# 2026-07334: FAA Demands Better Labels on Chopper Doors to Avoid Exit Mix-Ups

2026-07334, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-04-15, effective The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by June 1, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07334
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-07334
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 20079
- Published: 2026-04-15
- Effective: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by June 1, 2026.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

FAA Demands Better Labels on Chopper Doors to Avoid Exit Mix-Ups

## Summary

The FAA wants to make certain Airbus Helicopters safer by adding extra safety labels to the sliding door emergency exits because the current instructions aren’t clear enough. This affects many popular models like the AS350 and EC130 series. Helicopter owners and operators should get ready to comment by June 1, 2026, and expect some small costs to update their helicopters.

## Abstract

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, EC120B, and EC130B4 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that the instructions on how to open the sliding door emergency exit on affected helicopters are insufficient. This proposed AD would require installing additional safety labels. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Must add sliding-door safety labels: cost, low. If you own or operate one of the listed Airbus Helicopters (for example AS350 series, AS355 series, EC120B, EC130B4), the FAA proposes you must install additional safety labels on the sliding door emergency exits. The FAA estimates the rule would affect 1,213 U.S.-registered helicopters and cost $1…
- FAA drops EASA reporting requirement: benefit, low. The EASA AD referenced in the proposal asks operators to submit certain information to the manufacturer, but the FAA's proposed AD explicitly does not require that reporting. That means U.S. operators would not have to send the information to the manufacturer as part of complying with this FAA AD.
- AS350BB model not covered by FAA AD: benefit, low. The EASA AD includes the Airbus Helicopters Model AS350BB, but this FAA proposed AD does not apply to the AS350BB because that model does not have an FAA type certificate. If you operate an AS350BB in the U.S., you are not subject to this FAA AD.

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## Sources
- [2026-07334 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/15/2026-07334/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters)
- [2026-07334 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-15/pdf/2026-07334.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-07297, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07297)
- [Next: 2026-07405, Air Plan Revisions; Arizona; Maricopa County Air Quality Department; New Source…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07405)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07334 (as of 2026-06-11).