Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended, contain provisions for Airworthiness Directives, which are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address identified safety issues in civil aviation. One such Airworthiness Directive is AD/A320/165, issued in January 2005 to address a safety concern with the parking brake system on Airbus A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes. The directive was enacted to ensure the safety of aircraft operations by mandating modifications to the park brake system to prevent the recurrence of incidents like the one where an operator experienced a loss of parking brake at the holding point of the runway, leading to a runway excursion. The directive requires the modification of the park brake system in accordance with specific instructions, and compliance is mandatory by 31 March 2009. This Airworthiness Directive was developed to rectify the identified unsafe condition and was issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the CASR 1998 by the delegate of CASA, James Coyne, on 1 December 2004.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as specified in Part 39 - 105, governs the safety standards for aviation in Australia and includes Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). One such AD, AD/A320/165, specifically pertains to the Airbus A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, excluding those that have already incorporated Airbus Mod 30062 during production or Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A320-32-1201 Rev 1 in service. The directive mandates the modification of the park brake system to prevent a loss of parking brake functionality, which was identified as a safety concern following a runway excursion incident. This requirement must be met in accordance with the instructions provided in Airbus SB A320-32-1201 Rev 1 or a later approved revision, with compliance necessary by 31 March 2009. The AD becomes effective from 20 January 2005, and its application extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that the specified aircraft meet the outlined safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Airbus A319, A320, and A321 Series aeroplanes, numbered AD/A320/165, specifically mandates the modification of the park brake system. According to section 1, the AD applies to all Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes except those that have either Airbus Mod 30062 incorporated during production or Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) A320-32-1201 Rev 1 incorporated in service. The requirement section stipulates that the park brake system must be modified in accordance with the accomplishment instructions provided in Airbus SB A320-32-1201 Rev 1 or any later approved revision. This modification is intended to correct an unsafe condition identified by Airbus, where an operator experienced a loss of parking brake at the holding point of the runway, leading to a runway excursion. The compliance section sets a deadline of no later than 31 March 2009 for the required modification to be completed. The AD imposes obligations on the operators of Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes, mandating that they ensure the park brake system is modified as specified. The directive requires adherence to the instructions provided in Airbus SB A320-32-1201 Rev 1 or any subsequent approved revision to address the unsafe condition. Operators must ensure that the modification is carried out within the specified timeframe to maintain compliance with the AD. Additionally, operators are expected to maintain records of the modifications performed to demonstrate compliance with the AD. Failure to comply with the AD may result in various civil and criminal consequences. While the AD does not explicitly state penalties, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to severe repercussions. This may include the grounding of the aircraft, which could result in substantial financial loss and operational disruptions. Furthermore, there could be civil penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which may include fines. In extreme cases, criminal charges could be brought against individuals responsible for the non-compliance, leading to imprisonment. It is essential for operators to adhere to the AD to avoid these severe consequences and to ensure the continued safe operation of the aircraft.