Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, -300, and -900 series airplanes; and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during the frame of flight test clearance process, a detailed analysis of air data reference (ADR) failure scenarios led to the identification that compliance requirements for loads and handling qualities throughout the flight envelope could be impaired in case of dispatch with one ADR inoperative (master minimum equipment list (MMEL) item 34-10-01) during the maximum interval allowed by the current MMEL. This AD requires revising the operator's existing FAA-approved minimum equipment list (MEL) for the air data/inertial reference system, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.