Airbus A350s must now get regular leak checks on their pre-cooler exchangers

The US aviation regulator now requires all Airbus A350-941 and A350-1041 airplanes to undergo regular air leak tests on a specific engine part. If leaks are found, mechanics must inspect the surrounding thermal blankets for damage and replace the faulty part.

This rule means airlines operating these Airbus models will have new maintenance costs and potential downtime for inspections and repairs. It shifts the burden of detecting a specific engine fault from reactive repairs to proactive, mandatory checks. This change aims to prevent potential damage to critical engine components before it becomes a larger safety issue.