AD/REC/1 Amdt 3 — Maintenance of Cockpit Voice Recording Systems (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 repeals Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/REC/1 Amdt 2 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.001 (1) of CASR 1998 and subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct an 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.

Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recording Systems

AD/REC/1 Amdt 3 Maintenance of Cockpit
Voice Recording Systems 5/2016

Applicability:

For aircraft to which Part 42 of CASR 1998 applies:

All aircraft with cockpit voice recording systems installed in compliance with Civil Aviation Order 20.18 (CAO 20.18).

Requirement:

Check and functionally test the cockpit voice recorder installation as follows:

1.    Confirm the proper recording of:

(a)   voice communications transmitted from, or received in, the aircraft by radio; and

(b)   all conversation, audio signals from alerting or warning devices and general sounds on the flight deck; and

(c)   voice communications of flight crew members on the flight deck, using the aircraft’s interphone system; and

(d)   voice or audio signals identifying navigation or approach aids introduced into a headset or speaker; and

(e)   voice communications of flight crew to cabin crew and/or passengers using the passenger address system, if a recording channel has been utilised.

2.    Confirm the proper functioning of the bulk erase inhibit logic.

3.    Maintain the underwater locating device, if fitted, in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.

4.    Check the operation of crash sensor switches, in accordance with the manufacturer's procedures, in installations incorporating these switches in the cockpit voice recorder power feed.

Compliance:

For requirements 1, 2, 3 and 4, after 1 July 1988:

1.    For equipment utilising analogue technology (tape based), at intervals not exceeding 12 months or 2 000 hours time in service, whichever occurs first; or

2.    For equipment utilising digital technology (solid state based), at intervals not exceeding 24 calendar months; or

3.    For equipment maintained in accordance with an approved:

(a)   system of maintenance under regulation 42M of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988); or

(b) maintenance schedule under regulation 41 of CAR 1988; or

(c)   maintenance program under subregulation 42.140 of CASR 1998;

that incorporates instructions for the maintenance of the installed cockpit voice recorder that address requirements 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this AD in accordance with the requirements of that system of maintenance, maintenance schedule or maintenance program.

The effective date of this AD is 26 February 2016.

Background:

The maintenance procedures presently applied to some cockpit voice recording systems has been shown to be inadequate. Experience both in Australia and overseas has shown that the above maintenance periods will normally ensure the proper functioning of these systems.

Amendment 1 was administrative only and removed reference to the obsolete terms of Air Navigation Order (ANO) and Air Navigation Regulation (ANR). Reference to subregulation 43 (3) of the ANR was replaced by subregulations 39 (1) and 41 (1) of CAR 1988.

Amendment 2 was issued to incorporate the particular audio tracks required to be recorded and listed in CAO 103.20 in anticipation of the cancellation of that CAO. The amendment also acknowledged the increased reliability of modern digital solid state recorders and so extended the compliance time interval for testing. In addition, if modern aircraft have an approved system of maintenance, maintenance schedule or maintenance program that address the requirements of this AD, the intervals within those approved programs may be used for the purpose of compliance with this AD.

Amendment 3 is issued to limit the applicability of the AD to Part 42 aircraft only. This AD will be repealed after the requirements are incorporated into a future amendment of the Part 42 Manual of Standards.

Pieter van Dijk
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

22 February 2016