Airbus Planes Get FAA's Fuselage Fix-It Directive
Published Date: 11/28/2025
Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating safety rules for certain Airbus airplanes, adding more models and new checks to keep them safe. If you own or operate these planes, you’ll need to follow the new inspection and repair steps starting January 2, 2026. These changes help prevent problems with the airplane’s fuselage and keep everyone flying worry-free, with no surprise costs announced yet.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory inspections for listed Airbus
If you own or operate the Airbus models listed in EASA AD 2024-0217 (various A318, A319, A320, and A321 CEO and NEO variants), you must perform repetitive special detailed inspections of the double joggle areas at frame 16 and frame 20 and do any required repairs. These inspection and repair actions are required starting January 2, 2026, and must be done in accordance with EASA AD 2024-0217 as incorporated by reference.
FAA cost estimates for compliance
The FAA estimates this AD affects 1,755 U.S.-registered airplanes. The FAA estimates required actions cost up to $4,675 per airplane (up to 55 work-hours at $85/hour), for a U.S. fleet cost up to $8,204,625; an optional modification is estimated at $6,724 per airplane (60 work-hours at $85/hour plus $1,624 parts).
Repairs must be done before further flight
If inspections find any cracking, operators must repair the cracking before further flight using a method approved by the FAA Manager, EASA, or Airbus's EASA Design Organization Approval. The AD also clarifies that AD-required inspections must be performed by personnel qualified under 14 CFR 43.3 (the operator is responsible for compliance).
NEO models and post-repair rules added
The AD adds Airbus NEO airplane models (A318/A320/A321 NEO variants listed in EASA AD 2024-0217) to the applicability and adds special requirements for airplanes that were repaired after accomplishing ALI tasks 531153-02 or 531155-02. Those added applicability and post-repair requirements are part of the AD effective January 2, 2026.
Completing AD can terminate some ALI tasks
For the airplanes identified in this AD, accomplishing the AD's required actions terminates ALI tasks 531153-02-1 and 531155-02-1 as required by paragraph (n) of AD 2025-03-06. This termination applies only to the airplanes listed in paragraph (c) of this AD.
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