AD/EMY/26 - Emergency Evacuation Slide

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, were enacted to provide a regulatory framework governing all aspects of civil aviation in Australia, including safety and operational standards. Part 39 of these regulations specifically addresses the issue of airworthiness directives, which are mandatory orders issued to address safety deficiencies in aircraft. AD/EMY/26 pertains to emergency evacuation slides, specifically targeting Air Cruisers Co. TSO-C69 Emergency Slide Systems installed on certain Airbus Industries aircraft models. This directive aims to rectify the issue of improper deployment of emergency evacuation slides, which could potentially compromise passenger safety during an emergency evacuation. The policy objective behind such directives is to ensure that all aircraft operating within Australian airspace meet stringent safety standards, thereby protecting the public from aviation-related hazards. The Australian Government, through its legislative instrument F2006B09545, adopted the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airworthiness Directive 92-10-06, which addresses the problem of improperly deploying emergency slides. The directive mandates that specific Air Cruisers Co. evacuation slide systems be modified and reidentified to prevent improper inflation, which could hinder emergency evacuations. This adoption underscores Australia’s commitment to harmonizing its aviation safety regulations with international standards, particularly those set by the FAA, to enhance the overall safety of civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, applies to the Air Cruisers Co. TSO-C69 Emergency Slide System, part numbers D31021-101 and -103, serial numbers 1 through 222, which are installed on various Airbus Industries models including A300 B2-1C, A300 B4-2C, A300 BA-200 and A300 B4-600 series aircraft. This regulation mandates that these emergency slide systems must be modified and reidentified in accordance with the instructions set out in Air Cruisers Co. SB 001-25-8, Revision 4, Paragraph 2. This requirement is in response to reports of slides deploying improperly, a condition that could potentially lead to improper inflation of the slides, thereby hampering the emergency evacuation of an aircraft. Compliance with this directive is required prior to 20 May 1993, following an extension of the original effective date set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The regulation is applicable nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia and extends its jurisdictional reach to all relevant aircraft operating within the country.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within PART 39 - 107, focus on the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft and the installation of emergency equipment. Section AD/EMY/26 is concerned with emergency evacuation slides and mandates specific modifications and reidentification of the Air Cruisers Co. Evacuation Slide System. This applies to certain models and serial numbers of Airbus Industries aircraft, as detailed in the regulation. The requirement outlined is to modify these evacuation slide systems in accordance with the instructions provided by Air Cruisers Co. in their Service Bulletin 001-25-8, Revision 4, Paragraph 2. This directive also references the FAA AD 92-10-06 Amendment 39-8240. The obligations imposed by this regulation on the parties involved, particularly aircraft operators and maintenance providers, are clear and specific. They must ensure that the emergency evacuation slides on the specified aircraft are modified and reidentified according to the prescribed instructions. This involves adhering to the technical specifications and accomplishment instructions set out in the Air Cruisers Co. Service Bulletin, ensuring that the slides are capable of deploying correctly during an emergency. The regulation also mandates that this modification be completed before a specific date, 20 May 1993, to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft involved. Failure to comply with the requirements of this regulation can lead to serious consequences. The regulation does not explicitly detail the penalties or consequences for non-compliance, but such failures can result in significant civil or criminal liabilities under the broader framework of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations. Non-compliance could potentially lead to aircraft being deemed unairworthy, resulting in grounding and potential enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Additionally, in the event of an accident caused by non-compliance with airworthiness directives, the responsible parties could face both criminal charges and civil liability for damages and injuries resulting from the incident.