Light Bizav Aircraft Mostly Unaffected by Noise Rule

A final rule published last Friday harmonizes FAR Part 36 light, propeller-driven airplane noise certification standards with international standards and provides uniform noise certification requirements for airplanes certified in the U.S. and Europe, according to the FAA. This amendment will also simplify airworthiness approvals for import and export purposes, it added. “We anticipate that the changes to these two [technical] items will apply only to a small number of older-technology airplanes,” the agency said. The FAA said it believes the only airplanes that would be affected are those with time-limited engines undergoing a voluntary retrofit. “Based on past experience this is a very small number,” the FAA said. “Further, among the airplanes that are retrofitted, compliance with these amendments would be required only if the retrofit results in an increase in its noise level.” These amendments become effective September 6.