Airbus A350s must get special inspections for pylon bolts

The US aviation regulator proposes a new rule requiring specific Airbus A350 airplanes to undergo special inspections. This is to check for deep spot faces on certain pylon bolts, which could indicate a safety issue.

Airlines operating these specific Airbus A350 models will now have to schedule and pay for these detailed inspections. This kind of directive often leads to temporary grounding of aircraft or increased maintenance costs, which can affect flight schedules and operational budgets. It also means that a specific manufacturing defect, identified by European regulators, is now being addressed globally.