Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
Published Date: 2/2/2026
Rule
Summary
If you fly or fix Airbus A350-941 and -1041 planes, listen up! The FAA says some flight control parts can wear out and cause trouble, so they must be swapped out before they get too old. This new rule kicks in on March 9, 2026, to keep flights safe without breaking the bank.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory FCRM Replacement for A350s
If you operate or maintain Airbus A350-941 or -1041 airplanes, you must replace affected flight control remote modules (FCRMs) before they exceed a life limit of 9,000 flight cycles or 50,000 flight hours. The AD also requires testing any installed serviceable FCRM in accordance with the Airbus service bulletin before returning the airplane to service; the rule is effective March 9, 2026.
Estimated U.S. Compliance Cost
The FAA estimates this AD affects 35 U.S.-registered A350 airplanes. The estimated cost to replace one FCRM is $28,085 (1 work-hour at $85 plus $28,000 parts), and the FAA estimates total U.S. operator costs of $982,975 based on that per-product estimate.
Replacement Is Per-Module, Not All 22
The AD requires replacement of each affected FCRM before it reaches the life limit, and operators do not necessarily have to replace all 22 FCRMs on an airplane at the same time. That means you may be able to stagger replacements rather than replace every module at once.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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