Jet engine makers can now use new fan blade materials, if they prove them safe

The US aviation regulator has updated safety rules for jet engines. This means engine manufacturers can now use new materials, like woven composites, in fan blades, as long as they meet new safety standards.

For decades, new jet engine designs had to fit into safety rules written for older materials and manufacturing methods. This change means that companies can now get approval for genuinely new designs, like fan blades made from woven composites, based on their own specific safety properties. This opens the door for lighter, more fuel-efficient engines that were previously difficult to certify.