NEW AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS FOR SMALL AIRPLANES BECOME EFFECTIVE
October 9, 2017
On August 30, 2017, a final rule intended to overhaul airworthiness standards for general aviation (GA) aircraft took effect. Officially titled “Revision of Airworthiness Standards for Normal, Utility, Acrobatic, and Commuter Category Airplanes”, the rule responds to Congressional mandates directing the FAA to streamline the approval of safety advancements for small GA airplanes. It also addresses recommendations from the FAA’s 2013 Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which suggested a more streamlined approval process for safety equipment on those airplanes.
Under the final rule’s provisions, categories such as commuter, utility, aerobatic or normal will be eliminated for future Part 23 airplane certifications. Instead, all newly certificated airplanes under Part 23 would be certified in the normal category. Airplanes already certified in the commuter, utility, acrobatic, or normal categories will continue to fall in those categories. Under the proposed rulemaking, all normal category airplanes would have a maximum seating capacity of 19 passengers or less, and a maximum takeoff weight of 19,000 pounds or less.
Airplane performance levels will be designated as low speed (a maximum design cruising speed or maximum operating limit speed of less than or equal to 250 KTAS) or high speed (airplanes with a maximum design cruising speed or maximum operating limit speed greater than 250 KTAS).
Under a change to the proposed Part 23, an applicant may use consensus standards acceptable to the FAA to demonstrate how compliance with Part 23 will be achieved. The change creates flexibility for applicants in developing means of compliance. The rule also adds new certifications standards to address GA loss of control accidents and in-flight icing conditions.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).
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