Airbus A350s Need Extra Wing Spar Scrutiny
Published Date: 3/11/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you fly certain Airbus A350 planes, the FAA wants you to keep checking wing tanks for missing sealant and fix any problems. Now, they’re adding a new one-time inspection for parts near the wing’s front and rear spars to keep lightning protection strong. These updates help keep flights safe and must be done on time, but they won’t break the bank.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Continued Wing Tank Sealant Work
The FAA proposes to supersede AD 2023-14-09 for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and A350-1041 airplanes, continuing requirements to inspect wing tanks for missing or incorrectly applied sealant, perform applicable corrective actions, and complete a modification to restore two independent layers of lightning strike protection.
New One-Time Spar Sealant Inspection
The proposed AD would add a one-time detailed inspection (DET) for missing or incorrectly applied sealant of the upper and lower, front and rear spar corner fittings on certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and A350-1041 airplanes, with applicable on-condition actions as specified in a referenced EASA AD.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-08943 — Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility
The FAA is proposing new rules to keep drones away from certain important fixed sites like power plants or airports to keep everyone safe and secure. If you own or operate one of these sites, you can request a drone flight restriction zone to protect your property and people nearby. Comments are open until July 6, 2026, and these changes could affect drone pilots and site operators, but no big costs are expected.
2026-11957 — Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Chicago/Rockford, IL
The FAA wants to update the airspace rules around Chicago/Rockford, IL to keep flights safe and smooth. This affects pilots flying under instrument rules and helps the airport follow the latest safety standards. If you have thoughts, speak up by July 30, 2026—no costs or delays expected from these changes.
2026-11965 — Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
If you operate Rolls-Royce Deutschland Trent 1000 engines, this new FAA rule updates how you check and fix high-pressure turbine blades to keep flights safe. Starting June 30, 2026, you’ll need to do more detailed inspections and possibly replace parts sooner, but there’s also a new option to stop repetitive checks by upgrading parts. These changes might cost some time and money but will help prevent engine problems before they happen.
2026-11946 — Revocation of Class E Airspace; Lake Geneva, WI
The FAA is planning to remove the Class E airspace around Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, because the local airport has closed and its instrument flight procedures were canceled. This change affects pilots flying in that area, making the airspace rules simpler. If you want to share your thoughts, you have until July 30, 2026, to comment—no costs or fees involved!
2026-11975 — Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
If you fly or fix Airbus A350-941 and -1041 planes, listen up! The FAA found some flight control parts got stressed too much during testing, so they’re making airlines swap out those parts for safer ones. This rule kicks in July 20, 2026, to keep flights safe without breaking the bank.
2026-11976 — Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes
The FAA is requiring certain Bombardier BD-700 airplanes to fix seat frames that were put together without the right glue (Loctite), which could be unsafe. Owners must modify the seat fasteners by July 20, 2026, to keep flying safely. This fix might cost some money but keeps passengers secure and planes in top shape.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-03671 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Not-Warranted Finding for the Spinytail Crayfish
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed whether the spinytail crayfish in southern Mississippi should be listed as endangered or threatened and decided it’s not needed right now. This means no new protections or money changes for the crayfish at this time. But they’re still open to hearing new info anytime to keep an eye on this little critter’s future.
Next: 2025-03800 — Implementation of the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act
The FCC is checking in to see if the rules that keep TV commercials from blasting too loud are working well. They want feedback from viewers and TV companies about loud ads on regular TV, pay TV, and streaming services. This could lead to new rules to make your TV watching more comfy, with no surprise volume jumps, and might affect how soon changes happen or what costs are involved.