Age limits for commercial aircraft proposed by FAA
Operating limits for commercial aircraft have been proposed by regulators in the US in an attempt to avert issues caused by age-related metal fatigue cracks.
A draft rule from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the change would exceed current regulations relating to older aircraft, mainly concerning maintenance, and would apply to thousands of aircraft currently in service as well as models not yet introduced, Reuters reported.
Under the proposed plans the FAA would work with aircraft manufacturers to establish operating limits. Over 20 years the cost to the industry could reportedly be as much as USD360m.
The proposal is said to cover aircraft such as the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series, the newest Boeing 777, as well as next-generation aircraft such as Boeing’s 787 and the Airbus A380.