Airbus planes can get a new landing gear part to stop repeated crack checks

The US aviation regulator is proposing a rule change for certain Airbus planes. This change would allow airlines to install a new landing gear part, which would eliminate the need for repeated inspections for cracks and damage.

Airlines currently have to pull planes out of service regularly to check for cracks in a specific landing gear component. This is expensive and time-consuming. The new part means less downtime for planes and lower maintenance costs for airlines. This is a small but concrete example of how design improvements can reduce the operational burden of safety regulations.