The FAA has amended its airworthiness standards for normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter category airplanes by replacing current prescriptive design requirements with performance-based airworthiness standards. The FAA’s rewrite of Part 23 small airplane certification rule also replace the current weight and propulsion divisions in small airplane regulations with performance- and risk-based divisions for airplanes with a maximum seating capacity of 19 passengers or less and a maximum takeoff weight of 19,000 pounds or less.
The new rules amend Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 23 enact additional airworthiness standards to address certification for flight in icing conditions, enhanced stall characteristics, and minimum control speeds for multiengine airplanes. Additionally, revised rules will apply to Part 91, 121 and 135 operations to correspond with the new airworthiness standards.
Effective: 30 August 2017.
