U.S. Orders More Airbus A220 Inspections After Engine Failures
- FAA action follows Canada move on limiting altitude, speed
- Restrictions come on heels of three shutdowns in Europe
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Engines on Airbus SE’s new A220 aircraft must undergo stepped-up inspections for compressor rotor cracks after a third in-flight shutdown, U.S. aviation regulators said, calling the matter an “urgent safety issue.”
The Federal Aviation Administration’s updated requirements are scheduled to be published in the federal register Tuesday. They follow a Saturday directive from Transport Canada, which said A220s should only be flown at 94% of full power above 29,000 feet and must stay below 35,000 feet during icing conditions because using the de-icer could cause the engine to overheat.