Federal Register #2026-20103

FAA airworthiness directives address Airbus helicopter safety labels and Boeing 757-300 inspections

The FAA issued airworthiness directives affecting Airbus Helicopters and Boeing aircraft; this is a regulatory safety action, not a procurement request. - Government buyer and issuing agency: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). - OEMs named: Airbus Helicopters and The Boeing Company. The directive references technical guidance from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is not an OEM or vendor. - Airbus Helicopters directive: Covers AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, EC120B, and EC130B4 models. Operators must install or replace sliding-door emergency-exit instruction labels as applicable, following the referenced EASA procedures. - The FAA estimates 1,213 U.S.-registered helicopters are affected. The estimated compliance cost is $190 per helicopter, or $230,470 total; this is not a contract value or a stated label-kit quantity. - Boeing directive: Identifies all Boeing 757-300 series airplanes as affected by a separate directive involving repair checks, repetitive inspections, and applicable on-condition actions. The provided material does not include detailed requirements or an affected-aircraft quantity. - Timing: Compliance timing is governed by the directives’ requirements; the provided information does not establish a contract period of performance.

Description

The FAA is adopting an airworthiness directive for certain Airbus Helicopters AS350, AS355, EC120B, and EC130B4 helicopter models. It addresses insufficient instructions for opening the sliding door emergency exit, which could hinder opening the door during an emergency and result in occupant injury. The directive requires installing additional safety labels or replacing existing labels, as applicable, in accordance with specified compliance times. It is effective November 5, 2026.

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