FAA Issues Immediate Dispatch Prohibitions for Airbus Canada BD-500 Series
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a final rule, which imposes immediate operational restrictions to address potential cabin pressure control failures.
The regulation strictly prohibits dispatching an airplane if the crew alerting system message "AUTO PRESS FAIL (CAUTION)" is displayed. It further revokes the ability to dispatch under specific operational procedures within Master Minimum Equipment List items 21-33-03 and 21-33-04.
The directive acts as a safeguard against excessive torque tripping the manual mode torque limiter, which could render the outflow valve's direct current motor inoperative during high differential pressure conditions.
Airlines and flight dispatchers must instantly integrate these hard stops into their pre-flight clearance protocols, such that if the targeted alerting system message appears, the aircraft cannot legally take off.
Operators can no longer rely on specific manual pressurization exemptions to clear a flight, preventing a potential total loss of cabin pressure control, excessive differential pressure across the airplane structure, or the inability to rapidly depressurize or evacuate smoke.
This airworthiness directive mandates compliance for all Airbus Canada Limited Partnership airplanes across any certificated category.
The agency estimates the rule directly impacts 198 airplanes currently operating under U.S. registry.
As an interim action, the FAA bypassed standard notice and comment periods to adopt the rule immediately, citing an urgent risk to the flying public.
