FAA Orders Airplane Wi-Fi Locks to Foil Sky-High Hackers
Published Date: 2/17/2026
Rule
Summary
The FAA is making sure certain Bombardier BD-700 airplanes get new locks on their network ports to keep hackers out. This rule affects U.S. owners and operators and kicks in on March 4, 2026. It’s a safety upgrade that helps protect the plane’s systems without breaking the bank or causing delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Install network-port locks within 6 months
If you own or operate the listed Bombardier BD-700-1A10 or BD-700-1A11 airplanes, you must install locking features on the applicable network interfaces within 6 months after March 4, 2026, using a method approved by the FAA Manager, International Validation Branch.
Estimated per-airplane and fleet costs
The FAA estimates this AD affects 1,313 U.S.-registered airplanes and that compliance costs per airplane are 1 work-hour at $85 plus $802 in parts, totaling $887 per airplane and $1,164,631 across U.S. operators.
Limited applicability by model and serials
This AD applies only to Bombardier Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes listed by serial numbers in the rule (for example, BD-700-1A10 serials 9381, 9432–9861, 9863–9878, 60001–61999 and BD-700-1A11 serials 9386, 9401, 9445–9862, 9868–9879, 60007–61999).
Credit if prior service-bulletin work done
If you already installed the locking features before the effective date using specified Bombardier Service Bulletins dated July 20, 2022 (and Revision 01 versions dated August 22, 2024), you receive credit for that work and do not need to redo it to comply with this AD.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-13440, Enabling Supersonic Overland Flight
The FAA wants to let supersonic planes fly over land again by updating old rules that banned them because of loud sonic booms. Thanks to new tech that keeps booms quiet, this change will open the door for faster, cooler flights across the U.S., helping America lead the world in supersonic travel. People and companies interested in supersonic flight should share their thoughts by August 17, 2026.
2026-13126, Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility; Extension of Comment Period
The FAA is giving more time—until August 5, 2026—for people to share their thoughts on new rules that would limit drone flights near important fixed sites like power plants or airports. This affects drone operators and facility owners who want to keep the skies safe and secure. No new costs yet, just extra time to weigh in and help shape the rules.
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.
2026-14881, Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters
This update affects owners and operators of Bell Textron Canada helicopters. It requires important safety checks and fixes to keep these helicopters flying safely. The changes must be done within set deadlines and might cost some money, but they help prevent serious problems in the air.
2026-14882, Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
If you own certain Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, the FAA wants you to keep checking a part called the high-pressure turbine triple seal for wear and replace it if needed. They’re updating the rules to remove some engines from this check because a new fix now makes inspections unnecessary for those. Comments on this change are open until September 8, 2026, so get ready to act and keep your engines safe without breaking the bank!
2026-14886, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
If you own or operate an Airbus EC130B4 helicopter, heads up! The FAA wants to fix weak door locks by requiring changes to the swinging and sliding door supports. You’ll need to update your helicopter soon to keep flying safely, and no new affected doors can be installed unless they meet the new rules. Comments on this plan are open until September 8, 2026, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03054, Great Lakes Pilotage Rates-2026 Annual Review and Revisions to Methodology
Starting March 19, 2026, Great Lakes shipping companies will enjoy about a 6% cut in pilotage costs thanks to new rates set by the Coast Guard. They also tweaked how they calculate these rates by dropping one step to keep things simpler and fairer. This means smoother sailing for ships and better support for the supply chain in the Great Lakes region!
Next: 2026-03066, Numbering Policies for Modern Communications
The FCC is updating rules so internet phone services (VoIP providers) get direct access to phone numbers, helping stop illegal robocalls and protect phone number resources. These changes kick in on March 19, 2026, and aim to keep phone systems safer without causing big costs for small businesses. Some parts will need extra compliance steps announced later, so stay tuned!