New TPMS rules for large aircraft

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has put new rules designed to ensure “no tyre is below its minimum serviceable inflation pressure during operation.” On 5 March, EASA put the Notice of Proposed Amendment out for consultation, with a view to making a proposal to the commission in the first quarter of 2021.

According to EASA, the objective of this NPA is to decrease the risk of a hazardous or catastrophic tyre failure of a large aeroplane that is caused by inadequate tyre inflation pressure. It proposes to amend CS-25 to require applicants to provide a means to ensure that no tyre is below its minimum serviceable inflation pressure during operation – in other words a tyre pressure monitoring system or TPMS.

It also proposes to amend Part-26 and CS-26 to require the same objective to be implemented by operators of large aeroplanes, i.e. either by including in the aeroplane maintenance programme (AMP) tyre inflation pressure checks at a suitable time interval, or by installing a tyre pressure monitoring system. The proposed changes are expected to increase safety without any significant economic impact, and with no environmental or social impact.