EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS
EASA Part-26 March 2026 Edition: New Cargo Fire and Helicopter Fuel Rules Now Applicable
In March 2026, EASA published a substantially revised edition of the Easy Access Rules (EAR) for Additional Airworthiness Specifications (Part-26), consolidating Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2954 and ED Decision 2024/010/R (Issue 5 of CS-26 and GM-26). The document grows from 73 to 88 pages and expands the jurisdictional scope to aircraft “operated by an aircraft operator established, residing or with a principal place of business in the territory to which the Treaties apply” — a tighter and legally more precise formulation than the previous text.
Key regulatory changes include: (i) new cargo fire protection requirements for commercial air transport aircraft; (ii) helicopter fuel system crash resistance under revised Point 26.440, with staggered compliance deadlines in 2026, 2031, and 2039 depending on fleet vintage; and (iii) updated damage tolerance inspection (DTI) incorporation requirements for ageing aircraft structural integrity programmes, with a critical deadline of 26 February 2026 for certain major changes already passed. CAMOs and design organisations should verify that maintenance programmes, compliance monitoring procedures, and management of change documentation are updated accordingly.
The expanded applicability clause, drawn directly from Regulation (EU) 2024/2954, has implications for non-EU registered aircraft operated by EU-established operators . Continuing airworthiness compliance managers should review whether fleet segments previously considered out of scope now fall within Part-26 obligations.
https://www.aviathrust.com/article/easa-part-26-march-2026-update-changes-airlines-camo
EU ETS Reform for Aviation: Airlines Urge Caution Before July Proposals
European airline leaders have publicly called on EU regulators to avoid measures that undermine aviation’s recovery ahead of the European Commission’s expected July 2026 proposals for updating the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for aviation. The current ETS framework for aviation applies exclusively to intra-European routes. The forthcoming reform proposals are expected to address whether to extend scope and how to interact with the ICAO CORSIA scheme.
Separately, the Airlines for Europe (A4E/AIRE) Aviation Policy Programme has urged the Commission to: (i) extend SAF purchase flexibility so EU airlines can claim SAF uplift outside the EU under ETS; (ii) require fuel suppliers to issue Proof of Sustainability (PoS/PoC) certificates at least three months before year-end; and (iii) grant operators direct access to the Union Database (UDB) for transparent SAF accounting. The interaction between CORSIA obligations and ETS remains a key legal question for EU air carriers operating internationally.
https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/2026/03/european-airline-leaders-call-for-regulators-to-stop-taking-aviation-progress-for-granted
https://aire.aero/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AIRE-Aviation-Policy-Program-update-2026-8.pdf
EU261 Passenger Rights Reform — European Parliament Transport Committee Advances Negotiating Position
Reform of EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261) on passenger rights remains active in the legislative pipeline. The European Parliament’s Transport Committee adopted negotiating guidelines in October 2025, and trilogues with the Council are expected to progress through 2026. Among the contested issues are the scope of “extraordinary circumstances” as an exemption to compensation, the threshold flight delay triggering compensation, and the treatment of connection rights for interline itineraries. EU-based carriers should monitor the reform as it may materially alter compensation liability calculations.
EASA New Air Mobility: ED Decision 2026/002/R in Effect
EASA ED Decision 2026/002/R, issued 2 February 2026, amends AMC and GM to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 (continuing airworthiness) to accommodate electric- and hybrid-propulsion aeroplanes and helicopters and non-conventional aircraft. The amendments support implementation of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/111 and are designed to provide a safety and compliance level equivalent to that for conventional aircraft. Design organisations and CAMOs working with eVTOL and electric aircraft platforms should review AMC & GM to Part-M (Issue 2, Amendment 9) and the amended articles to Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014.
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/agency-decisions/ed-decision-2026002r
US DEVELOPMENTS
FAA Boeing 737-8/9/8200 Airworthiness Directive Adopted (07 April 2026)
The FAA published an Airworthiness Directive (AD) in the Federal Register (Vol. 91, No. 66, 7 April 2026) adopting a new AD for all Boeing 737-8, 737-9 and 737-8200 model airplanes, effective 7 April 2026. This AD is relevant to EU operators because EASA will typically mirror FAA mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) for type-certificated Boeing aircraft. EU operators and lessors holding or managing 737 MAX variants should monitor the corresponding EASA AD issuance.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-07/pdf/2026-06716.pdf
FAA Drone BVLOS Regulations (Part 108 / Part 146): Status Update
The FAA’s proposed Part 108 (Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations for highly automated drone systems) and Part 146 (Automated Data Service Providers) are expected to be finalised in early-to-mid 2026 following an August 2025 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and a presidential executive order mandating finalisation within 240 days. Part 108 eliminates the requirement for individual flight-by-flight waivers for BVLOS, introduces new operator roles (Operations Supervisors, Flight Coordinators), and imposes work-hour limitations analogous to manned aviation standards.
EU relevance: while these are US domestic rules, they will set a global benchmark for BVLOS regulatory design. EASA is simultaneously advancing U-space regulation and eVTOL/new air mobility frameworks. EU drone operators should track Part 108 as a reference for incoming EASA rulemaking and note that cross-border drone operations touching US-registered operators may already engage Part 108 requirements.
https://dronetrust.com/blogs/articles/new-faa-drone-rules-2026