New Service Difficulty Reporting Rules To Be Withdrawn

The FAA yesterday issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to withdraw its new rules that amend the service difficulty reporting (SDR) requirements for air carriers and repair stations certified under FAR 121, 135 and/or 145. The effective date of the rules, adopted in September 2000, has been delayed several times, with the latest compliance date now set as January 30 next year. “We are proposing to withdraw this rule to allow the FAA time to reexamine the SDR program based on comments received and other developments since the final rule was published,” the FAA said. Several unresolved issues have been raised by the industry since the rules were adopted more than five years ago. The FAA will accept comments on the withdrawal proposal until October 14. For more information, contact the FAA at (202) 267-5571.