Private companies that certify aircraft must now train their staff on ethics

The US aviation regulator will now require private companies that certify aircraft designs and parts to provide ethics training to their employees. This means the staff at these companies, who act on behalf of the government, will need regular instruction on how to avoid conflicts of interest.

For years, the US aviation regulator has relied on private companies to help certify aircraft. This system, called Organization Designation Authorization, lets company employees act as the regulator's representatives. After several high-profile incidents, the US Congress decided that these private employees needed formal ethics training, just like government staff. This change aims to prevent conflicts of interest and improve safety oversight.