FAA requires replacement of potentially weakened flight control parts on Airbus A350s

The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing a new airworthiness directive that applies to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes registered in the United States. This rule mandates that operators replace certain primary flight control actuators with serviceable parts and prohibits the installation of affected units.

Why it matters: This is a safety intervention aimed at preventing potential mechanical failures in flight control systems. While the risk of failure may be low given that it stems from production defects rather than wear and tear, addressing it now prevents in-flight incidents. For airline operators, this means scheduling maintenance to swap out specific parts, which involves labor costs but no additional parts expenses according to FAA estimates.

Who it affects

• Operators of Airbus A350-941 and -1041 aircraft registered in the U.S.

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This action was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration within the Transportation Department; readers should verify the full text of the airworthiness directive before relying on this summary for compliance purposes.

Agency: Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document