Helicopter engines must follow the manufacturer's new, tougher maintenance rules

The US aviation regulator is proposing to make maintenance rules stricter for certain Safran helicopter engines. This means operators of these helicopters will have to perform more frequent or thorough checks to address an identified safety issue.

When an engine manufacturer finds a safety problem, it updates its own maintenance instructions. This rule makes sure every operator of these specific helicopter engines follows those new, stricter instructions. It means higher operating costs for these helicopters, but it also means they are safer to fly.