FAA Softens Order for Plane Insulation

The Federal Aviation Administration has decided to not order as extensive a replacement of aircraft thermal insulation as it first announced, industry sources said. The FAA also will require that only new aircraft meet a second, more stringent burn-through test designed to assure passengers more time to escape a burning plane, sources said. Nonetheless, the FAA soon will order replacement of thermal insulation on more than 700 airliners. The FAA in August had recommended that insulation on almost all airliners be replaced, pending completion of new tests.