Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted in 1998, aim to establish comprehensive safety standards for civil aviation operations in Australia. This legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent and unified regulations governing aircraft safety, airworthiness, and operational standards. The Civil Aviation Regulations are overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), whose role is to ensure that all civil aviation activities comply with safety and operational requirements. The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain and enhance the safety of civil aviation, protecting the public and all personnel involved in air travel. One specific measure within these regulations is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), which mandate corrective actions to address identified safety issues in aircraft operations. An example of such an AD is AD/F100/37, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, focusing on the Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced following a lightning strike incident that revealed non-compliance with the electrical bonding requirements specified in military standard MIL-B-5087B. The AD mandates the replacement of existing bonding jumpers between the vertical and horizontal stabilisers with new jumpers to ensure adherence to the standard, thereby addressing the identified unsafe condition and enhancing the overall airworthiness of the affected aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) series aeroplanes, namely the F.28 Mk.0070 and Mk.0100 models. This regulation is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is applicable within the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive mandates that the electrical bonding between the vertical and horizontal stabilisers must be modified to comply with military standard MIL-B-5087B. The required action involves removing the existing bonding jumper and installing two new bonding jumpers, part number FON9-1981-4CC5, as specified in Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-23-032 dated 22 September 1999. This directive must be adhered to within 18 calendar months from its effective date of 24 February 2000, ensuring the continued airworthiness of the specified aircraft. This AD was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 January 2000.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertain to specific requirements for Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) Series Aeroplanes, specifically models F.28 Mk.0070 and Mk.0100. The directive mandates the removal of the existing bonding jumper between the vertical and horizontal stabiliser and the installation of two new bonding jumpers, Part Number FON9-1981-4CC5, in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-23-032 dated 22 September 1999 (AD/F100/37). This action is necessary to correct the unsafe condition identified following a lightning strike incident on a Fokker 100, which revealed that the electrical bonding of the horizontal stabiliser did not meet the requirements of military standard MIL-B-5087B. The directive requires that these changes be made within the next 18 calendar months from the effective date of the directive, which is 24 February 2000. The obligations imposed by this AD on the parties it governs include ensuring that the specified modifications are carried out on the affected aircraft within the specified timeframe. This involves removing the existing bonding jumper and installing the new bonding jumpers as detailed in the directive. The changes must be executed in accordance with the instructions provided in the referenced service bulletin. The directive also requires that these actions be completed by authorised personnel who are familiar with the specific procedures and standards required for such modifications. Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement action against operators who do not adhere to the requirements set out in the AD. Potential penalties for non-compliance could include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the affected aircraft until the required modifications are made. The exact penalties would depend on the circumstances of the non-compliance and the discretion of the CASA delegate, but the directive underscores the importance of timely and correct action to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected Fokker F100 aeroplanes.