EASA has issued an opinion expressing its intent to adopt new regulations on tire pressure minimums and helicopter ditching survivability. With consideration given to comments submitted when proposed in 2020 and 2021, the new rules will be adopted essentially as proposed and effective later this year.
Large airplane certification (Part CS-25) rules will be amended to provide a means to ensure that no tire is below its minimum serviceable inflation pressure during operation. This can be achieved either by requiring operators to perform tire pressure checks at certain time intervals or by installing a tire pressure monitoring system that alerts the flight crew to unsafe tire pressure.
Improving the ability of occupants to survive a water impact from a helicopter ditching is the objective of rules that will revise type certification standards for both small (Part CS-27) and large (Part CS-29) rotorcraft by requiring several design improvements. In addition, this NPA also proposes enhancements to certification specifications for new ditching and emergency flotation provisions.
The EASA opinion also includes regulations adding to the list of business airframes that are exempt from current rules requiring separate baggage compartments to meet the fire prevention standards for Class D cargo compartments. This includes the Gulfstream G100 and G200 series; Cessna Citation 500/550/S550/560/560XL and 750 series; and the Hawker series. About 300 EASA-certified airframes would be exempted.