[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58740-58742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25362]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0781; Special Conditions No. 25-737-SC]
Special Conditions: Garmin International, Textron Aviation Inc.
Model 560XL; 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 the Textron Aviation
(Textron) Model 560XL, formerly known as, prior to July 29, 2015, the
Cessna Model 560XL. This airplane, as modified by Garmin International
(Garmin), 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 Garmin G5000
avionics that allow external connection to previously isolated data
networks, which are connected to systems that perform
[[Page 58741]]
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 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 Garmin on November 21, 2018. Send
comments on or before January 7, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket no. FAA-2018-0781 using
any of the following methods:
Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to 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. The FAA
therefore finds it unnecessary to delay the effective date and finds
that good cause exists for making these special conditions effective
upon publication in the Federal Register.
Comments Invited
We invite 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.
We will consider all comments we receive by the closing date for
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments
we receive.
Background
On March 21, 2017, Garmin applied for a supplemental type
certificate to install Garmin G5000 avionics connected to the aircraft-
control domain and airline information-services domain in Textron Model
560XL airplanes. This is a twin-engine, turbofan airplane with seating
for 12 passengers and two crew members, and a maximum takeoff weight of
20,200 pounds.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Garmin must show that the Textron Model 560XL airplane, as
changed, continues 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 the Textron Model 560XL airplane
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 Textron Model 560XL airplane 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 560XL airplane, as modified by Garmin, will
incorporate the following novel or unusual design features:
Garmin G5000 avionics that allow external 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 560XL airplane architecture and network
configuration may allow increased connectivity to and access from
external network sources and airline operations and maintenance
networks to the airplane control domain and airline information
services domain. The airplane 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 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
these types of airplane system architectures. Furthermore, 14 CFR
regulations and the current system safety assessment policy and
techniques do not address
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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 airplane systems is
not compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless electronic
connections.
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
Textron Model 560XL airplane. Should Garmin 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
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 560XL airplanes, as
modified by Garmin, for airplane electronic-system security protection
from unauthorized external access.
1. The applicant must ensure airplane electronic-system security
protection 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 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 November 15, 2018.
Chris R. Parker,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-25362 Filed 11-20-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P