COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Boeing 747 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the 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.
AD/B747/255 Passenger Entertainment System
FAA STC SA8843SW
9/2001
Applicability: Model 747-400 series aeroplanes modified by United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA8843SW.
Requirement: 1. Accomplish the following:
- Modify the passenger entertainment system (PES) to install load shed relays and associated cable assemblies for the PES, in accordance with Raytheon Service Bulletin 747(400)VIP-24-1, dated 22 September 2000.
b. Revise the Non-Normal Procedures section of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to advise the flight crew on using the “UTILITY BUS ON/OFF” power switches to control power to the PES, in accordance with Raytheon Airplane Flight Manual Supplement 747-430, dated 17 October 2000.
2. PES may not be installed on any aeroplane in accordance with STC SA8843SW, unless it is modified and the AFM is revised in accordance with this Directive.
Note: FAA AD 2001-14-15 Amdt 39-12326 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1 - Within 18 months after the effective date of this Directive.
For Requirement 2 - As of the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 6 September 2001.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: This Directive requires the modification of the PES installed by STC SA8843SW and the revision of the AFM. This action is required to ensure that, when necessary, the flight crew is able to remove electrical power from the PES and is advised of appropriate procedures for such action. Inability to remove power from the PES during a non-normal or emergency situation could result in inability to control smoke or fumes in the airplane flight deck or cabin.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 July 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 15 August 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, govern the safety and regulation of civil aviation within Australia. A specific Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in 2001 addresses an identified safety concern regarding the passenger entertainment system (PES) in Boeing 747-400 series aeroplanes modified by FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA8843SW. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the airworthiness of the affected aircraft by requiring modifications to the PES and revisions to the Aircraft Flight Manual to allow the flight crew to control power to the PES during non-normal or emergency situations, thereby preventing potential hazards such as smoke or fumes in the flight deck or cabin. This directive aims to mitigate the identified unsafe condition by mandating specific actions to be completed within a defined timeframe.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Boeing 747-400 series aeroplanes that have been modified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA8843SW, which pertains to the passenger entertainment system (PES). The directive mandates specific modifications to the PES to install load shed relays and associated cable assemblies, as well as revisions to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to include updated non-normal procedures for managing power to the PES. These modifications are essential to ensure the flight crew can effectively control power to the PES during non-normal or emergency situations, thereby preventing potential issues with smoke or fumes in the flight deck or cabin. Compliance with the directive is required within 18 months for the PES modifications and immediately upon the directive's effective date for the AFM revisions. This AD, which became effective on 6 September 2001, is applicable nationally and is overseen by the CASA delegate, James Coyne.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, details a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This directive (AD/B747/255) pertains to Boeing 747-400 series aeroplanes that have been modified under FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA8843SW. The directive requires specific modifications to the passenger entertainment system (PES) and updates to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM). According to section 1 of the requirement (39.1 (1)), the aeroplanes must have load shed relays and associated cable assemblies installed for the PES in accordance with Raytheon Service Bulletin 747(400)VIP-24-1 dated 22 September 2000. Additionally, the Non-Normal Procedures section of the AFM must be revised to instruct the flight crew on using the “UTILITY BUS ON/OFF” power switches to control power to the PES, as per Raytheon Airplane Flight Manual Supplement 747-430 dated 17 October 2000.
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and precise. Operators and owners of the specified aeroplanes must ensure that the PES is modified and the AFM is revised as stipulated. For Requirement 1, the modifications must be completed within 18 months from the effective date of the directive, which is 6 September 2001. Requirement 2, the revision of the AFM, must be completed as of the effective date of the directive. Failure to comply with these requirements would mean the aeroplanes are not airworthy and could not be operated legally.
Breaching the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive can have serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance within the text of this directive; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is generally considered a serious matter. It can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges if the breach results in an accident or endangers flight safety. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and the regulatory framework governing aviation safety at the time.