The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) targeting certain ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes made by ATR-GIE Avions de Transport RĂ©gional. This action comes following reports of potential use of incorrect materials in key airplane parts, which could compromise the structural integrity of these aircraft. The directive, effective May 2, 2025, demands thorough inspections, necessary repairs, and replacement of certain parts to ensure safety, in alignment with a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) directive. The FAA has evaluated the situation and decided that these steps are essential for maintaining safe conditions.
Simple Explanation
The FAA is asking for special checks on some airplanes because parts might not be as strong as they should be, and these checks must happen before they can keep flying safely.