2026-05264RuleWallet

Textron Jets Toughen Up Lithium Battery Safeguards

Published Date: 3/18/2026

Rule

Summary

Textron’s MU-300-10, 400, and 400A airplanes are getting a safety upgrade with new rules for their rechargeable lithium battery systems powering emergency lights. These special conditions make sure the batteries meet tough safety standards that current rules don’t cover. The changes take effect March 18, 2026, and Textron plus anyone interested can send feedback by May 4, 2026.

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Stricter Safety Rules for Lithium Batteries

Rechargeable lithium batteries used for emergency lighting on Textron MU-300-10, 400, and 400A airplanes must meet nine new safety requirements effective March 18, 2026. Requirements include maintaining safe cell temperatures and pressures, preventing thermal propagation, not emitting toxic or explosive gases, meeting Sec. 25.863 fire-protection rules, avoiding corrosive damage, preventing hazardous heat effects, providing failure sensing and charge-state warnings to the flightcrew, and automatic disconnects on over-temperature or failure.

New FAA Certification Rules for Textron Jets

Textron must meet new FAA special-conditions as part of the type certification for the MU-300-10, 400, and 400A airplanes starting March 18, 2026. These special conditions apply to emergency-lighting power supplies that use rechargeable lithium batteries and would also apply to any other model on the same type certificate later modified to use the same design feature.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this regulation affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Key Dates

Published Date
Rule Effective
Comments Due
3/18/2026
3/18/2026
5/4/2026

Department and Agencies

Department
Independent Agency
Agency
Transportation Department
Federal Aviation Administration
Source: View HTML

Related Federal Register Documents

Previous / Next Documents

Back to Federal Register

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in