What's New

As the needs of the Canadian public change and technology evolves, new systems are proposed by industry and the need for amended or new regulations becomes evident. Updated information on some of these issues is provided below.

• Improved Flammability Standards for Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Materials.  On July 31, 2003, the FAA published a number of final rules mandating improved flammability standards for thermal/acoustic insulation materials installed in transport category aircraft.  These new rules affect new type designs, new production and in-service aircraft.
  
  
  • New Type Designs: FAR amendment 25-111, upgraded flammability standards for thermal and acoustic insulation materials used in transport category airplanes. These standards include new flammability tests and criteria that address flame propagation and entry of an external fire into the airplane. This action was necessary because the previous standards did not realistically address situations in which thermal or acoustic insulation materials may contribute to the propagation of a fire. This action is intended to enhance safety by reducing the incidence and severity of cabin fires, particularly those in inaccessible areas where thermal and acoustic insulation materials are installed, and providing additional time for evacuation by delaying the entry of post-crash fires into the cabin.  The change introduced FAR 25.856 and added Part VI and VII to Appendix F of FAR 25.  It became effective in the United States on September 2, 2003.  In Canada FAR Amendment 25-111 has been adopted into AWM Chapter 525 by reference and became effective on June 8, 2004.
  • New Production of Existing Type Designs:  In order to see the new standards implemented as rapidly as possible the FAR operating rules (FAR 91.613(b), 121.312(e), 125.113(c) and 135.170(c)) were amended to require new production of already type certified aircraft to meet the new flammability standards for thermal/acoustic insulation materials but the implementation is phased.  By September 2, 2005 transport category aircraft certified after January 1, 1958 and manufactured after September 2, 2005 must meet the new flame propagation requirements of FAR 25.856.  And by September 3, 2009 transport category with a passenger capacity of 20 or greater certified after January 1, 1958 and manufactured after September 3, 2009 must meet the new flame penetration requirements of FAR 25.856 for thermal/acoustic insulation materials installed in the lower half of the fuselage per FAR 121.312(e).  (Note: This date was September 3, 2007 in the original rule but was extended to September 3, 2009 by Amendment 121-330).  Transport Canada is considering the implementation of similar requirements (Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) 2005-044 and 2005-068).
  • Inservice Aircraft:  Again in an effort to see the benefits of the incorporation of materials meeting these new standards applied to inservice aircraft the operating rules cited above also require that aircraft certified after January 1, 1958 and manufactured before September 2, 2005 will need to meet the new flame propagation standards when thermal/acoustic insulation materials are installed as replacements.  Again Transport Canada is considering the implementation of a similar operating rule in NPA 2005-044.
• Further information on the background of these new rules can be found at the following URLs:
  • The NPRM leading to the new rule:
  • http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rg
    NPRM.nsf/2ed8a85bb3dd48e68525644900598dfb/29f15fe039564a4
    78625696f0070c88b!OpenDocument
  • The Final Rule Preamble accompanying the new rule:
  • http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/
    rgFinalRule.nsf/c03aa95a6d5f3d57852564720071b601/a797c
    2ac3bf07bdf86256d750055e8a4!OpenDocument
  • FAA Advisory Circulars for each of the new test methods introduced as follows:
  • AC 25.856-1 - Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Flame Propagation Test Method Details
  • http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/
    rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/2853E3F35375B05386257037006CE
    99C?OpenDocument
  • AC 25.856-2 - Installation of Thermal/Acoustic Insulation for Burnthrough Protection
  • http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/
    rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/60FEBE04381264F0862570FC006944
    CC?OpenDocument
• Certification of Side-Facing Seats in Transport Category Aeroplanes. Aircraft Certification Policy Letter (ACPL) #21 has been published to provide guidance to Aircraft Certification personnel, including delegates, concerning the application of airworthiness standards required for the approval of side-facing seats on Transport Category Aeroplanes which were type certificated on the basis of Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 25 at Amendment 25-64. The following hyperlinks will take you to the ACPL and to four FAA documents referenced in the ACPL:
  • Aircraft Certification Policy Letter (ACPL) #21

"The Following are available in Portable Document Format and may be viewed using version 3.0 or higher of the Adobe® Acrobat Reader. This reader may be downloaded free of charge by visiting the Adobe® web site, or contact your LAN administrator if you require assistance with the installation of the Adobe Reader."

• FAA Exemption 6881 (57.5kb - 16 secs)
• FAA Information Memorandum dated Nov 19, 1997
  (11.4 kb - 3 secs)
• Generic FAA Issue Paper CI-X dated Nov 12, 1997 "Dynamic Test Requirements for Single Place Side-Facing Seats" (11.7 kb - 3 secs)
• Generic FAA Issue Paper CI-I dated Nov 12, 1997 "Dynamic Test Requirements for Side-Facing Divans (Sofas)"
  (12.4 kb - 3 secs)