FAA Narrows Scope Of Insulation Replacement Rules

The Federal Aviation Administration scaled back the scope of new insulation requirements after industry groups warned that the new rules were so expansive that they would apply to thousands of parts that are no longer available, a situation that could ground some aircraft unless the rules were changed (BA, Aug. 22/78). FAA released the amendment to its thermal/acoustic insulation rule in the Dec. 30 Federal Register, saying the agency "has recently been provided information that the rule will apply to a much broader range of components in currently operating airplanes than was originally intended."

FAA also said that since releasing the final insulation rule in July 2003, it realized that some requirements mandating upgraded material on replacement parts do not significantly improve airplane fire safety and that in many cases compliant replacements are not readily available. The Dec. 30 amendment, FAA said, "focuses on replacement materials that have a greater effect on safety and are readily available, and is necessary to avoid grounding of airplanes."

The new thermal requirements were proposed in 2000, following the 1998 crash of Swissair Flight 111. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada concluded that an electrical fire spread through flammable material aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and recommended more stringent flammability standards.