Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend the airworthiness standards applicable to transport category airplanes to clarify that flying at or below the design maneuvering speed does not allow a pilot to make multiple large control inputs in one airplane axis or single full control inputs in more than one airplane axis at a time without endangering the airplane's structure. This proposed regulation is the result of an accident investigation and responds to a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation. The results of the accident investigation indicate that many pilots might have a general misunderstanding of what the design maneuvering speed (V<INF>A</INF>) is and the extent of structural protection that exists when an airplane is operated at speeds below its V<INF>A</INF>. This action is being taken to prevent this misunderstanding from causing or contributing to a future accident.