Manufacturers of general aviation aircraft — and the folks who buy those aircraft — have been waiting for a few years for the FAA to move forward with a rewrite of the Part 23 rules that govern certification — and now advocates are pressing for an NPRM to be ready by the end of this month. Seven legislators from the House and Senate sent a letter last week to the federal Office of Management and Budget (PDF), asking them to “expedite and complete” their review of the proposed NPRM so the FAA can publish it.
The FAA “risks losing its international leadership,” the letter says. An international meeting is scheduled for Jan. 5-7 to discuss certification issues, and the European Air Safety Agency already has published a draft proposal. The revisions to Part 23 are intended to “facilitate the introduction of safer small aircraft and new safety-enhancing technologies,” the letter states. The FAA has said the new rules aim to provide “twice the safety at half the cost.” The proposal is expected to create an ASTM certification pathway for Part 23 aircraft, similar to what is now in place for light sport aircraft.
