Safety, Ops & Regulation

The Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance is pursuing new focus areas based on the most pressing aircraft modification trends and pain points.

The FAA has finalized a mandatory inspection program for GE CF34-8 engines to detect cracks in combustion liner outer shells that, if left to propagate, can cause the structure to buckle and, in extreme cases, trigger inflight shutdowns.

Pratt & Whitney and the FAA are close to approving revised inspection protocols for PW4000s that power grounded Boeing 777s, but Boeing-led work on

The global fleet of 128 Boeing 777s with PW4000s has been grounded since late February following a failure onboard a United 777 near Denver—the third PW4000-pow

Mandate calling for required test can create unintended consequences that cause thrust reversers to malfunction.

EASA plans to mandate an Airbus-recommended fuselage modification which addresses A380 fuselage cracks operators are discovering when conducting a similar fix required by the European regulator.

AFRA is working with the Chinese government on a solution that would enable global disassemblers to sell used parts for installation on Chinese registered aircraft.

What MRO providers can do to streamline their import and export processes.

A roadtrip for MRO editors involved adventure and a positive story.

The FAA is ordering restrictions for Boeing 737 MAX and some 737 Next Generation models that would prohibit carrying freight in the aft cargo compartment if certain systems not critical for flight are malfunctioning.

Decades-long debate over manual access could be rekindled.

A mandatory, repetitive test to validate that Boeing 737 thrust reverser sensors are working can cause the systems to malfunction.

Avelo, an all-Boeing 737 Next Generation-series operator, plans to tap its flight data and GE’s repository of algorithms to monitor and improve its operation across the board.

New guidance from the FAA and EASA targets any operator with aircraft that have lavatory fire extinguishing bottles.

In an immediately adopted airworthiness directive (AD) due out July 20, the agency will order Boeing 737 operators to inspect cabin altitude pressure switches more frequently.

A British Airways 787-8’s inadvertent nose-gear retraction at a London Heathrow gate last month was caused by an incorrectly placed pin during routine maintenance—a design-related risk that regulators flagged in an airworthiness directive that had not been implemented on the aircraft.

Engine failures triggered significant amounts of airframe damage.

New voluntary safety reporting program gives front-line agency employees more voice in the process.

ARSA’s diplomatic outreach to C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger as ICAO ambassador.

The FAA plans to mandate three modifications to Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) nacelles linked to a pair of inflight fan-blade failures that caused significant damage outside the engine and led to one passenger fatality.

EASA has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) instructing airlines to carefully check external air data probes before returning aircraft to service after pandemic storage.

EASA will review pandemic protocols and adopt new best practices, including some remote oversight.

Response to 737 MAX probes includes adding more international staff.

A thriving business usually includes this.

Under the proposed budget, the FAA would spend $2.4 million in the coming fiscal year to place “senior representatives” in the UK, Mexico, Poland and somewhere in Southeast Asia.