FAA proposes rule to overhaul small plane safety standards

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a rule Wednesday to overhaul safety standards for small airplanes.

{mosads}The rule would create performance-based standards for airplanes that seat 19 passengers or fewer and weigh 19,000 pounds or less at takeoff — planes that are typically used for recreation, training, personal travel and limited commercial applications.

The rule would create additional certification standards to reduce loss of control accidents and severe icing conditions. Manufacturers would be required to create a way to detect these icy conditions.

“This proposal would improve safety, reduce costs, and leverage innovation to ensure the highest level of safety is designed and built into small airplanes,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a news release. “General aviation is vital to the U.S. economy, and this proposal would benefit manufacturers, pilots and the general aviation community as a whole.”

FAA said the benefits of the proposed rule are expected to outweigh the $3.9 million cost from 2017 to 2036.

The public has 60 days to comment.