Safety Rules and Regulations

Air Safety Week, March 31, 2008

Passenger Bill of Rights Rejected. A federal appeals court has rejected a law requiring airlines to provide food, water, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers trapped in a plane delayed on the ground. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that New York's new state law interferes with federal law governing the price, route or service of an air carrier. It was the first law in the nation of its kind. The appeals court said the new law was laudable but only the federal government has the authority to enact such a regulation. The law was challenged before the appeals court by the Air Transport Association of America. "The court's decision vindicates the position of ATA and the airlines - that airline services are regulated by the federal government and that a patchwork of laws by states and localities would be impractical and harmful to consumer interests. This clear and decisive ruling sends a strong message to other states that are considering similar legislation," ATA said in a statement.

Airworthiness Directive: Airbus A300 Final rule. The FAA has adoptee a new airworthiness directive (AD). This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: [T]he detection of cracks on multiple aircraft in lower skin panel No. 2 forward of access panel 575FB/675FB held on the rear dummy spar, inboard of rib 9, fuselage side, aft of the rear spar. This area of structure has been subjected to several repairs and modifications in previous years. The AIRBUS Service Bulletins (SB) A300-57-0177 at Revision 3 and A300-57-6029 at Revision 4 define the various configurations for the mandatory inspections to be conducted in order to control or correct the development of cracks which could affect the structural integrity of the aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive: Eurocopter EC130 B4 Helicopters Final rule. This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 130 B4 helicopters, with certain twist grip assemblies installed, that requires inspecting the pilot and co-pilot collective levers for proper bonding between the twist grip drive tubes and the control pinions and if debonding is present, replacing the collective levers before further flight. This amendment is prompted by one incident in which the engine remained at idle speed although the twist grip had been turned to the flight position. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect debonding between the twist grip drive tubes and the control pinions on the pilot and co-pilot collective levers to prevent loss of cockpit throttle control of the engine, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Airworthiness Directive: Goodrich Evacuation Systems Installed on Various Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Airbus Transport Category Airplanes Final rule. The FAA has adopted a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Goodrich evacuation systems approved under Technical Standard Orders (TSOs) TSO-C69, TSO- C69a, TSO-C69b, and TSO-C69c, installed on certain Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Airbus transport category airplanes. For certain systems, this AD requires replacing the evacuation system's shear-pin restraints with new ones. For certain other systems, this AD requires an inspection for manufacturing lot numbers; and a general visual inspection of the shear-pin restraint for discrepancies, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from several reports of corroded shear-pin restraints that prevented Goodrich evacuation systems from deploying properly. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of an evacuation system, which could impede an emergency evacuation.

Airworthiness Standards; Fire Protection Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This notice proposes to change aircraft engine fire protection certification standards to upgrade and harmonize them with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requirements. The proposed changes, if adopted, would provide nearly uniform fire protection certification standards for engines certificated in the United States under 14 CFR part 33 and in European countries under EASA Certification Specifications for Engines (CS-E), and would simplify international type certification.

Airworthiness Standards; Aircraft Engine Standards Overtorque Limits (FAA) Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The FAA proposes to amend the certification standards for aircraft engines to introduce requirements for approval of maximum engine overtorque. This action would add a new engine overtorque test, amend engine ratings and operating limitations, and define maximum engine overtorque for certain turbopropeller and turboshaft engines. The proposed rule is intended to harmonize applicable U.S. and European standards and simplify airworthiness approvals for import and export of aircraft engines.