New Rule on Small Airplane Certification Takes Effect in U.S.

Revised airworthiness standards for general aviation airplanes are expected to accelerate the installation of new safety-enhancing technologies in the aircraft at a lower cost for the industry, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says.

The new rule outlining changes in Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23 took effect last week.

The rule applies to airplanes that weigh 19,000 lb (8,618 kb) or less and have 19 or fewer passenger seats. Under the measure, existing prescriptive requirements will be replaced with what the FAA described as “performance-based standards, coupled with consensus-based compliance methods for specific designs and technologies.”

The rule also includes new certification standards that address in-flight icing conditions and accidents stemming from loss of control–in flight.

“This regulatory approach recognizes there is more than one way to deliver on safety,” the FAA said. “It offers a way for industry and the FAA to collaborate on new technologies and to keep pace with evolving aviation designs and concepts.”

The rule also “promotes regulatory harmonization” among civil aviation regulators in other countries, the FAA said, adding that harmonization could “minimize certification costs for airplane and engine manufacturers.”