FAA’s Circuit Breaker policy could change

The FAA issued a draft policy memorandum that would change circuit-breaker layouts in aircraft electrical systems, as well as how pilots deal with tripped ­circuit breakers. Comments are due by September 12. Principal changes would be for manufacturers to group and identify essential and non-essential circuit breakers in Part 23 aircraft and to publish flight manual guidance about when to reset circuit breakers. According to the FAA, it has allowed resetting of circuit breakers or replacement of fuses while in flight, but current Part 25 advisory information “is to recommend that no pilot should reset any ­circuit breaker more than once.”