US wants fuel tank modifications on Airbus planes = = = = Monday November 17, 1:49 PM EST = WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Following the lead of French authorities, = U.S. regulators proposed on Monday that airlines make fuel tank modificat= ions on hundreds of Airbus jets to reduce any chance of explosion or fire= =2E The Federal Aviation Administration proposed an airworthiness directive t= hat would require airlines and the manufacturer to modify wiring on probe= s that measure fuel quantity in center and wing tanks. Some planes would = require additional changes. European-based Airbus (EAD) last alerted airlines in June to take those s= teps voluntarily. French aviation authorities made the changes mandatory = for its fleet in an order issued in October. The FAA reviewed that direct= ive and is proposing to replicate it for 468 Airbus A319 and A320 planes = flown by U.S. airlines. = The proposal could cost the industry up to $3.3 million, the FAA said. Th= e agency would give airlines 4,000 flight hours or 30 months after the di= rective takes effect to make the changes on each plane. Fuel tank directives have been issued for certain Boeing Co. aircraft sin= ce TWA Flight 800 exploded over the Atlantic in July 1996. Investigators concluded that TWA 800, a Paris-bound 747, was destroyed so= on after leaving New York by an explosion most likely caused by an electr= ical short that ignited flammable vapors in the aircraft's center fuel ta= nk. Previous FAA fuel tank directives have focused on potential wiring proble= ms and risks posed by overheated fuel pumps. Boeing has tested an on-board product that would reduce volatile fuel-air= mixtures in tanks. Airbus is also working on that technology but is furt= her behind than its U.S. rival, regulators have said. = =A92003 Reuters Limited. = Roger EWROPS