Aerospace

US NIST MEP Issues Notice of Intent for Advanced Manufacturing and Critical Minerals Pilot Program

NIST’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership has issued a Federal Register notice of intent for a competitive pilot program to fund advanced manufacturing technology frameworks in aerospace additive manufacturing and domestic critical minerals supply chains in 2026. The notice creates no immediate compliance obligations but signals substantial upcoming funding and coordination opportunities that could reshape US supply chains, technology expectations, and competitiveness for manufacturers in these strategic sectors.

24 May 2026, 21:36federalregister.govUnited States

US FAA Issues Airworthiness Directive for Airbus A330 Standby Fuel Pumps

The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued an immediately effective airworthiness directive for Airbus A330 aircraft, requiring new operational checks of standby fuel pumps following a fuel-availability safety incident and risk of in-flight engine shutdown. Operators of affected A330 fleets will need to integrate these repetitive checks and potential pump replacements into maintenance plans on short timelines, manage installation limits on affected parts, and assess impacts on dispatch reliability and safety risk.

22 May 2026, 17:16public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

EU Commission Opens Call For Evidence On European Critical Raw Materials Centre

From 19 May to 11 August 2026, the European Commission is consulting on a legislative initiative to create a European Critical Raw Materials Centre to coordinate joint purchasing, stockpiling, investment support and market intelligence for critical raw materials. The Centre could significantly reshape how EU manufacturers, defence and clean‑tech supply chains access rare earths and other critical inputs, so affected companies should follow this consultation closely to understand emerging tools, governance and potential future obligations.

20 May 2026, 08:09ec.europa.euEuropean Union

US FAA Issues Airworthiness Directive on Airbus A350 Oxygen Generator Clamps

The US FAA has adopted AD 2026-09-14 requiring clamp-related modifications to the chemical oxygen generator system on all Airbus A350-900 and -1000 aircraft, effective 18 June 2026. Operators must plan fleet-wide oxygen-generator replacements within six months and adjust maintenance and parts controls to avoid installing non-compliant hardware and risking reduced cabin oxygen availability during emergencies.

19 May 2026, 21:00federalregister.govUnited States

US FAA Proposes AD on Fuel System Leaks in Stemme S 12 Gliders

The US Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a new airworthiness directive requiring leak checks and replacement of specific copper sealing rings in Stemme S 12 gliders after fuel system leaks were reported, with comments due by 29 June 2026. If finalised, the directive will impose new pre-flight inspection routines, parts-replacement deadlines, and installation prohibitions that operators and maintenance providers must factor into maintenance planning and parts sourcing for affected fleets.

19 May 2026, 20:57federalregister.govUnited States

US FAA Final AD 2026-09-17 Tightens Fuel Tank Airworthiness Limits for Airbus A318–A321

The US FAA has finalised AD 2026-09-17, superseding AD 2025-03-07 and tightening fuel tank airworthiness limitations for Airbus A318–A321 aircraft, with an 18 June 2026 effective date and expanded coverage to additional neo variants including A319-173N and A321-253NY. Affected operators must revise maintenance and inspection programmes within 90 days of the effective date to incorporate new and more restrictive airworthiness limitations, reinforcing fuel tank explosion risk controls across Airbus narrowbody fleets and demanding near-term planning.

15 May 2026, 16:27federalregister.govUnited States

US FAA Issues Airworthiness Directive 2026-09-11 for Dassault Mystere-Falcon 20-Series Aircraft

The FAA has issued Airworthiness Directive 2026-09-11, effective 18 June 2026, superseding AD 2023-20-05 for certain Dassault Mystere-Falcon 20 aircraft and tightening structural airworthiness inspection and maintenance requirements. Operators must revise maintenance and inspection programmes within 90 days of the effective date to adopt new EASA-derived structural limitations, reducing fatigue and corrosion risk and helping avoid unplanned groundings or safety-of-flight issues.

15 May 2026, 13:44federalregister.govUnited States

Defra Issues UK REACH Review Authorisations for ADCR Consortium Chromate Primers

Defra has issued four UK REACH review‑report authorisation decisions for members of the ADCR Consortium, allowing continued use and formulation of chromate‑based wash, bonding and other protective primers, as well as primer formulation, for aerospace and defence applications in Great Britain. The decisions extend access to critical hexavalent chromium primer systems under UK REACH while tightening exposure‑control and monitoring obligations at GB sites and setting time‑limited review periods for future reassessment.

14 May 2026, 19:43gov.ukUnited Kingdom

US FAA Adopts Airworthiness Directive on Airbus MBB-BK 117 C-2 and D-2 Hoist Hooks

In May 2026 the US Federal Aviation Administration finalised an airworthiness directive requiring Airbus MBB-BK 117 C-2 and D-2 helicopters to modify or replace hoist hook damper assemblies equipped with standard MS18027 hooks within 12 months. Operators must plan maintenance and parts sourcing so that all affected assemblies are upgraded and no unmodified hooks remain in service or are installed after the compliance window, avoiding hoist-load loss risks and regulatory non-compliance.

14 May 2026, 12:36federalregister.govUnited States

US FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for Pilatus PC-24 Windshield Heating Relay

The US Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a new airworthiness directive for certain Pilatus PC-24 aircraft to address a defect in the windshield heating relay, with comments due by 29 June 2026. If adopted, operators will need to plan for mandatory modifications and relay replacements across affected fleets, influencing maintenance scheduling, spares provisioning, and safety compliance responsibilities.

14 May 2026, 12:35federalregister.govUnited States

EU Council Progress Report on Proposed EU Space Act for May 2026 Competitiveness Council

The Council presidency has issued a May 2026 progress report on the proposed EU Space Act, simplifying and clarifying draft rules on certification, governance and environmental sustainability for EU space activities ahead of discussion at the 28–29 May Competitiveness Council. Space operators and manufacturers active in Europe should track this as the emerging framework that will shape future licensing, compliance processes and environmental expectations for launches and space-based services, even though no binding obligations or deadlines apply yet.

10 May 2026, 19:16data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EASA Issues Safety Information Bulletin on Safe Usage of Jet A Aviation Fuel in Europe

In May 2026, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued Safety Information Bulletin 2026-04 to guide safe use of Jet A aviation fuel in European operations amid potential Jet A-1 supply disruptions. Aviation operators, aerodromes and fuel handlers should promptly review fuel-selection, cold-weather and communication procedures to manage freezing-point and operational risks when introducing Jet A alongside Jet A-1.

10 May 2026, 19:01ad.easa.europa.euEuropean Union

IAEG 2026 Update on PFAS Uses and EU REACH Derogations for Aerospace and Defence

In April 2026 the International Aerospace Environmental Group issued a detailed update on PFAS use across aerospace and defence and how the evolving EU PFAS restriction under REACH, as updated in August 2025, could affect critical applications and supply chains. The report highlights where sectoral derogations are likely to preserve key fluoropolymer uses and where gaps and limited timelines could force expensive redesigns, requalification and supplier changes, giving companies a practical roadmap for PFAS risk mapping and strategy.

9 May 2026, 14:10iaeg.comEuropean UnionUnited StatesGlobal

US FAA Proposes AD on Airbus A330-841/-941 Lavatory Floor Fittings

FAA has proposed a new airworthiness directive for all Airbus A330-841 and A330-941 aircraft to address corrosion risks in lavatory floor fittings, leveraging inspection, repair and optional modification requirements from EASA AD 2025-0114. If finalised, this would introduce recurring 24–36 month inspection cycles, restrictions on older lavatory configurations and an optional terminating retrofit, so operators must plan maintenance, parts and downtime impacts ahead of the 22 June 2026 comment deadline.

9 May 2026, 07:15federalregister.govUnited States

US FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for Airbus A320/A321 Bulk Cargo Door Cracks

The US FAA has proposed a new airworthiness directive requiring rototest inspections and potential repairs for cracks in the upper corners of the bulk cargo door on certain Airbus A320/A321 aircraft, with public comments due by 18 June 2026. Operators and MROs should assess which aircraft are affected, plan inspection and maintenance capacity, and consider commenting on feasibility and fleet impacts before the directive is finalised.

8 May 2026, 08:27federalregister.govUnited States

US FAA Final Special Conditions for Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Backup Battery on Airbus C-212 Series (Xtreme Avionics)

US FAA has issued final special conditions, effective 6 May 2026, imposing enhanced safety requirements on rechargeable lithium-ion backup batteries used in Xtreme Avionics’ GI 275 standby display retrofit for Airbus C-212 series aircraft. These conditions immediately shape design and certification of affected modifications, tightening expectations around thermal management, flammable electrolyte containment, and flightcrew warning systems for lithium battery installations.

8 May 2026, 06:45federalregister.govUnited States

US FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for GE CF34-1A and CF34-3 Engines

The US FAA has proposed a new airworthiness directive for certain GE CF34-1A and CF34-3-series engines, adding corrosion-focused restart tests, inspections, and maintenance-program changes after a dual engine power-loss event, with comments due by mid-June 2026. If finalized, operators of affected regional and business jets will need to plan for additional downtime, recurring tests and inspections, potential engine removals, and updates to approved maintenance programmes to control this loss-of-thrust risk.

6 May 2026, 07:34govinfo.govUnited States

Council of the EU Sets Position for 237th ICAO Council on Dangerous Goods, Halon Replacement and CORSIA

The Council of the EU has agreed detailed common Union positions for the 237th ICAO Council session in March–April 2026, backing a broad package of aviation safety amendments, dangerous-goods updates, halon replacement work and clarifications to the CORSIA carbon offsetting scheme. This negotiating mandate signals that the EU is likely to support upcoming ICAO decisions that could later drive changes to EU aviation, climate and dangerous-goods rules, so compliance teams should track the resulting ICAO outcomes and subsequent EU transposition steps.

5 May 2026, 15:55data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

US FAA Seeks Comment on Renewal of Flightcrew Duty and Rest Information Collection

The US Federal Aviation Administration has requested public comment on renewing its information collection for monitoring exceedances of flightcrew duty and rest limits and related fatigue risk management activities. Aviation operators should review their current reporting and fatigue-management practices and consider whether the proposed burden and data needs are appropriate before the 29 June 2026 comment deadline.

4 May 2026, 18:13govinfo.govUnited States

US FAA Issues AD 2026-08-51 for AHD MBB-BK 117 D-3 Rotor Hub-Shaft Cracking

In April 2026 the US Federal Aviation Administration issued AD 2026-08-51 for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters, effective 14 May 2026, requiring inspection and possible replacement of the main rotor hub-shaft after a crack was discovered in service. Operators must promptly integrate the new inspection and replacement requirements into maintenance programmes and plan for potential hub-shaft replacements to avoid grounding risk and ensure continued airworthiness compliance while the rule remains open for comment.

3 May 2026, 14:47federalregister.govUnited States