FAA to Airbus Pilots: Sleeve Up Those Fire-Risky Flight Controls Now
Published Date: 2/13/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to make sure certain Airbus Canada airplanes stay safe by checking and fixing parts of their air control systems that didn’t pass fire safety tests. If needed, they’ll add fire-resistant sleeves and stop unsafe parts from being used as replacements. This affects specific BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 planes and could mean inspections and upgrades soon, helping keep everyone flying safely without surprise costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory ECS duct inspections
The FAA proposes inspections of environmental control system (ECS) ducts on Airbus Canada Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes because certain ducts made from a specific material failed required flammability tests. If adopted, operators of those airplanes would need to inspect the affected ECS ducts as specified in the proposed airworthiness directive.
Required fire‑resistant sleeve installations
The FAA proposes that if an inspected ECS duct is non-compliant, operators must install a fire-resistant sleeve assembly over that non-compliant ECS duct. This installation requirement would apply to affected BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes as specified in the proposed directive.
Ban on certain ECS replacement parts
The proposed AD would prohibit installing ECS ducts as replacement parts under certain conditions, by incorporating by reference a Transport Canada AD. Operators of BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes would be restricted from using those ECS ducts as replacements when the prohibition applies.
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