Rule2025-04664
Special Conditions: Canard Aerospace Corporation, DeHavilland Model DHC-8-400 Series Airplane; Electronic System Security Protection From Unauthorized External Access
Primary source
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Published
March 20, 2025
Effective
March 20, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
These special conditions are issued for a supplemental type certificate (STC) to install a digital systems architecture on the DeHavilland Model DHC-8-400 series airplane. This airplane, as modified by the Canard Aerospace Corporation (Canard), 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 a digital systems architecture that will allow increased connectivity to and access from external network sources (e.g., operator networks, wireless devices, internet connectivity, service provider satellite communications, electronic flight bags, etc.) to the airplane's previously isolated electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases). 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 90 Issue 53 (Thursday, March 20, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 53 (Thursday, March 20, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13055-13057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04664]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0078; Special Conditions No. 25-876-SC]
Special Conditions: Canard Aerospace Corporation, DeHavilland
Model DHC-8-400 Series Airplane; Electronic System Security Protection
From Unauthorized External Access
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for a supplemental type
certificate (STC) to install a digital systems architecture on the
DeHavilland Model DHC-8-400 series airplane. This airplane, as modified
by the Canard Aerospace Corporation (Canard), 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 a digital systems
architecture that will allow increased connectivity to and access from
external network sources (e.g., operator networks, wireless devices,
internet connectivity, service provider satellite communications,
electronic flight bags, etc.) to the airplane's previously isolated
electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases). 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 Canard on March 20, 2025. Send
comments on or before May 5, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2025-0078 using
any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">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.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">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 and
Components Unit, AIR-626D, Technical Policy Branch, Aircraft
Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South
216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198; telephone (206) 231-3365;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6c3804190d02423842220b191509022c0a0d0d420b031a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="67330f1206094933492900121e02092701060649000811">[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="http://www.regulations.gov">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
[[Page 13056]]
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 the individual
listed in the For Further Information Contact section above. 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. The FAA may change these special conditions based on the
comments received.
Background
On April 15, 2024, Canard applied for a supplemental type
certificate to install a digital systems architecture on the
DeHavilland Model DHC-8-400 series airplane that will allow increased
connectivity to and access from external network sources (e.g.,
operator networks, wireless devices, internet connectivity, service
provider satellite communications, electronic flight bags, etc.) to the
airplane's previously isolated electronic assets (networks, systems,
and databases). The DeHavilland Model DHC-8-400 series airplane is a
twin-engine airplane with a passenger capacity of 68 and a maximum
takeoff weight of 61,700 pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Canard must show that the Model DeHavilland DHC-8-400
series airplane, as changed, continues to meet the applicable
provisions of the regulations listed in Type Certificate No. A13NM 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 listed 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 DeHavilland DHC-8-400 series 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 Model DeHavilland DHC-8-400 series airplane, as modified by
Canard, will incorporate the following novel or unusual design
feature(s):
The installation of a digital systems architecture that will allow
increased connectivity to and access from external network sources,
(e.g., operator networks, wireless devices, internet connectivity,
service provider satellite communications, electronic flight bags,
etc.) to the airplane's previously isolated electronic assets
(networks, systems, and databases).
Discussion
The DeHavilland Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes electronic system
architecture and network configuration change is novel or unusual for
commercial transport airplanes because it may allow increased
connectivity to and access from external network sources, airline
operations, and maintenance networks, to the airplane control domain,
and airline information services domain. The airplane's control domain
and airline information-services domain perform functions required for
the safe operation and maintenance of the airplane. Previously, these
domains had very limited connectivity with external network sources.
This data network and design integration creates a potential for
unauthorized persons to access the airplane's control domain and
airline information-services domain 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 the airplane's systems is not compromised by
unauthorized wired or wireless electronic connections. This includes
ensuring that the security of the airplane's systems is not compromised
during maintenance of the airplane's electronic systems. These special
conditions also require the applicant to provide appropriate
instructions 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 introduce 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
DeHavilland DHC-8-400 series airplane, as modified by Canard. Should
Canard apply at a later date for a supplemental type certificate to
modify any other model included on Type Certificate No. A13NM 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
for the DeHavilland Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes, modified by
Canard. 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.
[[Page 13057]]
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), 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 DeHavilland DHC-8-400 series
airplanes, as modified by Canard.
1. The applicant must ensure that the airplane electronic system
security is protected from access by unauthorized sources external to
the airplane, including those possibly caused by maintenance activity.
2. The applicant must ensure that electronic system security
threats are identified and assessed, and that effective electronic
system security protection strategies are implemented to protect the
airplane from all adverse impacts on safety, functionality, and
continued airworthiness.
3. The applicant must establish appropriate procedures to allow the
operator to ensure that continued airworthiness of the aircraft 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 March 14, 2025.
Patrick R. Mullen,
Manager, Technical Policy Branch, Policy and Standards Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-04664 Filed 3-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 20, 2025.
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