The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has unveiled a proposal to modernise the certification process for commercial aircraft, introducing new performance-based airworthiness standards designed to speed up approvals while maintaining stringent safety requirements.
The proposed changes, which would update decades-old certification regulations, aim to reduce regulatory complexity, accommodate emerging aviation technologies, and align the FAA’s certification framework more closely with that of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The initiative is expected to benefit major aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier, whose aircraft typically require certification from both regulators before entering commercial service.
According to the FAA, the revised rules would replace many prescriptive design requirements under 14 CFR Part 25 with performance-based standards that define the level of safety an aircraft must achieve rather than specifying how manufacturers must meet those requirements. The agency said the approach would reduce the need for exemptions, special conditions and equivalent safety findings that often delay certification of new aircraft designs.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford described the proposal as a significant step toward supporting innovation while preserving the industry’s strong safety record.
“This is one of the most innovative moments in aviation, not just for America but also for our international partners. Sharing information and fostering conversations about safety allows us to strengthen our international partnerships and ensure aviation systems evolve safely and efficiently,” Bedford said.
The proposal also advances the FAA’s long-standing collaboration with EASA to harmonise certification standards, a move expected to reduce duplicate engineering assessments and simplify approvals for manufacturers seeking certification in both the United States and Europe.
EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet said closer regulatory cooperation is essential as aircraft technology continues to evolve.
“As aviation evolves at an unprecedented pace, strong cooperation between regulators is essential to maintain the highest level of safety. By working together, sharing expertise and aligning our approaches, EASA and the FAA can support innovation while preserving public confidence in aviation,” he said.
The FAA stressed that the proposal does not represent a relaxation of oversight but rather a modernisation of regulations originally developed for conventional aircraft designs. The agency noted that future aircraft programmes will increasingly incorporate advanced composite materials, digital flight systems, higher levels of automation and sustainable propulsion technologies, making more flexible certification standards necessary.
The proposed rule forms part of the FAA’s broader effort to strengthen and modernise aircraft certification following sweeping reforms introduced after the Boeing 737 MAX accidents. Those reforms expanded regulatory oversight, increased independent technical reviews and implemented certification changes mandated by the U.S. Congress.
If adopted, the updated framework is expected to make certification more efficient while ensuring new generations of commercial aircraft continue to meet the highest international safety standards.
