Airbus helicopters must replace emergency windows that are too hard to open

The US aviation regulator proposes that certain Airbus helicopters replace their emergency exit windows. It turns out the windows require too much force to jettison, which means people might not be able to escape in an emergency.

Helicopter operators will now have to pay for new windows and seals on their EC 155B and EC155B1 models. This is a safety fix, not a performance upgrade. The change means that in an emergency, passengers and crew will actually be able to open the escape hatches.