Aerospace engine makers work with European regulators after delays in U.S. rules

US Aerospace

14/02/2023 16:55

By Allison Lampert
       Feb 14 (Reuters) - Aerospace companies are pushing U.S.
regulators to simplify domestic rulemaking, after delays led the
country's aircraft engine makers to a European agency to meet a
global emissions standard on time, executives and regulators
said.
    Raytheon Technologies Corp's  RTX.N  Pratt & Whitney and
General Electric Co  GE.N  went to Europe's aviation regulator
to comply with the United Nation standard on non-volatile
particulate matter (nvPM), set to curb soot particles.
    The workaround with Europe did not delay jet engine
deliveries, but did add costs and work to already taxed
suppliers as travel has rebounded, a senior industry source
familiar with the matter told Reuters. The source, who asked not
to be identified, could not specify the costs.        
   Separately, European planemaker Airbus SE  AIR.PA  is
tempering the pace of planned production increases due in part
to supply chain stress. 
    The engine makers worked with the European Union Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) after combined efforts by the Federal
Aviation Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency
missed the U.N. standard's Jan. 1, 2023, deadline. The
workaround is possible because of the interconnected nature of
the global aerospace industry, but the situation is not ideal. 
   It comes as Washington's traditional aviation leadership has
grown more diluted after the crisis over the design and approval
of Boeing's 737 MAX. 
    "Delayed adoption of the (U.N.) rule highlights the
importance of streamlining the rulemaking process in today's
global market to ensure U.S. competitiveness," said David
Silver, vice president of civil aviation for the Aerospace
Industries Association (AIA), an American trade association
representing manufacturers and suppliers of aircraft.
    AIA warned in 2021 about delayed rulemaking involving the
U.S. FAA and EPA.
    EASA said it went ahead with paperwork for the U.S.
enginemakers and the FAA supported it.
    A GE spokesperson said the company complied with EASA's
rules while Pratt referred questions to AIA.
    In 2020, the U.N. International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) adopted the standard. But ICAO cannot impose its will on
governments, so the United States, Europe and other countries
must translate the global engine standards into national rules. 
  
    It was first vetted by the EPA, which produced a rule
effective Dec. 23, 2022. 
    But the changes must also be signed off by the FAA, which
said it "expects to complete the final rule later in 2023," so
companies can certify their engines domestically.
    A U.S. government source said the rulemaking process was
delayed because of work by the agencies on a separate ICAO
carbon emissions standard for aircraft.
 (Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal. Additional reporting
by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by David Gregorio)
 ((Allison.Lampert@thomsonreuters.com; 514-796-4212; Reuters
Messaging: allison.lampert.reuters.com@reuters.net))