Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the legislative instrument F2006B08617, address safety concerns within the aviation sector by establishing specific requirements for maintaining aircraft airworthiness. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation aims to rectify identified safety issues through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), which mandate corrective actions to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft. The instrument focuses on the Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, specifically targeting the overwing exit placards on CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet) series aeroplanes. This AD was introduced to address the problem of confusing emergency exit instructions that could potentially hinder the safe operation of aircraft, as highlighted by investigations into similar incidents. The objective of this regulation is to enhance passenger safety by ensuring that emergency exit placards are clear and correctly installed, thereby facilitating effective emergency procedures.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive applies specifically to Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series aeroplanes, more precisely the CL-600-2B19 “RJ” series with certain serial numbers. These serial numbers include ranges such as 7003 through 7434, 7436 through 7442, 7444 through 7452, 7454 through 7458, 7460 through 7497, and 7499 through 7504. The directive mandates the replacement of existing overwing exit placards with new placards in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin A601R-11-077, Revision A, dated 11 December 2001. This requirement is to address a safety issue identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which found that the instructions on the current overwing emergency exit placards were confusing, potentially complicating the process of opening and disposing of the exit hatch. The directive, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, became effective on 11 July 2002 and compliance is required before 11 July 2003.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD/CL-600/54) pertain to the applicability, requirement, and compliance timelines for the replacement of overwing exit placards on specific Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, particularly the CL-600-2B19 “RJ” series. The AD applies to aircraft serial numbers 7003 through 7434, 7436 through 7442, 7444 through 7452, 7454 through 7458, 7460 through 7497, and 7499 through 7504 (Section 1). The directive mandates the replacement of existing overwing exit placards with new placards in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin A601R-11-077, Revision A, dated 11 December 2001 (Section 2). The compliance requirement stipulates that these changes must be completed before 11 July 2003, with the directive becoming effective from 11 July 2002 (Section 3). The obligations imposed by this AD on the parties or entities it governs are clear and specific. Operators and owners of the specified Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the overwing exit placards are replaced with the new placards as per the instructions provided in Bombardier Service Bulletin A601R-11-077, Revision A. This directive aims to address safety concerns identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the confusing instructions on the overwing emergency exit placard, which could potentially cause difficulties in opening and disposing of the exit hatch in an emergency (Background section). Operators must comply with the stipulated timeline, ensuring that the required changes are made before 11 July 2003. Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive can result in significant consequences. While the AD does not explicitly state the penalties or consequences for non-compliance, non-compliance with ADs is generally considered a serious breach of aviation safety regulations. Such breaches can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines, penalties, or more severe consequences such as grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are taken. These regulatory actions underscore the importance of adhering to ADs to maintain the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within Australia’s airspace.