Global Regulatory Update, Nov. 7-13, 2021

EASA has issued airworthiness directive 2021-0236 for Airbus A320 family aircraft, requiring inspection and replacement of landing gear sliding tube, effective Nov. 12, 2021.

EASA has issued emergency airworthiness directive 2021-0237-E for ATR42s and 2s, requiring inspection of engine fire handles snap wire, effective Nov. 8, 2021.

EASA has cancelled airworthiness directive 2021-0110-CN for Pilatus PC-12s, -12/45s, -12/47s and -12/47Es, which required inspection and replacement of nose landing gear fork assembly.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2021-20-22 for certain Fokker F28 Mark 0070s and Mark 0100s, requiring an inspection for corrosion of the wing front spar lower boom, and applicable corrective actions, effective Nov. 15, 2021.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2021-23-03 for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8-400s, -401s and -402s, requiring a records review to determine if a cracked main landing gear drag strut assembly is installed, repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of affected strut assemblies, a one-time magnetic particle inspection for cracking and on-condition actions if necessary, effective Dec. 6, 2021.

FAA has issued special airworthiness information bulletin AIR-21-18 announcing the planned deployment of wireless broadband networks in the 3700-3980 MHz bands—scheduled to begin on Dec. 5, 2021—in the 3700-3800 MHz bands. It recommends that radio altimeter manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers and operators voluntarily provide to federal authorities specific information related to altimeter design and functionality, specifics on deployment and usage of radio altimeters in aircraft, and that they test and assess their equipment in conjunction with federal authorities.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2021-16-18 for all Airbus A330-200 freighters, A330-200s, -300s and -900s, and A340-200s, -300s, -500s and -600s, requiring repetitive inspections of certain fuel pumps for cavitation erosion, replacement if necessary, revision of the operator's minimum equipment list and accomplishment of certain maintenance actions related to defueling and ground fuel transfer operations, effective Dec. 8, 2021.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2021-22-07 for certain Umlaut Engineering HAFEX Halon-free handheld fire extinguishers, requiring repetitively inspecting the fire extinguisher and, depending on the results, removing the fire extinguisher from service, plus prohibiting installing an affected fire extinguisher unless it passes the required inspections, effective Nov. 18, 2021.

FAA has issued emergency airworthiness directive 2021-23-51 for GE CF34-8Cs and CF34-8Es, requiring inspection of the master compressor variable geometry actuator and slave compressor actuator and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacement of the part with a part eligible for installation, effective upon receipt.