Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, were established to provide comprehensive regulations for ensuring the safety of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 within these Regulations outlines the authority for issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft. The problem or gap that these regulations were introduced to address includes ensuring that all aircraft operating within Australia meet stringent safety standards, including those related to the functionality and maintenance of critical systems such as the oxygen supply for crew members. One such AD, AD/B747/107, pertains to the oxygen system for Boeing 747 Series aeroplanes, particularly targeting the oxygen hoses for pilots and co-pilots on 747-400 series aircraft. This directive mandates the inspection and necessary corrective actions to ensure compliance with the technical requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration, with specific reference to FAA AD 92-02-06 Amdt 39-8142. The policy objective of this regulation is to enhance flight safety by addressing potential hazards related to the oxygen supply system in the cockpit.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as detailed in Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically addresses Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, focusing on the critical aspect of the aircraft's oxygen system for pilots and co-pilots. This legislation applies directly to all Model 747-400 series airplanes listed in the Requirement Document, ensuring that these aircraft meet stringent safety standards concerning their oxygen systems. The scope of this directive is to mandate actions in accordance with the technical requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration's AD 92-02-06 Amendment 39-8142, with a particular focus on the inspection, and if necessary, the replacement or rerouting of the oxygen hoses that supply oxygen to the captain’s and first officer’s oxygen mask stowage boxes. Compliance with this directive is crucial, and it has a specific effective date of 31 May 1992 for Australian registered aircraft, aligning with international safety standards while ensuring local regulatory adherence. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin SB 747-35A2075 Revision 1 further references this directive, underscoring the importance of these safety measures. This regulation ensures that the specified aircraft maintain operational safety and compliance with both national and international aviation safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, outlines the requirements for the Boeing 747 Series aeroplanes, particularly the 747-400 series (Section 4/92). The directive mandates that the oxygen system, more specifically the hoses supplying oxygen to the pilots and co-pilots' oxygen masks, must adhere to certain technical requirements. These requirements are in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 92-02-06 Amendment 39-8142, with reference to Boeing Alert Service Bulletin (SB) 747-35A2075 Revision 1 (Section 4/92). Compliance with these regulations is crucial for ensuring the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. The primary obligations imposed by this directive are the inspection, replacement, or rerouting of the oxygen hoses as specified in the Requirement Document (Section 4/92). This directive applies to all Model 747-400 series airplanes listed in the Requirement Document. The compliance date for Australian registered aircraft has been revised to 31 May 1992 (Section 4/92). This ensures that the oxygen systems on these aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to prevent any potential failures that could compromise the safety of the flight crew. Failure to comply with the provisions of this directive could result in serious consequences. Although the specific penalties or consequences for non-compliance are not explicitly stated in the text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance could lead to significant civil or criminal penalties under the broader Civil Aviation Act 1988. This is because non-compliance with airworthiness directives is a serious breach of aviation safety regulations, and such breaches can result in hefty fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, or even criminal charges for those responsible. In summary, the directive under Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 mandates that Boeing 747-400 series aeroplanes undergo specific inspections and potential modifications to their oxygen systems to ensure the safety of the pilots and co-pilots. Non-compliance with these requirements could lead to severe penalties, including potential criminal charges, highlighting the importance of adhering to these safety directives.