2019-21060: Interior Parts and Components Fire Protection for Transport Category Airplanes

Summary

This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was published in the Federal Register on July 3, 2019. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to amend certain airworthiness regulations for fire protection of interior compartments on transport category airplanes. The proposal would convert those flammability regulations from detailed, prescriptive requirements into simpler, performance-based standards. The proposal would divide these standards into two categories: those designed to protect the airplane and its occupants from the hazards of in-flight fires, and those designed to protect the airplane and its occupants from the hazards caused by post-crash fires. In addition, the proposal would remove test methods from the regulations and allow applicants, in certain cases, to demonstrate compliance either without conducting tests or by providing independent substantiation of the flammability characteristics of a proposed material. The proposal includes conforming changes to various FAA regulations. The proposal is necessary to eliminate unnecessary testing, increase standardization, and improve safety. The FAA is extending the closing date of the comment period to allow commenters time to adequately analyze the proposal and prepare responses.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 7 parts of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

• 14 CFR 25 Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes
• 14 CFR 27 Airworthiness Standards: Normal Category Rotorcraft
• 14 CFR 29 Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Rotorcraft
• 14 CFR 91 General Operating and Flight Rules
• 14 CFR 121 Operating Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Operations
• 14 CFR 125 Certification and Operations: Aircraft Having a Seating Capacity of 20 or More Passengers or a Maximum Payload Capacity of 6,000 Pounds or More; and Rules Governing Persons on Board Such Aircraft
• 14 CFR 135 Operating Requirements: Commuter and on Demand Operations and Rules Governing Persons on Board Such Aircraft