NTSB Recommends FAA Update Accelerate-Stop Distance Requirements

The NTSB recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration require the appropriate airplane manufacturers to determine by tests, simulation, and/or analyses the accelerate-stop distances for all turbojet transport category airplanes currently in service as required by 14 CFR 25.109 (pre-amendment 42) using demonstrated certification stopping performance data from worn brakes and current procedures prescribed for rejected takeoffs. The recommendation also includes accounting for demonstrated pilot reaction times and for deceleration device reaction times, such as engine spool-down time and brake force ramp-up time in the determination of accelerate-stop distances and adding a distance safety margin for in-service variations as described in advisory circular 25-7 (chapter 2, paragraphs 11.c.12.iv and vii) to be equivalent to at least a distance traveled in 2 seconds at an appropriate brake-on speed or v1 speed.