AD/F28/22 - Passenger Door - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve as a comprehensive legal framework governing civil aviation within Australia, including matters of airworthiness and safety. One of the legislative instruments under this Act is F2006B09759, which was introduced to address specific safety concerns related to Fokker F28 Series aeroplanes. This instrument targets the modification of passenger doors on particular Fokker F28 models to ensure compliance with safety standards. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with the specified aircraft models by mandating timely modifications, thus enhancing overall aviation safety. F2006B09759 specifically addresses Fokker F28 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 11003 to 11070, 11072 to 11074, and 11991 to 11993. The directive requires these aircraft to undergo passenger door modifications before 31 October 1974 to comply with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's airworthiness directives. This legislative instrument underscores the commitment to maintaining high safety standards in Australia's civil aviation sector by addressing potential vulnerabilities in the specified aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued Airworthiness Directive AD/F28/22 under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targeting Fokker F28 Series aeroplanes with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from 11003 to 11070, 11072 to 11074, and 11991 to 11993. This directive applies to all entities and individuals involved in the operation and maintenance of these particular Fokker F28 aircraft models. The directive mandates modifications to the passenger doors to ensure continued airworthiness, with compliance required before 31 October 1974. The directive applies nationwide across the Commonwealth of Australia, enforcing safety standards that are critical for the aviation industry. The scope of this legislation is narrowly focused on the specified Fokker F28 models, ensuring that only these aircraft are subject to the modification requirements outlined in the directive. No exclusions or exemptions are mentioned in the directive, thus all affected aircraft must comply with the specified modifications to remain airworthy.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth) in relation to the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes, specifically AD/F28/22, pertain to the mandatory modification of the passenger door. This directive applies to all Fokker F28 models with specific serial numbers (11003 to 11070, 11072 to 11074, 11991 to 11993) (section 39-105.010). Compliance with this directive is required before 31 October 1974, as stipulated in the document Fokker SB F28/52-44 (section 39-105.010). The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties and entities it governs are clear and specific. Operators of the affected Fokker F28 models must ensure that the passenger door modification, as outlined in the directive, is completed before the compliance date (section 39-105.010). This involves carrying out the required modifications or repairs as specified in the Fokker SB F28/52-44 document. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is responsible for overseeing and ensuring compliance with these directives, which includes conducting inspections and audits to verify that the modifications have been properly implemented (section 39-105.015). Breach of the requirements set forth in the AD/F28/22 can lead to various consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth), non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in civil penalties. Specifically, individuals or corporations that fail to adhere to the mandated modifications may face financial penalties. The maximum penalty for an individual is generally outlined under section 100 of the Act, which can include fines up to a specified amount. For corporations, the penalties can be significantly higher, reflecting the severity of the potential safety risks involved (section 100). In addition to financial penalties, continued operation of a non-compliant aircraft may result in enforcement actions, including grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved, which could further impact the operator's business and reputation.