AD/General/74 Amdt 1 Front Seat Occupant Restraint Installation (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/GENERAL/74 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Aircraft - General

AD/GENERAL/74 Amdt 1 Front Seat Occupant Restraint Installation 3/2007

Applicability:

All aircraft other than lighter than air aircraft.

Requirement:

Unless already accomplished, install an approved safety harness consisting of a lap belt and at least a single shoulder strap at each flight crew station and each cockpit front seat.

Note 1:  FAA AC 21-34 gives guidance on acceptable harness installations.

Note 2:  The restraint system for each crewmember seat must allow the crewmember, when seated with the safety harness fastened, to perform all functions necessary for flight operations.

Compliance:

Prior to 1 March 1996.

This Amendment becomes effective on 15 March 2007.

Background:

The value of upper torso restraint for a vastly improved chance of survival from an emergency landing is well documented.  Most aircraft on the Australian register have been required to be fitted with upper torso restraint for front seat occupants for many years.  This Directive is raised to ensure that front seat occupants in all Australian registered aircraft are afforded the same level of protection.

This amendment deletes reference to a cancelled Airworthiness Directive and adds reference to FAA AC 21-34 as guidance material.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective August 1995.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

2 February 2007