Washington/Paris, Dec. 8 (BNA) The US Federal Aviation Administration said it has approved special terms for the Airbus A321XLR after concerns were raised that a new type of fuel tank could pose fire hazards in the latest narrow-body jet.
Reuters reports that rival Boeing told European regulators in 2021 that a fuel tank architecture intended to increase the A321XLR’s range “has several potential risks.”
The FAA said in a filing that it would require the lower half of the A321XLR’s fuselage, which spans the tank’s longitudinal area, to be fire-penetrating-resistant to protect occupants.
SM