FAA Orders A350 Manual Fix Over Fog Taxi Time Safety Risk

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD 2025-13-03) requiring operators of all Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft to revise their Aircraft Flight Manuals (AFMs) due to incorrect taxi time limits in freezing fog conditions. The directive addresses a potential safety hazard and impacts 32 U.S.-registered aircraft, primarily flown by Delta Air Lines.

The FAA directive, effective by August 5, 2025, stems from a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) assessment (AD 2024-0190) issued in October 2024. EASA identified errors in the AFM that could lead to excessive taxi times during freezing fog, increasing the risk of engine surges or loss of control during taxi, takeoff, or climb-out.

The FAA confirmed that the incorrect cumulative taxi time values could affect aircraft performance in low-visibility conditions. While no hardware changes are required, the mandatory AFM updates must be completed using Airbus-approved Document Unit revisions that align with EASA’s findings.

The FAA estimates the directive will cost U.S. operators approximately $85 per aircraft in labor, totaling $2,720 across the affected fleet. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) supported the directive and submitted the only public comment, with no requested changes.

Delta remains the only U.S. airline operating the A350. The directive is expected to have a high safety impact despite its low cost, ensuring improved engine performance and reliability during ground operations in freezing fog conditions.

The FAA continues to emphasize alignment with global aviation safety standards.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationa2z.com