Federal Aviation Administration August 9, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On June 12, 2024, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice of availability for draft Advisory Circular (AC) 21.17-04, "Type Certification of Powered-lift". The comment period for this document expires on August 12, 2024. By letter dated August 1, 2024, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) requested that the FAA extend the public-comment period deadline to September 12, 2024. GAMA stated in their request that providing more time to comment would allow member organizations to conduct a more thorough review and contribute constructively to the proposed criteria facilitating the development of robust, harmonized standards that maximize safety for powered-lift operations.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of missing or damaged inboard flap seal plate assemblies. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracks of the attaching angles of the inboard flap seal plates and replacement. This proposed AD would also require the eventual replacement of both inboard flap seal plates, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-21-08, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 1000 engines. AD 2023-21-08 requires revisions to the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of the operator's existing approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP). Since the FAA issued AD 2023-21-08, the manufacturer revised the time limits manual (TLM) to introduce new or more restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited parts, which prompted this AD. This proposed AD would require revisions to the ALS of the operator's existing approved AMP, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.