pilot-in-the-loop control
characteristics when considering precision path control and tasks, and
turbulence. In addition, pitch and roll control force and displacement
sensitivity must be compatible, so that normal pilot inputs on one
control axis will not cause significant unintentional inputs
(crossover) on the other.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 19, 2024.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Innovation Policy Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-01380 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 25, 2024.
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