FAA Proposes Revised A320 Family Landing Gear Directive

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM), identified as Docket No. FAA-2025-1353, to address an unsafe condition affecting the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. This regulatory action serves to supersede the previous Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-25-06, which initially addressed concerns regarding the Main Landing Gear (MLG) door actuators. The revision significantly expands the applicability and definition of affected components, reflecting an intensified focus on component assembly quality within the supply chain.

The Unsafe Condition

The core safety issue centers on incorrectly assembled MLG door actuators. If these components malfunction, they can jam, potentially preventing the main landing gear from extending during the landing sequence. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) originally identified this risk, issuing EASA AD 2025-0158R1 to mandate corrective actions. The FAA’s current proposal aims to harmonize domestic regulations with these European standards, ensuring that operators of the Airbus A320 family—which includes over 12,000 aircraft in active service—adhere to consistent safety protocols.

For more information on the evolving regulatory landscape, operators may consult the FAA Airworthiness Directives Portal or review the originating guidance via the EASA Airworthiness Directives Database.

Industry and Stakeholder Impact

The mandate for inspection and eventual replacement of these actuators places a significant operational burden on airlines. Operators are now required to manage an expanded list of affected parts, which necessitates increased maintenance oversight and potential aircraft downtime. For the supply chain, the incident highlights a critical failure in quality control, with the actuator manufacturer likely facing heightened warranty and replacement demands. Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) providers will see a surge in demand as they execute the repetitive inspections—often required every 8 days or 5 flight cycles—until the permanent replacement of the defective units is finalized.

Technical Comparison: A320ceo vs A320neo

Note: Both generations utilize similar airframe components, meaning structural directives like the MLG door actuator issue affect both variants equally.

Technical Analysis

This development is part of a broader trend of increased regulatory scrutiny regarding Tier 2 and Tier 3 supplier manufacturing defects. Historically, the aviation industry has faced similar challenges, such as the A320neo engine Airworthiness Directive issues related to powdered metal defects in 2023 and 2024. Much like the Boeing 737 MAX rudder control system inspections of 2024, the current FAA directive emphasizes that assembly errors in critical flight systems require immediate, fleet-wide intervention to mitigate risk. The trajectory of this rulemaking suggests that regulators are moving toward more stringent, harmonized oversight of long-standing airframe components to prevent latent failures.

What Comes Next

The FAA has established a clear timeline for the rulemaking process. Public comments regarding Docket No. FAA-2025-1353 must be submitted by July 10, 2026. Following this comment period, the agency is expected to issue a final rule in late 2026. Airlines and MROs should prepare for the transition from repetitive inspections to the mandatory replacement of Group 1 actuators, as outlined in the Airbus A320 Family Official Page.

Why This Matters

This directive underscores the aviation industry's ongoing struggle to maintain rigorous assembly quality across global supply chains. For operators, it signals a period of heightened maintenance intensity that directly impacts fleet availability and operational costs. The move reinforces the necessity of strict regulatory alignment to ensure that safety standards remain uniform regardless of where an aircraft was manufactured or where it currently operates.