Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through legislative instrument F2006B03157, was enacted to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of civil aviation aircraft in Australia. This regulation was introduced to address the specific problem of broken handle straps on descent devices found on Boeing 747 Series aeroplanes. The problem was identified after several incidents overseas where the handle straps of descent devices were found to be broken, leading to potential safety risks during flight operations. The policy objective of this legislative instrument, as enacted by the Australian Government, is to mandate inspections and necessary replacements of descent device handle straps on Boeing 747 Series aeroplanes to maintain operational safety standards. The enactment of this regulation by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) aims to ensure that all Boeing 747 Series aeroplanes within the specified line numbers are compliant with the stipulated safety requirements. By referencing the Boeing Alert SB No. 747-25-A2551 and Frost Engineering SB No. 379103-25-002, the regulation provides a clear directive for the inspection and replacement of descent device handle straps, thereby mitigating the risk associated with the identified issue.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105, pertains to the maintenance and safety of civil aircraft, including the Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. This regulation applies to all models of the Boeing 747 with line numbers ranging from 1 to 467. The scope of this legislation encompasses the inspection and replacement of the descent device handle straps to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft. The regulation references Boeing Alert Service Bulletin No. 747-25-A2551 and Frost Engineering Service Bulletin No. 379103-25-002, which detail the necessary procedures and compliance requirements. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, applying to all civil aviation operations within the Commonwealth of Australia. Any aircraft operator or maintenance entity falling under this category must adhere to these directives to ensure compliance before the specified date of 1 March 1981. This regulation does not extend its application through subordinate instruments but remains as a standalone requirement for ensuring safety and compliance in the operation of Boeing 747 series aeroplanes within Australia.

Key Provisions

The main sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105 pertaining to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes require that the descent device handle strap be inspected and, if necessary, replaced (AD/B747/26). This directive applies to all models 747 with line numbers 1 to 467. The relevant documents that provide the technical and safety guidelines for this directive are Boeing Alert SB No. 747-25-A2551 and Frost Engineering SB No. 379103-25-002. The directive specifies that compliance must be achieved before 1 March 1981, indicating the urgency and importance of addressing this safety concern. The obligations imposed by these regulations are primarily on the operators and owners of Boeing 747 aircraft. They must ensure that the descent device handle straps are inspected regularly and replaced if any defects are found. This includes verifying that all modifications and repairs comply with the specified service bulletins from Boeing and Frost Engineering. Operators must also maintain records of these inspections and any actions taken, as documentation is crucial for compliance and future audits. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives set forth in these regulations can result in serious legal and operational consequences. For civil aviation, non-compliance could lead to the grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and repairs are completed. Additionally, there are potential criminal and civil penalties for operators who fail to adhere to these safety directives. The maximum penalties can include substantial fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment for responsible individuals or companies. These measures underscore the importance of adhering to the safety standards set forth in the Civil Aviation Regulations.