FAA Orders Airbus Pilots to Update Brake Procedures Now
Published Date: 10/2/2025
Rule
Summary
The FAA is making new rules for certain Airbus A330 and A340 planes to keep their brakes safe when flying with the landing gear down. Pilots must update their flight manuals with new steps and avoid flying if a specific gear alert shows up. These changes help prevent problems and keep flights safe, with updates needed soon but no big costs expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Safety fix for brake temperature exposure
The AD addresses an unsafe condition where, during flight with the landing gear down, brake system accumulators and the shut-off valve (SOV) might be exposed to temperatures lower than those for which they are qualified. The rule aims to prevent that condition on the listed Airbus A330 and A340 models to keep flights safer.
Operators must update flight manuals
If you operate Airbus Model A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330-300, A340-200, A340-300, A340-500, or A340-600 airplanes, the FAA requires you to revise the airplane flight manual (AFM) to add new procedures for flight with the landing gear down to protect brake accumulators and the shut-off valve (SOV). This AD is intended to address the unsafe condition described by the FAA.
Dispatch blocked for specific gear alert
The AD requires revising the minimum equipment list (MEL) to prevent dispatch of the listed Airbus A330 and A340 models when an "L/G Retraction Fault" alert is present. The FAA identified that dispatch under conditions associated with that alert can prevent Constant Speed Motor/Generator (CSM/G) operations.
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