Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to regulate the safety of civil aviation in Australia. The legislation provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring that all civil aviation activities in Australia comply with safety standards. One of the instruments under CAR 1998 is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), a delegate of the Commonwealth of Australia. The AD aims to address specific safety concerns by mandating corrective actions for aircraft or aeronautical products where there is an identified unsafe condition. For example, AD/CL-600/55 addresses corrosion and non-compliant gaps in the inboard flap vane system of Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes to ensure the structural integrity of the flap system is maintained. This directive underscores the policy objective of CAR 1998 to ensure the highest standards of safety in civil aviation.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive applies specifically to the Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, more precisely the CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) aircraft, with serial numbers ranging from 5301 to 5374. The directive is issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), whose role and authority are derived from the regulatory framework of the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive mandates that corrective actions be taken to address identified safety concerns related to corrosion within the inboard flap vane and actuator beam assemblies, as well as non-compliant gaps between certain vane brackets and the adjacent skin on the inboard flaps. These safety issues, if left unaddressed, could potentially compromise the structural integrity of the flap system, thereby impacting the overall airworthiness of the specified aircraft models. The directive requires adherence to the technical requirements outlined in Transport Canada AD CF-2000-18 and references Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A604-27-006 dated 18 April 2000. Compliance with these directives must be achieved before 11 August 2002, making the Airworthiness Directive effective from 11 July 2002.

Key Provisions

This legislative instrument concerns an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), specifically targeting the Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604), with serial numbers ranging from 5301 to 5374. The directive mandates corrective action to address identified safety issues with the flap vane system. According to section 39.1 (1) of the CAR 1998, the delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues this AD. The action required is detailed in the requirement section and must be implemented in the circumstances and according to the instructions specified. Compliance with the directive must be achieved by 11 August 2002, unless the action has already been taken. The AD became effective on 11 July 2002 and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 June 2002. The AD imposes several obligations on the parties governed by it. Primarily, operators of the affected Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the action specified in the requirement section is carried out. This involves adhering to the technical requirements of Transport Canada AD CF-2000-18 and referencing Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A604-27-006, dated 18 April 2000. The specified action must be completed before the compliance date of 11 August 2002, or it must have already been accomplished by that date. Failure to comply with these obligations could result in significant safety risks, as the directive addresses critical issues related to the structural integrity of the flap system, which could compromise the aircraft's airworthiness. The AD does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance within the text of the directive itself. However, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can have serious repercussions. Under the CAR 1998, failure to comply with an AD can result in enforcement actions, including fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are completed. The severity of these consequences can vary, but they are intended to ensure that safety standards are maintained and that any identified risks to aircraft operation are adequately mitigated. While the specific maximum penalties are not detailed in this particular AD, they are governed by the broader regulatory framework within which the AD operates.