What Happened
New Rules Target Safety Concerns in Sliding Doors and Airworthiness Limitations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed two new airworthiness directives, one for Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters and another to supersede an existing directive for Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. The proposed directives aim to address safety concerns, including sliding door jamming issues and the need for revised airworthiness limitations. The FAA is accepting comments on the proposals until November 6, 2026. This development was reported in the Federal Register, highlighting the FAA’s ongoing efforts to enhance aviation safety.