FAA Revises Part 23

The FAA December 16 released its long-awaited final rule making significant revisions to small aircraft certification standards. The new FAR Part 23 rule addresses how airplanes weighing up to 19,000 pounds can be certified and implements performance-based airworthiness requirements instead of the prescriptive design requirements it replaces. It apparently offers little regulatory relief to owners or operators of existing or aging aircraft. Given the scope of the rule changes, the FAA is delaying its implementation eight months, to August 30, 2017.

Key Takeaways:

• The FAA released a new Part 23 rule, effective August 30, 2017, revising small aircraft certification to performance-based standards for new models (up to 19,000 lbs) but providing no immediate regulatory relief for existing or aging aircraft.
• Late 2016 experienced a series of fatal general aviation accidents, suggesting preliminary safety statistics for the year might not show substantial improvement over the previous year.
• The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) offered five key tips for safer winter flying, including reviewing the FAA's TALPA initiative, utilizing FICON NOTAMs for field conditions, ensuring avionics compatibility, properly handling cold-soaked aircraft, and emphasizing pilot-made go/no-go decisions.

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