The General Aviation Manufacturers Association
(GAMA) has hosted the first in a series of training sessions about the United
States government’s Part 23 rule rewrite at the Boeing facility in Seattle,
Wash.
In December 2016, the FAA announced sweeping
changes to the rules, which take effect in August. The new rules for the design
of small airplanes apply to aircraft that weigh less than 19,000 pounds with 19
or fewer seats.
GAMA is hosting the training sessions at
locations throughout the U.S. to offer interested aviation community members an
opportunity to learn about the new design environment of the rules. The new
rules will allow manufacturers and suppliers of products and technologies for
small airplanes to develop and deliver innovative products to their customers
more quickly and better leverage new technologies. To ensure an industry-wide
understanding of the changes, GAMA is leveraging at its sessions the same FAA
materials and the same FAA training experts that are being provided to the FAA
workforce.
“GAMA is proud to continue championing this
industry-changing rule through our training sessions,” said GAMA President and
CEO Pete Bunce.
“They will help ensure the aviation community understands the full and immediate
benefits of the new regulatory environment in August, and highlight the
possibilities of what could be, if this same type of risk based international
certification rulemaking approach is extended in the future to rotorcraft and
transport category fixed wing aircraft. It’s a testament to the significance of
this rule rewrite that Boeing - which doesn’t currently produce small airplanes
- is the host site of our first session.”
Over the last several decades the rules
governing the design of small airplanes increasingly became an obstacle because
they were based on outdated technologies. Now, rather than having to comply with
overly prescriptive design requirements, manufacturers will now be able to more
nimbly respond in a cost-effective manner through performance-based
airworthiness safety rules and consensus standards for compliance.
Additionally, because the new Part 23 rule is
part of a global effort to develop common certification standards, it will
remove regulatory barriers and promote the acceptance of airplanes and products
worldwide. Earlier this month, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
finalized its CS-23 rule rewrite for small airplanes, and other authorities are
expected to follow suit.
"I can't think of a more collaborative
rulemaking effort,” said GAMA Vice President of Global Innovation and Policy
Greg Bowles,
who is leading the training sessions. “For one of such scale and significance to
be executed so well is evidence of the incredible work of the general aviation
community, the FAA and the U.S. Congress. Capping this achievement off with
parallel training efforts within the FAA and for the industry is the ideal way
to usher in a new era of safe and innovative general aviation aircraft design."
The remaining U.S. training session will take
place on May 18 in Washington, DC. GAMA also intends to support similar training
sessions in Brazil, Canada, China and Europe in the coming year.
For additional information, please contact
Sarah McCann, GAMA Director of Communications, at +1 (202) 637-1375 or
smccann@gama.aero
|