FAA Orders Extra Checks on Airbus A350 Fleet Safety Plans
Published Date: 2/19/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants Airbus A350-941 and -1041 planes to follow new, stricter safety checks to keep flying safe. This means updating their maintenance plans soon, based on rules from Europe’s aviation agency. Airlines and maintenance crews should get ready to act by April 7, 2025, to avoid any safety or cost surprises.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Operators must update maintenance program in 90 days
If you operate affected A350-941 or -1041 airplanes, you must revise your existing maintenance or inspection program to add new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations within 90 days after the AD's effective date. The FAA estimates the average cost to revise a program is 90 work-hours, or $7,650 per operator (90 hours × $85/hour).
New limits aim to prevent fuel-tank ignition
The AD requires adding new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations to reduce the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks and to reduce fuel-tank flammability. The FAA says this action is intended to prevent fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
Rule applies only to specific A350s certified by July 1, 2024
This proposed AD applies to Airbus Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before July 1, 2024. The FAA estimates the rule would affect 33 airplanes of U.S. registry.
Terminates some prior AD tasks once done
Completing the actions required by this AD will terminate the corresponding requirements of FAA AD 2024-01-05, but only for the tasks identified in the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0180. Operators can rely on these new actions to replace those prior tasks.
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Key Dates
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