The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has unveiled its new Part 23 rule that aims to streamline airworthiness standards for small aircraft operating in the general aviation sector.

The final rule of the specific segment, the rule will bridge the gap between safety enhancing technologies for small airplanes and their deliverability into the marketplace.

"The FAA’s rule replaces prescriptive design requirements with performance-based standards."

The rule also aims to reduce costs for the aviation industry, and create performance-based standards for aircraft that weigh less than 19,000lb with 19 or fewer seats.

Planned to be effective eight months from publication in the US Federal Register, the updated Part 23 rule features new certification standards to address general aviation loss of control accidents and in-flight icing conditions.

US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said: “Aviation manufacturing is our nation’s top export and general aviation alone contributes approximately $80bn and 400,000 jobs to our economy.

“The FAA’s rule replaces prescriptive design requirements with performance-based standards, which will reduce costs and leverage innovation without sacrificing safety.”

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The new Part 23 rule will also support regulatory harmonisation among FAA’s foreign partners, such as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) and Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC).   

The harmonisation is expected to lower costs for airplane and engine manufacturers, as well as affected equipment operators, who seek certification to sell products worldwide.

Developed in line with FAA Modernisation and Reform Act of 2012 and Small Airplane Revitalisation Act of 2013, the new rule also features recommendations from the FAA’s 2013 Part 23 reorganisation aviation rulemaking committee.