AD/EMY/23 - Aerazur Life Rafts

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, were designed to regulate the safety of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 of these regulations includes the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which are critical for maintaining the safety standards of aircraft and their equipment. The Airworthiness Directive AD/EMY/23, which pertains to Aerazur life rafts, was introduced to address the identified safety issue of the raft package vent pipes being found bent and closed off, which could potentially lead to the deployment of the raft during flight at altitude. This directive aims to ensure compliance with the necessary safety standards, thereby enhancing the overall safety of air travel. The directive requires action in accordance with Aerazur SB BS 332.60.002, referencing the French civil aviation authority's directive DGAC AD 90-128 AB. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be accomplished at the next scheduled inspection for the issuance of a Maintenance Release after 29 November 1990.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 107, mandates the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning emergency equipment, specifically targeting Aerazur life rafts. This directive applies to Aerazur life rafts with part numbers listed in Aerazur SB BS 332.60.002 and serial numbers up to 175 inclusive. The requirement necessitates actions in accordance with the specified Aerazur service bulletin, with reference to DGAC AD 90-128 AB. Compliance must be ensured at the next scheduled inspection for the issuance of a Maintenance Release following 29 November 1990. The directive is applicable within the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), thereby extending its jurisdictional reach across the national airspace and all entities operating within it. The directive does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions, and its implementation is further supported and potentially extended through subordinate instruments or service bulletins issued by CASA or the relevant aircraft manufacturer.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, mandates that certain Aerazur life rafts (Section 12/90) must comply with particular safety directives. According to this regulation, Aerazur life rafts with part numbers listed in Aerazur SB BS 332.60.002 and serial numbers up to 175 inclusive are subject to specific requirements. The directive necessitates that these life rafts be addressed in accordance with the instructions detailed in Aerazur SB BS 332.60.002. For reference, DGAC AD 90-128 AB is also mentioned in this context. The obligations imposed by this regulation require that any necessary actions be completed by the next scheduled inspection for the issuance of a Maintenance Release after 29 November 1990. If compliance has not already been achieved, it must be ensured at this inspection. This ensures that the rafts meet the necessary safety standards and can function correctly, particularly addressing the issue of bent and closed vent pipes, which could lead to deployment of the raft during flight at altitude. The regulation also outlines the consequences for non-compliance. Although specific penalties are not stated in the provided text, failure to adhere to these directives could result in serious safety hazards. Such non-compliance could potentially lead to deployment of the life rafts at unsafe altitudes, endangering passengers and crew. The exact penalties or consequences for breaches of these directives would be defined under broader aviation safety laws, which typically include fines and potential grounding of aircraft until compliance is achieved.