The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday proposed changes to modernize and speed certification of new commercial airplanes and harmonize regulations with Europe.
The FAA said by mirroring some requirements with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency it would benefit manufacturers by providing consistent requirements and reduce the cost, time and complexity of certifications. The two agencies have vowed to work more closely on safety and certification.
The proposal could be a boost to manufacturers like Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab, Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab, Embraer (EMBJ3.SA), opens new tab and Bombardier (BBDb.TO), opens new tab.
Approvals for new airplane models can take years and require substantial testing and data. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has pushed for reforms and disclosed earlier this year the agency has a few projects working with industry «to see how they can streamline the process.»
The prior FAA head, Mike Whitaker, told Reuters in 2024 the agency was looking at using better technology to streamline the process.
Reuters first reported the FAA’s planned changes in September, disclosing the agency planned to reduce the number of «exemptions, special conditions, and equivalent level of safety findings required during the certification process»…
