Freestream Aircraft

Friday, 24 July 2026

FAA mandates revised wing-spar inspections on King Air 350 fleet

The FAA has issued a fresh Beechcraft King Air 350 airworthiness directive.

The rule covers Textron Aviation Model B300 and B300C aircraft. It responds to a manufacturer revision of inspection intervals for cracks in wing spar and supporting structure components. It requires every affected operator to adopt those revised intervals.

The published action is a final rule with a parallel request for comments. It becomes effective on 10 August 2026. Operators must revise the airworthiness limitations section of the aircraft maintenance manual, or the instructions for continued airworthiness, and update their approved maintenance and inspection programme to match.

The FAA numbered the rule AD 2026-15-05. The Federal Register document number is 2026-15006, published on 24 July 2026, under docket FAA-2026-7223.

The B300 is the type-certificate designation for the Beechcraft King Air 350 twin turboprop, and B300C is the King Air 350C cargo variant. Both are current-production airframes under the King Air 360 marketing name that Textron Aviation adopted in 2020. The type is the largest single-cabin King Air derivative and one of the most common twin-turboprop platforms in owner-operator hands. A large installed fleet operates under Part 91 and Part 135 in North America, Europe and the Middle East. The revised intervals apply to serial-number ranges specified inside the AD text.

Owners and operators should confirm whether their airframe is in scope before the 10 August effective date. The Federal Register document lists the applicable serial numbers and the manufacturer inspection references that operators must incorporate into an existing continuous airworthiness maintenance programme.

Source: FAA final rule AD 2026-15-05, Federal Register document 2026-15006, 24 July 2026.


Also today

FAA sets nationwide mobile IFR clearance rollout for February 2027

The FAA has confirmed nationwide deployment of Mobile Clearance in February 2027. The service lets general and business aviation pilots request IFR departure clearances through ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot, replacing the traditional radio call. Operational evaluation began at three Houston-area airports in May 2026 and this summer extended to Appleton and New Century AirCenter. A fall 2026 expansion will add Kansas City Downtown, Johnson County/Olathe, Austin Executive, Georgetown and San Marcos, and will include an in-app IFR-cancellation option. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford framed the initiative as a text-based fix for readback error.

Source: FAA press release, 23 July 2026; Aviation International News, 23 July 2026.

Textron advances Cessna Citation Gen3 light jets toward certification

Textron Aviation confirmed certification progress on the Cessna Citation Gen3 light-jet range at Farnborough. The CJ4 Gen3 is in flight test and is targeted for FAA type certification within 2026. The CJ3 Gen3 is scheduled to fly soon and enter service in 2027. The M2 Gen3 has logged about 20 flight-test hours and is also on a 2027 entry-into-service track. Every Gen3 airframe carries Garmin Emergency Autoland as standard, and the CJ4 Gen3 flies with Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics. Chris Hearne, Textron Aviation senior vice president for engineering and programmes, described the Gen3 range as a step up in cockpit experience.

Source: Textron Aviation press release, 21 July 2026.