Transport Airplane and Propulsion Certification Modernization
Key claim: The FAA proposes to modernize airworthiness certification standards for transport category airplanes and propulsion systems to reduce exemptions, lower costs, and harmonize with international standards while maintaining or improving safety.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) FAA proposes to amend various airworthiness regulations to modernize certain certification standards for transport category airplanes and propulsion systems. This rule would be both deregulatory and relieving by reducing the number of exemptions, special conditions, and equivalent level of safety findings required during the certification process. FAA expects that this proposal would reduce certification costs and time to certify new and changed products for both industry and FAA while maintaining or increasing the level of safety provided by the current regulations. FAA proposes to remove Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) No. 109 from part 25 and relocate certain of its requirements. Finally, this action would address industry and National Transportation Safety Board recommendations while also harmonizing FAA’s regulations with international standards.
Why this matters
Transport category airplane and propulsion certification underpins the safety baseline for virtually all U.S. commercial aviation, so modernizing Part 25 and related propulsion standards affects manufacturers, airlines, and downstream airworthiness enforcement. Aligning with international norms reduces duplicate certification work for globally-sold aircraft, while the pledge to preserve or improve safety is the key claim regulators and the public will scrutinize.