FAA Upgrades Autopilot Glitch to Emergency Procedure
Published Date: 9/14/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you fly a Bombardier BD-100-1A10, heads up! The FAA wants to update your flight manual to turn a tricky autopilot warning into an emergency procedure, helping pilots keep control when the autopilot acts up. Comments are open until October 29, 2026, and this change aims to keep flights safer without big costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
AP STAB TRIM FAIL made an emergency
The FAA proposes that the airplane flight manual (AFM) for Bombardier Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes be revised so the AP STAB TRIM FAIL (C) advisory is changed from a non‑normal procedure to an emergency procedure. The change is intended to give flightcrews emergency steps to stabilize airspeed after seeing that message, per Transport Canada AD CF-2025-42 (dated August 26, 2025).
Applies to all BD-100-1A10 airplanes
This proposed AD would apply to all Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes certificated in any category. The FAA estimates it would affect 680 airplanes of U.S. registry.
Estimated compliance cost: $85 per airplane
The FAA estimates the required action will take 1 work-hour at $85 per hour and $0 parts cost, for an estimated cost of $85 per airplane and a total cost to U.S. operators of $57,800 (680 airplanes).
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