E8-1076. Special Conditions: Embraer S.A.; Model EMB-500; Static Pressure System

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed special conditions.

SUMMARY:

This notice proposes special conditions for the Embraer S.A.; Model EMB-500 airplane. This airplane has a novel or unusual design feature associated with the static pressure system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to harmonize with Brazil's Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil (ANAC) and to maintain the same level of safety between the ANAC Type Certificate and the U.S. Type Certificate.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before February 22, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Mail comments on this proposal in duplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Regional Counsel, ACE-7, Attention: Rules Docket, Docket No. CE284, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, or delivered in duplicate to the Regional Counsel at the above address. Comments must be marked: CE284. Comments may be inspected in the Rules Docket weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Leslie B. Taylor, Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, Small Airplane Directorate, ACE-111, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri, 816-329-4134, fax [phone], e-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of these proposed special conditions by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Identify the regulatory docket or notice number and submit them in duplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered by the Administrator. The proposals described in this notice may be changed in light of the comments received. All comments received will be available in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons, both before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking will be filed in the docket. If you wish the FAA to acknowledge receipt of the comments submitted in response to this notice, include with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Docket No. CE284.” The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Background

On October 5, 2005, Embraer S.A. applied for a type certificate for their new Model EMB-500. The EMB-500 is a twin engine jet of a type popularly referred to as a very light jet. The airplane is proposed to be type certificated in the normal category of 14 CFR part 23 (and comparable Brazilian requirements RBHA 23). The EMB-500 is predominantly of metallic construction and is a conventionally configured low-wing monoplane with a T-tail and tricycle landing gear. The two Pratt and Whitney of Canada 1,600 pound thrust P&WC 617F/1 turbofan engines are aft fuselage mounted in typical business jet fashion. The engines are full authority digital engine control (FADEC) equipped.

The airplane's maximum takeoff weight is 9,965 pounds. The V_MO/M_MO is 275 KIAS/M .70, with a maximum operating altitude of 41,000 feet. Requested operations are day/night VFR/IFR, and icing operations approval is requested.

The advance of electronic technology in altimetry systems has permitted a better precision of altitude measurements, including the improvements to Altimetry System Error (ASE) (difference between the pressure altitude displayed to the flightcrew when referenced to the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) standard ground pressure setting and free stream pressure), Static Source Error (difference between the pressure sensed by the static system at the static port and the undisturbed ambient pressure) and Static Source Error Correction (SSEC) (correction for static source error). These parameters are essential, for example, in operation in Reduced Vertical Minimum Separation (RVSM) airspace. This special condition for the Embraer EMB-500 airplane for the Static Pressure System, including new avionics and certain performance characteristics inherent in this type of airplane, was partially envisioned in existing regulations. This special condition contains the additional airworthiness standards that the FAA considers necessary to harmonize with ANAC and to maintain the same level of safety between the ANAC Type Certificate and the U.S. Type Certificate.

Type Certification Basis

Under the provisions of 14 CFR part 21, § 21.17, Embraer S.A. must show that the EMB-500 meets the applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 23, as amended by Amendment 23-1 through Amendment 23-55 thereto.

If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 23) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the EMB-500 because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16.

In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the EMB-500 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; and the FAA must issue a finding of regulatory adequacy pursuant to section 611 of Public Law 92-574, the “Noise Control Act of 1972.”

Special conditions, as appropriate, as defined in § 11.19, are issued in accordance with § 11.38 and become part of the type certification basis in accordance with § 21.17(a)(2).

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, the special conditions would also apply to the other model under the provisions of § 21.101.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

The EMB-500 will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features:

The avionics system provides corrections to the altimeter indication, which introduces failure conditions not in other Static Pressure Systems.

Applicability

As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the EMB-500. If Embraer S.A. applies at a later date 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 under § 21.101.

Conclusion

This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on one model of airplane. 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 23

• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Signs and symbols

Citation

The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113 and 44701; 14 CFR 21.16 and 21.17; and 14 CFR 11.38 and 11.19.

The Proposed Special Conditions

Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes the following special conditions as part of the type certification basis for the Embraer S.A.; Model EMB-500 airplanes.

Static Pressure System

If an altimeter system is fitted with a device that provides corrections to the altimeter indication, the device must be designed and installed in such a manner that it can be bypassed when it malfunctions, unless an alternate altimeter system is provided. Each correction device must be fitted with a means for indicating occurrence of reasonably probable malfunctions, including power failure, to the flightcrew.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 15, 2008.

James E. Jackson,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.