Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) are a cornerstone of aviation safety legislation in Australia, providing comprehensive regulations to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations. Enacted in 1998 by the Australian Government, this Act was designed to address the need for a cohesive and enforceable regulatory framework to govern civil aviation safety, including aircraft design, manufacture, maintenance, and operation. The CAR 1998 is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is responsible for enforcing these regulations to ensure compliance and uphold the highest safety standards. One specific example of this regulatory oversight is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued for Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, which mandates modifications to the Litton Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU) shelf supports to prevent potential unsafe conditions during take-off, as notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 June 2002.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/138 applies to all Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes equipped with at least one Litton Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU), specifically those with Airbus modifications 24852, 25108, 25336, 26002, or 28218, but excluding aeroplanes with modifications 30650 or 30872 embodied during production or in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-25-1248. The AD mandates the modification of the ADIRU shelf supports to prevent contact with the ADIRU during vibrations generated during take-off, as specified in Compliance 2 of French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) Airworthiness Directive 2002-125(B). This directive, issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, is effective from 11 July 2002, and compliance must be achieved before 31 January 2005. The AD applies within the Commonwealth of Australia, and its implementation is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Key Provisions

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) pertains to all Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 series aeroplanes equipped with at least one Litton Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU) (Airbus modifications 24852 or 25108 or 25336 or 26002 or 28218 refer), except aeroplanes with modification 30650 or 30872 embodied during production or in accordance with Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin (SB) A320-25-1248 whilst in service. The directive mandates that the ADIRU shelf supports be modified in accordance with Compliance 2 of French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) Airworthiness Directive 2002-125(B) dated 6 March 2002. This action is necessary to address an unsafe condition identified by the DGAC, which reported that during take-off, the top of the ADIRU may come into contact with the upper shelf, leading to excessive ‘G’ forces in the vertical channel and the loss of certain parameters such as attitude, vertical speed, and ground speed. Operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the required modifications are completed in accordance with the instructions provided in the directive and before the specified compliance date of 31 January 2005. Failure to comply with this directive could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to significant operational disruptions and safety risks. Operators must also ensure that the modifications are completed before the AD becomes effective on 11 July 2002. This directive is legally binding and must be adhered to by all parties governed by the CAR 1998. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in civil or criminal penalties under the CAR 1998. The specific penalties for non-compliance may vary depending on the circumstances and the discretion of the relevant authorities. In general, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in fines, imprisonment, or both. The maximum penalties for civil aviation offences under the CAR 1998 can be substantial, with fines of up to $210,000 for individuals and $1,050,000 for corporations, as well as imprisonment for up to five years. Additionally, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in the suspension or revocation of an aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, which could ground the aircraft and prevent it from operating until the required modifications are completed.