FAA Eyes Stricter Checks on Old Airbus A300-600 Jets
Published Date: 3/20/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to update safety rules for certain Airbus A300-600 series airplanes to keep them flying safely. This means airlines must follow new, stricter maintenance checks based on European safety advice. Comments on these changes are open until May 5, 2025, and while this may add some work, it helps prevent safety issues and keeps passengers safe.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Operators must revise maintenance programs
If you operate affected Airbus A300-600 series airplanes, you must revise your existing maintenance or inspection program to include new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations from EASA AD 2022-0173 and EASA AD 2024-0164. For EASA AD 2022-0173 this revision was required within 90 days after May 12, 2023, and for EASA AD 2024-0164 the FAA requires revising the maintenance or inspection program within 90 days after the effective date of this AD.
FAA estimates $7,650 per operator costs
The FAA estimates this proposed AD affects 128 U.S.-registered airplanes and that revising the maintenance or inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator at $85 per hour. The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the retained actions from AD 2023-05-13 is $7,650 (90 x $85) and separately estimates $7,650 (90 x $85) per operator for the new proposed actions.
Rule aims to prevent structural fatigue failures
The FAA is proposing this AD to address fatigue damage in principal structural elements of certain Airbus A300-600 series airplanes because the unsafe condition could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. The rule follows EASA safety findings and would require operators to follow new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations to prevent that unsafe condition.
Compliance can terminate older AD obligations
If you complete the required revision of your maintenance or inspection program for the affected A300-600 airplanes, that action terminates the corresponding required tasks of AD 2018-18-19 for those Model A300-600 series airplanes only.
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Key Dates
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