Service Difficulty Reporting Rule Withdrawn

As expected, the FAA is withdrawing a delayed final rule that amended the service difficulty reporting (SDR) requirements for air carriers and repair stations certified under FAR Part 121, 135 and/or 145. The effective date of the rule, adopted in September 2000, has been delayed several times. The agency withdrew the rule to allow it time “to reexamine the SDR program based on comments received and other developments since the final rule was published.” Several unresolved issues had been raised by the industry since the rules were adopted more than five years ago. Although it withdrew the rule, the agency did adopt several other changes to “improve the functioning” of the SDR program. The changes will be effective January 30.