FAA Implements Crucial Updates to System Safety Assessments for Aircraft Certification

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finalized significant updates to the system safety assessments (SSA) for transport category airplanes, aimed at enhancing the certification process and aligning it with contemporary aircraft technologies and international standards. The new regulations, which integrate insights from various industry working groups, will be officially codified in a final rule set to be published on August 27 and effective within 30 days.

The updates to FAR Part 25 SSA entail the introduction of two new advisory circulars and modifications to three existing ones. These changes are designed to better accommodate the integrated nature of modern aircraft systems, such as advanced avionics and fly-by-wire technologies, which have evolved significantly since the original regulations were established in 1970.

A key aspect of the new SSA requirements is the mandate for applicants to consider scenarios termed “catastrophic with single latent plus one (CSL+1),” which address potential latent failures that could lead an aircraft to be just one malfunction away from a catastrophic event. This update aims to bridge gaps in the existing rules that did not adequately cover the combination of latent failures leading to major accidents.

Additionally, the FAA’s revisions include assessments on how system failures may impact an aircraft’s structural integrity, particularly concerning modern flight control systems that offer load limiting and alleviation benefits but may operate in degraded modes not easily detectable by flight crews.

The updated rules not only enhance safety but also align closely with standards adopted by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), thereby minimizing financial impacts for U.S. manufacturers who are already complying with EASA’s requirements. This harmonization ensures a more unified approach to aviation safety standards globally.

The comprehensive updates, which were initially released for public comment in December 2022, reflect a concerted effort by the FAA to modernize its certification processes in response to advancements in aircraft technology and collaborative international safety standards.