A bipartisan group of US politicians led by Representative Mike Pompeo have introduced legislation aimed at increasing safety and cutting certification costs for small GA aeroplanes.
The bill, HR 1848, would establish a date certain for implementing the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) recommendations.
The ARC presented a report to the FAA last week, recommending setting performance-based design requirements rather than prescriptive requirements that rely on assumptions based on weight and propulsion type.
If adopted, the new regulations are expected to simplify the current process and give manufacturers flexibility by allowing them to achieve compliance through consensus-based standards.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO Pete Bunce backed the proposed legislation.
“GAMA is very pleased that Representative Pompeo and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle recognize the need to embrace the ARC’s recommendations and adopt new certification rules so that manufacturers can invest in new designs and put critical lifesaving safety equipment into existing airplanes.
“We hope the bill will spur the FAA to move quickly in adopting the ARC’s recommendations to improve safety and help to revitalize the lighter end of the aircraft market.”
The ARC, composed of 150 government and aviation industry representatives from around the world, spent 18 months developing the recommendations.