SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments using a method listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2026-7229; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00774-T” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each ( printed page 46885) page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Frank Carreras, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3539; email: Frank.Carreras@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

The FAA issued AD 2024-22-01, Amendment 39-22872 (89 FR 93157, November 26, 2024) (AD 2024-22-01), for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. AD 2024-22-01 was prompted by an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, which is the is the aviation authority for Canada. Transport Canada issued AD CF-2023-69, dated October 5, 2023 (Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69), to correct an unsafe condition.

AD 2024-22-01 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA issued AD 2024-22-01 to address reduced structural integrity of the airplane or reduced controllability of the airplane.

Actions Since AD 2024-22-01 Was Issued

Since the FAA issued AD 2024-22-01, Transport Canada superseded Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69 and issued Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67, dated December 11, 2025 (Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67) (also referred to as the MCAI), for all Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. However, airplanes on which the information specified in Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue No. 019.01, dated August 28, 2025, or later revisions of Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, approved by Transport Canada, has been incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, are not included in the applicability of this proposed AD; those airplanes must comply with the airworthiness limitations specified as part of the approved type design and referenced on the type certificate data sheet. The MCAI states that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations have been developed.

The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-7229.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67 specifies new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, which include certification maintenance requirements (CMRs), structural inspections, safe life limits, and Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs). The airworthiness limitations also include Additional Mandatory Maintenance Tasks (AMMTs), which are applicable to U.S. operators in lieu of the candidate CMRs (CCMRs).

This proposed AD would also require Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69, dated October 5, 2023 (Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69), which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of December 31, 2024 (89 FR 93157, November 26, 2024).

This proposed AD would also require Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue 011.00, dated June 18, 2020, which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of March 30, 2021 (86 FR 10799, February 23, 2021).

This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and material referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 2024-22-01. This proposed AD would also require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, which are specified in Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67 already described, as proposed for incorporation by reference. Any differences with Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67 are identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. See “Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI” for a discussion of the general differences included in this AD.

This proposed AD would require revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include new actions ( e.g., inspections) and CDCCLs. Compliance with these actions and CDCCLs is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by this proposed AD, the operator may not be able to accomplish the actions described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) according to paragraph (o)(1) of this proposed AD.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

Although Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67 refers to Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 ( i.e., BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11) Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue No. 019.00, dated April 17, 2025, this proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, by incorporating the information specified in Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue No. 019.01, dated August 28, 2025. After incorporating the information specified in Issue No. 019.01, which includes AMMTs, the requirement to incorporate CCMRs, as specified in paragraph (g) of this proposed AD, is terminated.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to retain the Incorporation by Reference (IBR) of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69 and incorporate Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD ( printed page 46886) would, therefore, require compliance with Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69 and Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67 through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Material required by Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69 is available at regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2026-7229 and material required by Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2026-7229 after the FAA final rule is published.

Airworthiness Limitation ADs Using the New Process

The FAA's process of incorporating by reference MCAI ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with corresponding FAA ADs has been limited to certain MCAI ADs (primarily those with service bulletins as the primary source of information for accomplishing the actions required by the FAA AD). However, the FAA is now expanding the process to include MCAI ADs that require a change to airworthiness limitation documents, such as airworthiness limitation sections.

For these ADs that incorporate by reference an MCAI AD that changes airworthiness limitations, the FAA requirements are unchanged. Operators must revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the information specified in the new airworthiness limitation document. The airworthiness limitations must be followed according to 14 CFR 91.403(c) and 91.409(e).

The previous format of the airworthiness limitation ADs included a paragraph that specified that no alternative actions ( e.g., inspections), intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the actions, intervals, and CDCCLs are approved as an AMOC in accordance with the procedures specified in the AMOCs paragraph under “Additional AD Provisions.” This new format includes a “New Provisions for Alternative Actions, Intervals, and CDCCLs” paragraph that does not specifically refer to AMOCs, but operators may still request an AMOC to use an alternative action, interval, or CDCCL.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 184 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

The FAA estimates the total cost per operator for the retained actions from AD 2024-22-01 to be $7,650 (90 work-hours × $85 per work-hour).

The FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or inspection program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, although the agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator to operator. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane estimate. Therefore, the FAA estimates the average total cost per operator for the new proposed actions to be $7,650 (90 work-hours × $85 per work-hour).

Authority for This Rulemaking

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed regulation:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-22-01, Amendment 39-22872 ( 89 FR 93157, November 26, 2024); and

b. Adding the following new AD:

Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate Previously Held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2026-7229; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00774-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by September 10, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

This AD replaces AD 2024-22-01, Amendment 39-22872 (89 FR 93157, November 26, 2024) (AD 2024-22-01).

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate previously held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.) Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes, certificated in any category, except for airplanes on which the information specified in Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue No. 019.01, dated August 28, 2025, or later revisions of Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, approved by Transport Canada, has been incorporated into the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/Maintenance Checks.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address reduced structural integrity of the airplane and reduced controllability of the airplane. ( printed page 46887)

(f) Compliance

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

(g) Retained Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program, With a New Terminating Action

This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2024-22-01, with a new terminating action. For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before June 18, 2020: Within 90 days after March 30, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-04-05, Amendment 39-21426 (86 FR 10799, February 23, 2021)), revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the information specified in Section 03, “Candidate CMR Limitations—General,” of Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue 011.00, dated June 18, 2020. The initial compliance time for doing the tasks is at the time specified in Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue 011.00, dated June 18, 2020, or within 90 days after March 30, 2021, whichever occurs later. Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by paragraph (l) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph.

(h) Retained No Alternative Actions, Intervals, or Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs), With a New Exception

This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 2024-22-01 with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph (l) of this AD, after the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions ( e.g., inspections), intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the actions, intervals, and CDCCLs are approved as an alternative method of compliance.

(i) Retained Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program, With a New Terminating Action

This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (k) of AD 2024-22-01, with a new terminating action. For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before August 17, 2023: Except as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD, comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69, dated October 5, 2023 (Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by paragraph (l) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph.

(j) Retained Exceptions to Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69, With No Changes

This paragraph restates the exceptions specified in paragraph (l) of AD 2024-22-01, with no changes.

(1) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using December 31, 2024, (the effective date of AD 2024-22-01).

(2) Where paragraph A. of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69 specifies to “amend the TC-approved maintenance schedule,” this AD requires replacing that text with “revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable.”

(3) Where paragraph A. of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69 specifies incorporating Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue 017.01, dated August 17, 2023, for this AD, incorporating the information specified in Section 03, “Candidate CMR Limitations—General” of Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue 017.01, dated August 17, 2023, is not required.

(4) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph A. of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69 is at the applicable “thresholds” as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph A. of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69, or within 90 days after December 31, 2024, (the effective date of AD 2024-22-01), whichever occurs later.

(5) This AD does not adopt paragraph B. of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69.

(k) Retained Provisions for Alternative Actions, Intervals, or CDCCLs, With a New Exception

This paragraph restates the provisions specified in paragraph (m) of AD 2024-22-01, with a new exception. Except as required by paragraph (l) of this AD, after the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, no alternative actions ( e.g., inspections), intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the “Corrective Actions” section of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69.

(l) New Revision of the Existing Maintenance or Inspection Program

Except as specified in paragraph (m) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67, dated December 11, 2025 (Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67). Accomplishing the revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program required by this paragraph terminates the requirements of paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD.

(m) Exception to Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67

(1) Where the “Corrective Actions” section of Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67 specifies to “Within the thresholds and repeat intervals identified within the tasks, or discard time, as applicable, complete the new or more restrictive limitations contained in ACLP BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 AWL, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue No. 019.00, dated 17 April 2025”, this AD requires replacing that text with “Revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, by incorporating the information specified in Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue No. 019.01, dated August 28, 2025”. The compliance time for revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, is within 30 days after the effective date of this AD.

(2) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in Issue No. 019.01 of the material referenced in paragraph (m)(1) of this AD is at the applicable thresholds, limitations, and life limits as specified in Issue No. 019.01 of the material referenced in paragraph (m)(1) of this AD, or within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.

(n) New Provisions for Alternative Actions, Intervals, and CDCCLs

After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (l) of this AD, no alternative actions ( e.g., inspections), intervals, and CDCCLs are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the “Corrective Actions” section of Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67.

(o) Additional AD Provisions

The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (p) of this AD and email to: AMOC@faa.gov.

(i) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.

(ii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2024-22-01 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of paragraph (g) of this AD.

(iii) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2024-22-01 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of paragraph (i) of this AD, except AMOCs that allow issues earlier than Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue 017.01, dated August 17, 2023.

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada; or Airbus Canada Limited Partnership's Transport Canada Design Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.

(p) Additional Information

For more information about this AD, contact Frank Carreras, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des ( printed page 46888) Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3539; email: Frank.Carreras@faa.gov.

(q) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.

(3) The following material was approved for IBR on August 31, 2026.

(i) Transport Canada AD CF-2025-67, dated December 11, 2025.

(ii) [Reserved]

(4) The following material was approved for IBR on December 31, 2024 (89 FR 93157, November 26, 2024).

(i) Transport Canada AD CF-2023-69, dated October 5, 2023.

(ii) [Reserved]

(5) The following service information was approved for IBR on March 30, 2021 (86 FR 10799, February 23, 2021).

(i) Airbus Canada Limited Partnership A220 Airworthiness Limitations, BD500-3AB48-11400-02, Issue 011.00, dated June 18, 2020.

(ii) [Reserved]

(6) For Transport Canada material identified in this AD, contact Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario K1A 0N5, Canada; telephone 888-663-3639; email TC.AirworthinessDirectives-Consignesdenavigabilite.TC@tc.gc.ca. You may find this material on the Transport Canada website at tc.canada.ca/en/aviation.

(7) For Airbus Canada Limited Partnership material identified in this AD, contact Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, 13100 Henri-Fabre Boulevard, Mirabel, Québec J7N 3C6, Canada; telephone: 450-476-7676; email: a220_crc@abc.airbus; website: a220world.airbus.com.

(8) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

(9) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov.

91 FR 46884