New directive targets taxi time limits to prevent engine surges in icy conditions.
A Delta A350-900 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) requiring updates to the aircraft flight manual (AFM) for all Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft due to an identified error related to taxi operations in freezing fog conditions.
Effective Aug. 5, AD 2025-13-03 mandates that operators revise the AFM to correct the maximum cumulative taxi time permitted in freezing fog. The FAA stated the manual’s incorrect values “could lead to multiple engine surges in a critical flight phase and result in loss of control of the airplane.”
The directive aligns with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0190, which first flagged the issue in October 2024. According to the FAA, “This AD was prompted by a determination that the applicable aircraft flight manual was providing an incorrect value for maximum cumulative taxi time in freezing fog conditions.”
The FAA estimates that 32 U.S.-registered aircraft are affected, with each revision expected to cost approximately $85 in labor. No parts are required to comply. Delta is the only U.S.-based A350 operator.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) submitted the only comment during the notice of proposed rulemaking period, expressing support for the directive without recommending changes.
To ensure clarity and proper implementation, the directive requires operators to “revise the applicable existing AFM by incorporating the applicable AFM DU revision,” as specified in the EASA directive. While operators must implement the revision, the FAA noted it does not require additional steps such as informing flight crews, stating that such actions “are already required by existing FAA operating regulations.”
Airlines must comply within the specified timeframe unless the required changes have already been completed.
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