AD/EMY/10 - Inflatable Escape Slide Regulators - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 107, address the safety and airworthiness of aircraft by establishing directives related to emergency equipment such as inflatable escape slides. Enacted by the Australian Government, this legislation aims to ensure that emergency equipment on aircraft meets specific safety standards, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety. This particular legislative instrument, AD/EMY/10, focuses on the inspection of inflatable escape slide regulators, particularly those with part number 70003, to detect and mitigate any potential corrosion that could compromise the functionality of these critical safety devices. The policy objective is to maintain the integrity and reliability of emergency equipment, ensuring it remains operational in times of need. The legislation is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The directive mandates regular inspections and the replacement of regulators showing signs of corrosion, ensuring that both installed and spare equipment meet the necessary safety standards. This proactive approach underscores the commitment to preventing potential safety incidents by addressing equipment integrity before they can impact flight operations.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/EMY/10 concerning inflatable escape slide regulators, applies to all aircraft fitted with international inflatables regulators identified by part number 70003. This regulation mandates a thorough inspection of these regulators to ensure they are free from any signs of corrosion, both externally and internally, before any further flight can occur. Additionally, any spare regulators of the same part number must also be inspected according to the same criteria, but only immediately before they are installed. The requirement for initial compliance was set before 1 September 1973, with subsequent inspections mandated at intervals not exceeding four months. This directive is part of the broader framework established under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, and it is overseen by the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a uniform standard of aviation safety across the nation. There are no exclusions or exemptions specified within this directive, and its application is enforced nationally to maintain consistent safety standards across the civil aviation industry.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives. One of these directives, AD/EMY/10, pertains to the inspection of inflatable escape slide regulators. This directive applies to all escape slides equipped with the international inflatable regulator P/N 70003 (Section 1). The primary requirement of this directive is that all such regulators must be inspected for evidence of corrosion both inside and outside the regulator assembly (Section 2(1)). If any corrosion is detected, the regulator must be replaced before any further flight with a regulator that has been inspected in accordance with this directive or approved by the Secretary (Section 2(1)). Furthermore, all spare regulators of the specified type must also be inspected in the same manner, but this inspection must occur immediately before the regulator is installed (Section 2(2)). The compliance requirements for these inspections are strict and time-bound. For the primary regulators, inspections must be carried out before 1 September 1973 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding four months (Section 3(1)). For the spare regulators, inspections must occur immediately before installation (Section 3(2)). The obligations imposed by these regulations are clear and demand rigorous adherence. Aircraft operators and maintenance personnel must ensure that all relevant regulators are inspected as per the specified timelines and that any corroded regulators are replaced promptly. Failure to comply with these requirements could have severe consequences, although the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text. However, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with airworthiness directives could result in significant penalties, including fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory sanctions as deemed appropriate by CASA.