Explanatory Statement
Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998
AD/GA8/11 — Solenoid (Relay) Box Electrical Bonding
Legislation
Under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations for the purpose of carrying out and giving effect to the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation relating to safety, amongst other things. Under regulation 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may issue an Australian airworthiness directive for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. Under subsections 98 (5B) and (5BA) of the Act, an airworthiness directive (AD) that is an Australian AD is a legislative instrument unless it is expressed to apply in relation to a particular person, a particular aircraft or a particular aeronautical product.
Subsection 98 (5D) of the Act provides that a legislative instrument made under the Act or the regulations may apply, adopt or incorporate any matter contained in any instrument or other writing as in force or existing from time to time, even if the other instrument or writing does not yet exist when the legislative instrument is made.
Under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the State of Design has overall responsibility for continuing airworthiness of an aircraft type and must provide any information necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of a type to appropriate States of Registry. ADs (and their equivalents) are the most common form of continuing airworthiness information and are issued by most International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States.
The State of Registry of an individual aircraft is responsible for its continuing airworthiness. Under Annex 8, the State of Registry must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft.
Purpose
CASA has issued this Australian AD (AD/GA8/11) to correct an unsafe condition that exists in a kind of aircraft. AD/GA8/11 addresses system discrepancies attributed to poor electrical bonding of the solenoid (relay) box assembly in certain GippsAero GA-8 aeroplanes.
As Australia is the State of Design for the type, CASA is required to develop, and to transmit to other States of Registry, an AD to correct the problem.
AD/GA8/11 requires inspection of the solenoid box assembly to determine if a dedicated bonding connection has been installed, and if not, the procedure to install the bonding connection. The inspection and installation, if required, is to be in accordance with the instructions set out in GippsAero Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2023-2016. Documents Incorporated by Reference
Under subsection 14 (2) of the Legislation Act 2003 (the LA), unless the contrary intention appears, a legislative instrument may not incorporate any matter contained in an instrument or other writing as existing from time to time. Subsection 98 (5D) of the Act provides that, despite section 14 of the LA, a legislative instrument made under the Act or the regulations may apply, adopt or incorporate any matter contained in any instrument or other writing as in force or existing from time to time.
GippsAero Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2023-216 Issue 1 - Relay Box Bonding dated 24 February 2023 is the required technical document for this AD.
For subsection 98 (5D) of the Act, the technical document is incorporated as it exists on the date mentioned above. The technical document is freely available from the GippsAero Website on https://gippsaero.com.au/support/ .
Sunsetting
As an instrument relating to aviation safety made under CASR, Part 4 of Chapter 3 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting of legislative instruments) does not apply to this instrument (item 15 of the table in section 12 of the Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015). The instrument requires that the action set out in the instrument, that relates to aircraft or aeronautical products, be taken to correct an unsafe condition. As such, the instrument is intended to have enduring operation and it would not be appropriate for it to be subject to sunsetting.
Consultation
CASA has consulted with the Australian aviation industry and the general public via publication of a proposed AD for 8 weeks from 29 June 2023 to 24 August 2023. CASA only received one comment during the consultation period which requested that the serial numbers be stated to limit applicability of the AD. This change to the AD has been incorporated.
Sector risk, economic and cost impact
Subsection 9A (1) of the Act states that, in exercising its powers and performing its functions, CASA must regard the safety of air navigation as the most important consideration. Subsection 9A (3) of the Act states that, subject to subsection (1), in developing and promulgating aviation safety standards under paragraph 9 (1) (c), CASA must:
(a) consider the economic and cost impact on individuals, businesses and the community of the standards; and
(b) take into account the differing risks associated with different industry sectors.
The cost impact of a standard refers to the direct cost (in the sense of price or expense) which a standard would cause individuals, businesses and the community to incur. The economic impact of a standard refers to the impact a standard would have on the production, distribution and use of wealth across the economy, at the level of the individual, relevant businesses in the aviation sector, and the community more broadly. The economic impact of a standard could also include the general financial impact of that standard on different industry sectors.
The economic and cost impact of the instrument has been determined by:
(a) the identification of individuals and businesses affected by the instrument;
(b) consideration of how the requirements to be imposed on individuals and businesses under the instrument will be different compared to existing requirements;
(c) a valuation of the impact, in terms of direct costs on individuals and businesses affected by the instrument to comply with the different requirements. This valuation is consistent with the principles of best practice regulation of the Australian Government.
CASA has assessed that the economic and cost impact of the instrument is not significant. The requirements of the instrument apply to holders of certificates of registration of relevant aircraft.
Impact on categories of operations
The instrument is likely to have a beneficial effect on operations conducted by the relevant aircraft because it will reduce the maintenance burden on aircraft owners.
Impact on regional and remote communities
The instrument will not have a negative impact on regional and remote communities and may reduce the maintenance costs of individuals and businesses operating GippsAero GA8 aircraft in those communities.
Office of Impact Analysis (OIA)An Impact Analysis (IA) is not required because ADs are covered by a standing agreement between CASA and the OIA under which an IA is not required for ADs (OIA id. 14507).
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.
Making and commencement
The AD has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under sub regulation 11.260 (1) of CASR and subsection 94 (1) of the Act.
The instrument commences on 23 December 2023.
[Instrument number AD/GA8/11]
Attachment 1
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
AD/GA8/11 – Solenoid (Relay) Box Electrical Bonding
This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the legislative instrument
The legislative instrument is an Airworthiness Directive (AD). AD/GA8/11 has been issued to address system discrepancies attributed to poor electrical bonding of the solenoid box assembly of GippsAero GA-8 aircraft.
As Australia is the State of Design for the GA-8, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is required to develop, and to transmit to other States of Registry, an AD to correct the problem. This Australian AD sets out required remedial action to improve electrical bonding in the solenoid box assembly.
Human rights implications
This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.
Conclusion
This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority