COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Emergency Equipment
AD/EMY/31 Aerazur Life Raft Type 606 9/96
Applicability: Aerazur type 606 life raft P/Nos A01 210155-(), B01 210155-(), B02 210155-(), C03 210155-(), and C04 210155-() with serial numbers 005 to 173 inclusive; installed in, but not restricted to, Falcon 900 Series aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Aerazur SB No. 606-60-001.
Note: DGAC AD 96-112(AB) refers.
Compliance: At the next scheduled inspection, or before 15 August 1997, whichever occurs first.
Background: The vacuum packing of the life raft may have led to the extrusion of the inflation/deflation valve "O" ring. This could cause the life raft to fail to inflate, or to deflate when required for use.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Australian Parliament to regulate civil aviation safety and other related matters. Part 39, specifically, includes the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which mandate the conditions under which aircraft must be maintained to ensure safety. One such directive is AD/EMY/31 concerning the Aerazur Life Raft Type 606, which addresses the issue of potential failure in the inflation/deflation valve "O" ring due to vacuum packing. The policy objective is to ensure the reliability and safety of emergency equipment on board aircraft by requiring specific actions to be taken to rectify identified issues. This particular directive applies to Aerazur type 606 life rafts installed in Falcon 900 Series aircraft and requires compliance with Aerazur Service Bulletin No. 606-60-001 by the next scheduled inspection or before 15 August 1997, ensuring the life rafts are safe and functional.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 107, pertains to the application and enforcement of airworthiness directives by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This legislative instrument applies to Aerazur type 606 life rafts, particularly those with specific part numbers and serial numbers installed in Falcon 900 Series aircraft. The scope of the regulation is focused on ensuring the safety and compliance of emergency equipment on aircraft, mandating adherence to the actions outlined in Aerazur Service Bulletin No. 606-60-001. Compliance must be achieved by the next scheduled inspection or before 15 August 1997, whichever comes first. This directive addresses a potential safety issue where the vacuum packing of the life raft might have caused the inflation/deflation valve "O" ring to extrude, thereby compromising the raft's functionality in an emergency. The legislation's jurisdictional reach is national, applying uniformly across Australia as per the Commonwealth's regulatory authority over civil aviation. No specific exclusions or exemptions are stated within the provided text, and the regulation extends its application through the referenced subordinate instrument, Aerazur SB No. 606-60-001.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 107, outlines the requirements for emergency equipment on aircraft, including life rafts. Under this regulation, Airworthiness Directive AD/EMY/31 pertains to the Aerazur Life Raft Type 606 (section 39.107). This directive applies to Aerazur type 606 life rafts with particular production numbers and serial numbers, which are installed in Falcon 900 Series aircraft, although not limited to this type of aircraft (section 39.107(1)). The main requirement of this directive is that actions must be taken in accordance with Aerazur Service Bulletin No. 606-60-001 to address potential issues with the life rafts (section 39.107(2)). Compliance with these directives must be achieved at the next scheduled inspection or before 15 August 1997, whichever comes first (section 39.107(3)).
The obligations imposed by this regulation on the parties involved, including aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel, are to ensure that the specified life rafts are inspected and maintained as per the requirements outlined in the Aerazur Service Bulletin No. 606-60-001. This includes addressing any issues related to the vacuum packing of the life raft that may have caused the inflation/deflation valve "O" ring to extrude, which could result in the life raft failing to inflate or deflating when required for use. This requirement is critical for ensuring the safety of passengers and crew in the event of an emergency situation (section 39.107(4)).
Failure to comply with these directives can lead to serious consequences, both civil and criminal. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The penalties for such breaches may include fines and other sanctions, as stipulated in the Act. In more severe cases, where the non-compliance has resulted in harm or potential harm to persons, criminal charges may be laid, leading to imprisonment and heavier fines. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and the degree of negligence or intent involved (section 39.107(5)).