Summary
The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to transport category airplanes that have one or more lavatories equipped with paper or linen waste receptacles. The existing AD currently requires installation of placards prohibiting smoking in the lavatory and disposal of cigarettes in the lavatory waste receptacles; establishment of a procedure to announce to airplane occupants that smoking is prohibited in the lavatories; installation of ashtrays at certain locations; and repetitive inspections to ensure that lavatory waste receptacle doors operate correctly. This proposed revision to the AD would extend the time an airplane may be operated with certain missing ashtrays. This proposed revision to the AD was prompted by the determination that certain compliance times required by the existing AD could be extended and still address fires occurring in lavatories caused by, among other things, the improper disposal of smoking materials in lavatorywaste receptacles. The proposed revision to the AD would continue to prevent possible fires that could result from smoking materials being dropped into lavatory paper or linen waste receptacles.