# 2026-03055: FAA Orders Airplane Wi-Fi Locks to Foil Sky-High Hackers

2026-03055, Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Inc. Airplanes, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-02-17, effective 2026-03-04 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03055
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-03055
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier Inc. Airplanes
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 7113
- Published: 2026-02-17
- Effective: 2026-03-04
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

FAA Orders Airplane Wi-Fi Locks to Foil Sky-High Hackers

## 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.

## Abstract

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Inc. Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. The FAA previously sent this AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. This AD was prompted by discrepancies in the locking features on certain network interfaces. This AD requires installing locking features on certain network interfaces to prevent unapproved access to these network interfaces. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Install network-port locks within 6 months: cost, medium. 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: cost, medium. 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: mixed, low. 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: benefit, low. 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.

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## Sources
- [2026-03055 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/17/2026-03055/airworthiness-directives-bombardier-inc-airplanes)
- [2026-03055 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-17/pdf/2026-03055.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-03054, Great Lakes Pilotage Rates-2026 Annual Review and Revisions to Methodology](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03054)
- [Next: 2026-03066, Numbering Policies for Modern Communications](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03066)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03055 (as of 2026-06-11).