AD/B747/111 - Evacuation System Packboards and Cover Assemblies

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted to ensure the safe operation of civil aviation in Australia. This legislative instrument addresses a gap in safety protocols by establishing a schedule of airworthiness directives, which are binding regulatory requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. The directive in question, AD/B747/111, pertains to the evacuation system packboards and cover assemblies for Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, particularly those identified in specific Boeing Service Bulletins and Airworthiness Service Bulletins. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Australian Parliament, introduced this regulation to ensure that emergency escape systems function correctly, following reports of malfunctions in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) jurisdiction. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of passengers and crew by mandating specific actions in accordance with international safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety and airworthiness directives for aviation operations within Australia, with this particular legislative instrument focusing on Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. The regulation applies to specific models of Boeing 747 aeroplanes, namely those with line numbers 696 and subsequent, that are equipped with particular evacuation system packboards and cover assemblies as identified in Boeing Service Bulletins and Assembly Service Bulletins. The regulation mandates compliance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 92-06-03 Amendment 39 - 8183, ensuring that these aircraft meet stringent safety standards. The compliance requirements necessitate adherence to the specified actions outlined in the Requirement Document, with an effective date of 25 October 1992 for aircraft registered in Australia. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it applies to all Australian registered aircraft operating under the Civil Aviation Regulations. The regulation does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, but compliance is necessary for all applicable aircraft to ensure safety and operational standards are met.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly the Airworthiness Directive AD/B747/111, pertain to the inspection and modification of evacuation system packboards and cover assemblies on Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. Specifically, section 39.105 of the regulations mandates compliance with FAA AD 92-06-03 Amdt 39-8183, which was revised to have an effective date of 25 October 1992 for Australian registered aircraft. The directive applies to Boeing 747 series aircraft, specifically those with line numbers 696 and subsequent, equipped with certain evacuation system packboards and cover assemblies identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2807 Revision 2 and Assembly Service Bulletin 747-25A2889. The obligations imposed by this directive require aircraft operators to inspect and modify the evacuation system packboards and cover assemblies to ensure that emergency escape systems are capable of releasing from the cabin door as intended. This inspection and modification must be performed in accordance with the technical requirements specified in the FAA directive, which was adapted to include Australian registered aircraft. Operators must ensure that the modifications are completed by the revised effective date to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. Failure to comply with the requirements of this directive can result in serious safety implications, as the directive was issued in response to reports of emergency escape systems not releasing from the cabin door. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can impose penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. While the exact penalties are not detailed in the specific directive, general penalties for breaches of airworthiness regulations can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Non-compliance can also lead to criminal charges under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which may result in substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals or corporations found guilty of breaching airworthiness requirements.