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June 30, 2010 -
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a
significant expansion of its icing certification standards, including a
new requirement that manufacturers show airplanes can operate safely in
freezing drizzle or freezing rain, conditions that constitute an icing
environment known as “supercooled large drops” (SLDs).
The proposed
regulations would improve safety by mandating that new transport
category aircraft most affected by SLD icing conditions meet expanded
safety standards, including additional airplane performance and handling
qualities. The rule also would require all new transport category
designs be able to fly in conditions where supercooled liquid and ice
crystals exist. |
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The FAA is also
proposing changes that would expand the icing certification requirements
for engines, engine installations and some airplane components (for
example, angle of attack and airspeed indicating systems).
These systems would need to be able to perform in freezing rain,
freezing drizzle, ice crystals and combinations of these icing
phenomena.
“These new icing
standards are part of our continuing effort to make the world’s safest
aviation system even safer,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood.
“These regulations
will help ensure future aircraft can operate safely in some of the
toughest icing conditions,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.
The proposed rule
is based largely on recommendations from the FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (ARAC) and the National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB). The FAA tasked the ARAC to study how icing certification
regulations should be expanded after the tragic 1994 icing-related
accident in |
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