Part 25 Rule Harmonizes Certification to EASA Standards

The updated Part 25 rule–effective Feb. 9, 2015–amends certain airworthiness regulations for transport-category airplanes, based on recommendations from the FAA-sponsored Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee to eliminate regulatory differences between the airworthiness standards of the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It does not add new requirements beyond what manufacturers currently meet for EASAcertification and does not affect current industry design practices.

This final rule revises the pitch-maneuver design-loads criteria, the gust- and turbulence-design-loads criteria, the application of gust loads to engine mounts, high-lift devices and other control surfaces. It also adds a round-the-clock discrete gust criterion and a multi-axis discrete gust criterion for airplanes equipped with wing-mounted engines, while revising the engine-torque loads criteria.

The amendment adds an engine-failure dynamic load condition, revises the ground-gust design loads criteria, as well as the criteria used to establish the rough-air design speed and requires the establishment of a rough-air Mach number.