Older ATR72 airplanes need new maintenance checks to stay in the air

The US aviation regulator is requiring new or stricter maintenance checks for certain ATR72 airplanes. This means operators must update their existing maintenance programs to include these new rules.

Aviation safety relies on regular updates to maintenance schedules as planes age and new risks are identified. This change means that a specific type of regional aircraft, the ATR72, will now be subject to more rigorous inspections. This directly affects the operational costs for airlines that fly these planes, as they must invest more in maintenance to keep them airworthy.