The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice in the Federal Register last week seeking comments on a proposed regulation change that would modify fire protection on airplanes.
The change would replace existing fire protection testing standards and allow companies applying for airworthiness certificates to demonstrate compliance with the standards without conducting the tests. Companies also would be permitted to provide independent verification of the materials’ flammability characteristics.
Current requirements are outlined in U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 25. These requirements are specified according to the function of each aircraft component and, occasionally, according to a component’s composition.
Being so specific can cause difficulty when an applicant wishes to deviate from the detailed test provisions, the FAA said. Components, depending on their composition, can be subject to multiple regulatory requirements, and these requirements sometimes conflict, the FAA said.
The proposal also would organize fire protection requirements according to the type of fire and would apply to any extensively used material in an inaccessible area. Inaccessible areas include cargo compartment ceilings, electrical wiring insulation, and floor liners, the FAA said.
The changes would “result in a safety benefit by reducing the likelihood of a fatal accident from a fire in an inaccessible area,” the FAA said.