COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Emergency Equipment
AD/EMY/4
Amdt 6
Life Rafts 9/98
Applicability: All life rafts not subject to a System of Maintenance which are installed or intended to be installed in an aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect and test in accordance with requirements in instructions issued by the manufacturer. This is to be undertaken by an organisation approved for that purpose by the Authority.
Compliance: In accordance with:
the approved maintenance data; or,
Within two years of date of manufacture and thereafter at intervals not exceeding one year.
This amendment becomes effective on 13 August 1998.
Background: Life rafts fall within the definition of aircraft components. Amendment 6 has been raised to permit overhaul intervals in accordance with manufacturer’s approved data if that allows a period greater than; two years from manufacture, then every year.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), is a comprehensive framework governing the safe operation of aircraft within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 addresses the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft, while Schedule 107 pertains to Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/EMY/4 Amendment 6, focuses on the maintenance and inspection of life rafts. This amendment was introduced to address the need for updated and more flexible maintenance intervals for life rafts, allowing for intervals greater than two years if they align with the manufacturer's approved data. The policy objective is to ensure that life rafts, which are critical components for passenger safety, are maintained in a reliable and operational condition, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.
This legislative instrument, F2006B09554, was enacted to refine the maintenance requirements for life rafts not subject to a System of Maintenance, ensuring they are inspected and tested by an approved organisation. The amendment became effective on 13 August 1998, aiming to align with manufacturers' approved maintenance data while maintaining stringent safety standards. The overarching goal of this regulation is to provide clear and effective guidelines for the maintenance of emergency equipment, ensuring it remains in optimal condition to protect passengers and crew during emergencies.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, pertain to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, focusing on emergency equipment such as life rafts. These regulations apply to all life rafts that are not subject to a System of Maintenance and are installed or intended to be installed in an aircraft. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that life rafts are inspected and tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, which must be conducted by an organisation approved by the Authority. Compliance with these regulations can be achieved by adhering to the approved maintenance data or by conducting inspections within two years of the date of manufacture and then at intervals not exceeding one year. The amendment, which became effective on 13 August 1998, allows for longer overhaul intervals if the manufacturer's approved data specifies a period greater than two years, followed by annual inspections thereafter. This regulation extends to the entire Commonwealth of Australia and applies uniformly across all states and territories, ensuring a national standard for the maintenance and safety of emergency equipment on aircraft.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD/EMY/4Amdt 6), mandates the inspection and testing of life rafts. This regulation applies to all life rafts not subject to a System of Maintenance that are installed or intended for installation in aircraft (section 1). The requirement is that these life rafts must be inspected and tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and this must be carried out by an organisation approved by the Authority (section 2).
The compliance provisions under the Civil Aviation Regulations specify that inspections must be conducted either in accordance with the approved maintenance data or within two years of the date of manufacture, followed by inspections at intervals not exceeding one year thereafter (section 3). This amendment, which became effective on 13 August 1998, allows for flexibility in overhaul intervals based on the manufacturer's approved data, provided that the intervals do not exceed two years from the date of manufacture and then annually (section 4).
Entities and individuals governed by this Act have specific obligations to ensure that the life rafts meet the regulatory standards. They must arrange for inspections and tests to be conducted by an approved organisation and maintain records of these inspections in compliance with the stipulated intervals (section 5). Furthermore, any modifications to the life rafts must be approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to ensure continued compliance with safety standards (section 6).
Failure to comply with the inspection and testing requirements can lead to significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations, non-compliance may result in penalties, which can include fines or other enforcement actions. The maximum penalties are outlined in the relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which may include substantial financial penalties for individuals or entities found in breach of these safety directives (section 7). Additionally, ongoing non-compliance could result in the grounding of aircraft, which would have severe operational and safety implications (section 8).