The FAA is revising and adding new safety standards to reduce the likelihood of potentially catastrophic risks due to latent failures in critical systems. Effective September 24, new amendments to FAR Part 25 airworthiness certification regulations include system safety assessments (SSA) requirements. SSA aims to make more comprehensive and consistent the criteria for conducting safety evaluations of such systems as flight controls and powerplants on newly certified airplanes.
With this action, the agency seeks to reduce the risk of accidents and incidents associated with new technology, such as fly-by-wire controls. Revised amendments also serve to codify rules to address type certification of novel or unusual design features, replacing the more time-consuming and expensive method of applying “special conditions” or “equivalent level of safety” provisions.
The changes to Part 25 affect applicants for type certification and operators of certain transport category airplanes. “Applicants for type certification will be required to conduct their SSAs in accordance with the revised regulations,” said the FAA. “Changes to the instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) affect operators of newly certified airplanes.” The final SSA amendments incorporate suggestions made by several general aviation and airliner manufacturers and trade organizations that commented in response to a December 2022 notice of proposed rulemaking.