Some business jets and huge turboprop airplanes are included in latest FAA final rules that enact Environmental Protection Agency-prescribed fuel efficiency certification requirements. The principles take effect on April 16 and apply to certain subsonic jet airplanes with a maximum takeoff weight greater than 5,700 kilograms (22,500 kilos) and to certain turboprop airplanes with a mtow greater than 8,618 kilograms (19,000 kilos).
Under this final rule, an airplane is subject to those certification requirements: (1) at latest (original) type certification; (2) upon manufacture of any covered airplane after Jan. 1, 2028; or (3) when a modification to a covered airplane meets fuel efficiency change criteria laid out in the regulations. Exempted are piston airplanes, airplanes used for firefighting, amphibious airplanes, non-pressurized airplanes, certain specialized operations airplanes, and out-of-production airplanes currently in service.
The brand new FAR Part 38, Appendix A, rule accommodates the certification testing methods that OEMs or modifiers must perform to find out the fuel metric value that a particular airframe design must comply with to acquire fuel efficiency certification. See also Advisory Circular 38-1. In accordance with the FAA, the airplanes covered by the brand new regulations are answerable for 9 percent of domestic transportation emissions and a couple of percent of total U.S. carbon pollution.
Sixty comments were submitted and 14 generally supported the principles as proposed. Nine, including ALPA, Boeing, Gulfstream, NBAA, GAMA, and Embraer supported the rule but offered suggested changes.