FAA Issues Airspace, Engine Safety Rules; EPA Eyes New York NOₓ RACT Plan

FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for Rolls-Royce BR700 Engines

The FAA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) covering all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model BR700-725A1-12 engines. The proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing time limits manual (TLM) to introduce new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited parts. According to the agency, this condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of the airplane.

The FAA explains that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) — the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union — had already issued EASA AD 2024-0136, dated July 11, 2024, to correct the same unsafe condition. The FAA is acting pursuant to its bilateral agreement with EASA after determining that the unsafe condition described is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. The proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the operator's existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program to incorporate the new or more restrictive instructions. Notably, while EASA AD 2024-0136 required that revision within 12 months of its effective date, the FAA's proposed AD would require the revision within 30 days after the effective date of the FAA AD — a significantly tighter compliance window. The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by August 31, 2026. The docket is FAA-2026-7219; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00404-E.

FAA Establishes Class E Airspace at Indiana Heliport

The FAA has finalized a rule establishing Class E airspace at Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital Heliport in Crown Point, Indiana. The rule establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.9-mile radius of the heliport. The agency states the action is the result of instrument procedures being developed for this airport to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-3764 in the Federal Register on April 9, 2026, and received no comments. The agency notes that after publication of the NPRM, an FAA database review found that an incorrect state abbreviation (OH) had been used in the legal description; the final rule replaces it with the correct state, IN. The agency characterizes this as a ministerial change that does not affect airspace dimensions or operating requirements, and found good cause that recirculating the NPRM for notice and comment was unnecessary. The rule amends 14 CFR part 71 and is effective at 0901 UTC on October 29, 2026. The FAA determined the rule involves routine technical regulations expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from compliance.

EPA Proposes to Approve New York NOₓ RACT Plan for Castleton Energy Center

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve a source-specific State Implementation Plan (SSSIP) revision submitted by New York State for the Castleton Energy Center, located at 1902 River Road, Castle-on-Hudson, New York 12033. The EPA proposes to find that the control option in the SSSIP revision constitutes Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) with respect to oxides of nitrogen (NOₓ) emissions from a combined-cycle combustion turbine generator with an associated heat recovery steam generator equipped with a duct burner, and a steam generator — identified as emission unit 1-0GTDB in the Facility's Clean Air Act Title V operating permit.

The EPA explains that ground-level ozone is a secondary air pollutant formed when precursors including NOₓ chemically react in the presence of sunlight, with formation potential highest during warmer months. In New York, the ozone season is generally considered to be between April 15 and October 15. The State of New York is located within the Ozone Transport Region (OTR) under CAA section 184, making it subject to statewide RACT requirements. The Facility is located in the OTR outside an area of nonattainment and has the potential to emit at least 50 tons per year of NOₓ, making it subject to RACT requirements. The EPA notes that the two relevant ozone NAAQS at issue are the 2008 standard (0.075 parts per million averaged over an 8-hour period) and the 2015 standard (0.070 parts per million averaged over an 8-hour period). The EPA proposes to determine that this action will not interfere with ozone NAAQS requirements and meets all applicable requirements of the Act. Comments must be received on or before August 14, 2026.

What to Watch

• August 14, 2026 — Comment deadline for EPA's proposed approval of New York's source-specific SIP revision for Castleton Energy Center (40 CFR part 52).
• August 31, 2026 — Comment deadline for FAA's proposed airworthiness directive for RRD Model BR700-725A1-12 engines (14 CFR part 39).
• October 29, 2026 — Effective date (0901 UTC) of FAA's final rule establishing Class E airspace at Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital Heliport, Crown Point, IN (14 CFR part 71).

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