Federal Aviation Administration Passes New Rule Intended to Prevent Fuel Tank Explosions

By Aaron Poehler

Published on July 18, 2008

12 years after TWA Flight 800 from New York to Paris exploded off Long Island, killing 230, the FAA has passed a rule intended to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

The rule requires air carriers to use equipment designed to clear dangerous, potentially explosive vapors from the fuel tanks of all aircraft built after 1991, as well as all newly-manufactured aircraft. Around 55 percent of the nation's current airliner fleet is expected to be affected by the ruling -- over 2700 aircraft. Air carriers will have nine years to retrofit existing aircraft, while manufacturers must be in full compliance by 2010.

The FAA's decision was hailed by air safety advocates, although many criticized the long delay in passing the rule. Although the National Transportation Safety Board suggested within five months of the airliner's crash that a similar regulation be implemented to address the type of fuel tank explosion that downed TWA Flight 800, opposition from airline industry lobbyists and trade associations concerned about potential costs had kept the rule at bay. In the 12 years since TWA Flight 800 exploded 12 minutes after takeoff on July 17, 1996, the crashes of one airliner in Thailand and one in India have been attributed to fuel tank explosions.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters estimated the newly required fuel tank upgrades would cost air carriers between $92,000 and $311,000 per aircraft.

 

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