FAA Proposes Stricter A320 Door Inspections for 1,924 U.S. Jets
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The FAA proposed a new airworthiness directive for 1,924 Airbus A320 family jets to address door stop fitting cracks, increasing inspection frequency.
Key Takeaways
- •Affects 1,924 U.S.-registered Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft.
- •Mandates repetitive inspections of door stop fittings for cracks at fuselage frames 66 and 68.
- •Supersedes existing AD 2022-15-05 following new safety findings reported by EASA.
- •Becomes effective January 13, 2026, increasing maintenance requirements for operators.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) for certain Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 models, mandating more frequent inspections to address potential cracking in door stop fittings. The proposed rule, which affects 1,924 aircraft on the U.S. registry, underscores a continued focus on aircraft structural integrity, particularly within aging fleets.
The new directive aims to supersede an existing rule, AD 2022-15-05, by expanding the scope and frequency of required checks. This action follows a prompt from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which issued its own directive, EASA AD 2024-0210, after new findings of cracks were discovered. The core issue centers on the door stop fitting holes at Fuselage Frame (FR) 66 and 68. According to the FAA, undetected cracking in these areas could ultimately reduce the structural integrity of the airplane.
Regulatory and Technical Details
The proposed FAA rule requires operators to perform repetitive Rototest or High Frequency Eddy Current (HFEC) inspections on the specified door stop fittings. These non-destructive testing methods are designed to detect cracks before they can propagate to a critical length. The directive is part of a series of regulatory actions addressing this specific issue, which has been monitored by European authorities for several years, dating back to EASA AD 2016-0238.
The A320 family is one of the most widely operated aircraft series globally. According to Airbus fleet data, over 11,493 units are currently in service with more than 375 operators worldwide. As of January 2026, total deliveries for the family reached 12,487 aircraft. In the United States, American Airlines is the largest operator with a fleet of 487 A320 family jets. The new AD will therefore have a significant operational impact, requiring airlines to integrate these enhanced inspections into their established maintenance programs.
The final rule, detailed in the Federal Register, specifies that the new inspection requirements will become mandatory on January 13, 2026. This gives affected airlines a window to plan for the increased maintenance workload and associated costs.
Broader Industry Context
This regulatory action occurs amid heightened scrutiny of aircraft fuselage and door integrity across the industry. While the A320 issue is related to metal fatigue over time, it aligns with a broader trend of regulators taking proactive measures to prevent structural failures. The directive also highlights the global nature of aviation safety, where findings and directives from one major authority like EASA often lead to harmonized actions by the FAA to ensure a consistent safety standard for aircraft operated worldwide.
The challenge of managing aging aircraft is a persistent theme in commercial aviation. Fatigue cracking is a known risk in airframes that have accumulated a high number of flight cycles. Repetitive inspection mandates, like the one proposed for the A320 family, are a primary tool used by regulators to manage this risk and ensure aircraft can continue to operate safely throughout their extended service lives. While essential for safety, these ADs invariably increase the maintenance burden and operational costs for airlines.
What Comes Next
With the effective date set for January 2026, U.S. operators of the affected Airbus A320 family aircraft must now prepare to comply with the updated inspection protocols. This involves scheduling downtime for aircraft, training maintenance personnel on the specific HFEC procedures, and documenting compliance as required by the FAA. The public docket for this rulemaking (FAA-2025-0758) contains the complete history of the proposal and final rule, providing transparency into the regulatory process.
Why This Matters
This Airworthiness Directive is a critical reminder of the continuous, data-driven process of aviation safety oversight. It demonstrates the close collaboration between international regulators and highlights the industry-wide focus on addressing structural fatigue in widely used aircraft. For airlines, the directive translates to increased maintenance costs and logistical planning, while for the flying public, it represents a proactive step to ensure the continued airworthiness of the global A320 fleet.
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Written by Ujjwal Sukhwani
Aviation News Editor & Industry Analyst delivering clear coverage for a worldwide audience. Covers flight operations, safety regulations, and market trends with expert analysis.
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