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The FAA plans to mandate manufacturer-recommended swaps of certain IAE V2500 high pressure compressor (HPC) stage 3 rotor blades to address durability issues linked to in-service incidents.

A Nov. 18 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) lays out a plan that would have operators swap HPC stage 3 blade sets during the next scheduled shop visit. Affected engines are found on Airbus A320ceos and Embraer KC-390s.

The new blades have an improved shroud coating that reduces the risk of fractures, the FAA said. IAE developed the new blades in response to “multiple” reports of failed blades that caused engine fires, inflight shutdowns, aborted takeoffs, and unscheduled engine removals, the agency added.

If adopted, the FAA’s rule would affect nearly 1,500 engines on U.S.-registered aircraft—essentially the entire V2500-A5 population. The similar global population is about 5,540 engines, according to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database. Adoption of any FAA mandate by other regulators is likely.

The directive does not reference any service bulletins or provide a hard deadline for the blade swaps. A full, 31-blade set of V2500 HPC Stage 3 blades costs $30,000, the FAA estimates.

“The NPRM is consistent with guidance previously provided to operators and will be implemented during regularly scheduled maintenance,” Pratt & Whitney said, declining to answer questions about the issue. The company owns 61% of the IAE joint venture.

Durability issues with the V2500 HPC blades date back years. IAE introduced a redesigned blade in 2005 to address fractures linked to specific wear patterns combined with impact events, such as bird strikes. The redesigned blade featured new, stiffened clappers, or mid-span shrouds.