FAA Proposes New Checks for Bombardier Business Jet Safety
Published Date: 9/24/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating safety rules for certain Bombardier BD-700-2A12 airplanes by adding new maintenance and inspection steps to keep flights safe. This change means owners and operators will have to follow extra checks, and the FAA wants feedback by October 26, 2026. While this adds some work, it helps prevent problems and keeps everyone flying smoothly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Operators must update maintenance programs
If you own or operate an affected Bombardier BD-700-2A12 airplane, you must revise your maintenance or inspection program to add new airworthiness limitations within 90 days after the AD's effective date (or at the times specified in Bombardier Issue No. 017 (Feb 28, 2023) and Issue No. 024 (Dec 15, 2025), whichever is later). The FAA estimates revising a program takes 90 work-hours and uses $85 per hour, so the average total cost per operator is $7,650.
AD issued to address structural and control safety
The FAA is proposing this AD because new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are needed to address reduced structural integrity and reduced controllability of the airplane. Incorporating the specified maintenance tasks is intended to reduce those safety risks for the affected BD-700-2A12 airplanes.
Some airplanes are exempt if already updated
The AD does not apply to BD-700-2A12 airplanes on which the information in Bombardier Issue No. 024 (dated December 15, 2025), or later revisions approved by Transport Canada, has already been incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program. Those airplanes meet the intent of the AD and are excluded from the applicability.
FAA estimates and small-entity impact
The FAA estimates the proposed AD affects 58 U.S.-registered airplanes and that revising programs averages 90 work-hours per operator, costing $7,650 each. The FAA identified 10 small entities affected (9 in Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation and 1 in Miscellaneous Intermediation) and estimates the compliance cost as a share of revenue ranges up to 1.7%, which the FAA concludes is not a significant economic impact.
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Key Dates
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