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.
Boeing 767 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B767/153 In-Flight Entertainment System FAA STC SA5765NM & SA5978NM
10/2001
Applicability: Model 767-300 series aeroplanes modified by United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA5765NM or SA5978NM.
Requirement: 1. Accomplish either of the following:
- Remove the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system installed by STC SA5765NM or STC SA5978NM by a method approved by CASA, or a person authorised by CASA to approve modifications.
b. Modify the IFE system installed by STC SA5765NM or STC SA5978NM to provide the flight crew or cabin crew with a means of removing electrical power from the IFE system equipment and wiring during a non-normal or emergency situation involving smoke or fire on the flight deck or in the passenger cabin. Do this modification by a method approved by CASA, or a person authorised by CASA to approve modifications.
Note 1: Depending on the method of modification, as part of Requirement 1.b., it may be necessary to revise Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and cabin crew procedures to provide the airplane crew with information regarding the use of the power switch or other controls installed during the modification. Such revision to the AFM and cabin crew procedures, if necessary, is considered part of the modification and must be approved by CASA, or a person authorised by CASA to approve the amendment.
2. IFE may not be installed on any aeroplane in accordance with STC SA5765NM or SA5978NM unless it is modified in accordance Requirement 1.b.
Note 2: FAA AD 2001-16-17 Amdt 39-12386 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 4 October 2001.
Boeing 767 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B767/153 (Continued)
Background: This Directive requires the removal or modification of IFE systems installed by STC SA5765NM or SA5978NM. This action is required to ensure that, when necessary, the flight crew is able to remove power from the IFE system. Inability to remove power from the IFE system during a non-normal or emergency situation could result in inability to control smoke or fumes in the airplane flight deck or cabin.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 August 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 September 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) B767/153 in 2001 to address safety concerns related to the in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems on Boeing 767-300 series aeroplanes that had been modified under FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) SA5765NM or SA5978NM. The AD was introduced to mitigate the risk of smoke or fire in the flight deck or passenger cabin due to the inability to remove power from the IFE system during non-normal or emergency situations. The policy objective was to ensure that flight crews could effectively manage such incidents by requiring either the removal of the IFE systems or their modification to include a means for removing electrical power during emergencies. Compliance with the AD was mandatory, with a requirement for removal or modification actions to be completed within 18 months from the directive's effective date on 4 October 2001.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B767/153 applies specifically to Boeing 767-300 series aeroplanes that have been modified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) SA5765NM or SA5978NM. This AD mandates that the actions outlined in the directive must be implemented to address an identified unsafe condition concerning the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The requirement is twofold: either the removal of the IFE system installed by STC SA5765NM or SA5978NM using a method approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) or an authorised person, or the modification of the IFE system to provide flight or cabin crew with a means to disconnect electrical power during non-normal or emergency situations involving smoke or fire. The modification must also be approved by CASA or an authorised person. This AD is applicable nationwide across Australia and became effective on 4 October 2001. Compliance with the AD is mandatory, with a requirement to remove the IFE system within 18 months of the effective date, and any new installations of the IFE system must adhere to the modification requirements from the date of the AD's effectiveness.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) pertains specifically to Boeing 767-300 series aeroplanes that have been modified with in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems under the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) SA5765NM or SA5978NM. The AD, effective from 4 October 2001, mandates either the removal of these IFE systems or their modification to enable the flight or cabin crew to disconnect electrical power from the IFE system during non-normal or emergency situations involving smoke or fire (section 1). Modifications must be carried out in a manner approved by CASA or a CASA-authorised entity. If modifications are chosen, it is imperative that the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and cabin crew procedures are updated as necessary to reflect the new power disconnection controls, with these updates also requiring CASA approval (section 1(b)).
The obligations imposed by this AD on the parties governed by it, including aircraft operators and maintenance organisations, are clear and stringent. They must ensure that the IFE systems in question are either removed or modified as specified, within a timeframe of 18 months from the effective date of the AD for removal and immediately upon the AD's effective date for modifications (section 2). This includes any necessary revisions to the AFM and cabin crew procedures to incorporate the new power disconnection features. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aeroplane not being airworthy, as the IFE system cannot be installed unless it complies with the AD's modification requirements.
Breach of the obligations outlined in this AD can lead to serious consequences. Firstly, any aeroplane failing to comply with the AD's requirements may be considered unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Additionally, operators and maintenance entities found not to have met the AD's requirements may face regulatory action, which could include fines and other penalties as prescribed by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. The exact penalties for non-compliance are not specified in the AD itself but would be determined according to the applicable civil aviation regulations, which can include substantial financial penalties and other regulatory sanctions.