FAA Orders Engine Software Update After Corrosion Triggers Cockpit Warnings
Published Date: 10/22/2026
Rule
Summary
If you fly planes with certain General Electric CF34 engines, listen up! The FAA found that some engine software can cause warning messages mid-flight due to corrosion issues. Starting November 27, 2026, operators must update their engine control software to keep flights safe and smooth—no delays or costly fixes later!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory FADEC software updates within 12 months
If your airplane has one of the listed GE CF34 engines with the affected EEC FADEC part numbers, you must replace certain older FADEC software versions within 12 months after November 27, 2026. For Group 1 engines replace any software V6.50 or earlier with V6.60 or later; for Group 2 engines replace any software V5.60 or earlier with V5.70 or later. The AD intends to prevent the FADEC from automatically reducing the engine to idle and locking the throttle, which could lead to engine failure or loss of thrust control.
Measured economic impact on small entities
The FAA analyzed small entities and found the per-aircraft cost (two engines) is $2,680 in the low case and up to $51,020 for engines needing the memory upgrade (high case). The FAA reports three of six identified small entities would face impacts greater than 2 percent of their annual revenue in the high case (for example, one NAICS category shows a 15.01% impact).
Per-engine compliance cost estimate
The FAA estimates replacing the FADEC software costs $1,340 per affected engine (8 work-hours at $85/hour plus $660 parts). The AD affects 3,364 engines on U.S. registry, and performing the software replacement is estimated to cost U.S. operators $4,507,760 in aggregate. Seventy engines are estimated to also require a memory upgrade to seven sectors, which costs $49,680 per engine and $3,477,600 in aggregate.
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