WASHINGTON PARIS - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has approved special conditions for the Airbus A 321 XLR after concerns were raised that a novel fuel tank could pose fire risks in its newest narrow-body jet.
In order to increase the range of the A 321 XLR, a rival planemaker told European regulators in 2021 that the architecture of a fuel tank would be modified. The FAA said in a filing it will require the lower half of the A 321 XLR fuselage be resistant to fire penetration to protect passengers.
The FAA publication provides more clarity regarding the development of the new jet, which has been delayed to 2024. Industry sources say that the delivery schedules of the longer-range single-aisle jet had been left uncertain while regulators pondered how to treat the novel design.
Airbus said Thursday authorities are applying more scrutiny across the board on all certification activities in the current environment, and that entry-into-service is scheduled in Q 2 2024 to meet certification requirements. Airbus has been focusing on certification of the RCT Rear Center Tank design for the XLR. Airbus believes that there won't be a significant impact on the XLR's unique range advantage in the single-aisle segment. The FAA said special conditions are needed because the new Airbus twin engine plane has an RCT in the fuselage rather than in its wings.
The tank is located in an area of the lower fuselage that partially replaces the aft cargo compartment of earlier aircraft designs.
The FAA said that the design was not envisioned by its requirements for insulation installations that raise post-crash fire safety protections and ensure an additional barrier between occupants and an external post-crash fire.
The FAA said that special conditions are necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.