[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 138 (Friday, July 17, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43423-43425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14990]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0286; Special Conditions No. 25-772-SC]
Special Conditions: Avidyne Corporation, Textron Aviation Inc.
Model 550, 560, and 560XL Airplanes; Electronic-System Security
Protection From Unauthorized Internal 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 Textron Aviation Inc.
(Textron) Model 550, 560, and 560XL airplanes. These airplanes, as
modified by Avidyne Corporation, 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 Avidyne Corporation avionics that allow internal connection
to previously isolated data networks, which are connected to systems
that perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane.
This feature creates a potential for unauthorized persons to access the
aircraft-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). The
applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards
[[Page 43424]]
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 Avidyne Corporation on July 17,
2020. Send comments on or before August 31, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2020-0286 using
any of the following methods:
Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online
instructions for sending your comments electronically.
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.
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.
Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without
change, to http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the
docket website, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478).
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
http://www.regulations.gov/ 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: Varun Khanna, Airplane and Flightcrew
Interface Section, AIR-671, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3159; email [email protected].
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 has determined that prior public notice and comment
are unnecessary, and finds that, for the same reason, good cause exists
for adopting these special conditions upon publication in the Federal
Register.
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 February 1, 2019, Avidyne Corporation applied for a supplemental
type certificate for Avidyne Corporation avionics connected to the
aircraft-control domain and airline information-services domain in
Textron Model 550, 560, and 560XL airplanes.
The Model 550 is a twin-engine, transport-category airplane with a
maximum takeoff weight of 14,800 pounds, and seating for up to 11
passengers, depending upon configuration.
The Model 560 is a twin-engine, transport-category airplane with a
maximum takeoff weight of 16,630 pounds, and seating for up to 11
passengers, depending upon configuration.
The Model 560XL is a twin-engine, transport-category airplane with
a maximum takeoff weight of 20,200 pounds, and seating for up to 12
passengers, depending upon configuration.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Avidyne Corporation must show that the Textron Model 550,
560, and 560XL airplanes, as changed, continue 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 (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for Textron Model 550, 560, and 560XL
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, Textron Model 550, 560, and 560XL 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 Textron Model 550, 560, and 560XL airplanes, as modified by
Avidyne Corporation, will incorporate the following novel or unusual
design features:
Avidyne Corporation avionics that allow internal connection to
previously isolated data networks, which are connected to systems that
perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane.
Discussion
The Textron Model 550, 560, and 560XL airplanes' architecture is
novel or unusual for commercial transport airplanes because it allows
connection to previously isolated data networks connected to systems
that perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane.
This data network and design integration creates a potential for
unauthorized persons to access the aircraft-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 regulations and guidance material did not anticipate
this type of system architecture or electronic access to airplane
systems. Furthermore, 14 CFR regulations and the current system-safety
assessment policy and techniques
[[Page 43425]]
do not address potential security vulnerabilities, which could be
exploited by unauthorized access to airplane networks and servers.
Therefore, these special conditions ensure that the security of
airplane systems and networks is not compromised by unauthorized wired
or wireless internal access.
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
Textron Model 550, 560, and 560XL airplanes. Should Avidyne Corporation
apply at a later date for a supplemental 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 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 the
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
[ssquf] 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 Textron Model 550, 560, and 560XL
airplanes, as modified by Avidyne Corporation, for airplane electronic-
system security protection from unauthorized 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, or 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 Des Moines, Washington, on July 7, 2020.
James E. Wilborn,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-14990 Filed 7-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P