Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, include Airworthiness Directives that aim to ensure the safety and compliance of civil aviation in Australia. One such directive, AD/GENERAL/58, pertains to voice recorders and the attachment of reflective strips, which was introduced to enhance the visibility and ease of locating voice recorders during maintenance and repair. This requirement applies to all aircraft mandated to carry voice recorders and was enacted to address the problem of ensuring that voice recorders can be readily identified and accessed in emergency situations. The directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and aligns with Federal Aviation Regulations 25.1457 and 121.359, which mandate similar requirements effective from 1 September 1980. The overarching policy objective is to maintain and improve the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations in Australia by ensuring that critical components such as voice recorders are easily identifiable and accessible during maintenance activities.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the attachment of reflective strips to voice recorders on all aircraft that are required to carry such devices. This requirement applies universally to any aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia and aligns with Federal Aviation Regulations 25.1457 and 121.359, which were amended to include a similar directive effective from 1 September 1980. The purpose of this regulation is to ensure that voice recorders are easily identifiable during maintenance operations, particularly when they are removed for repair. Compliance with this directive is mandated at the first removal of the recorder for repair following 1 December 1979, and it adheres to guidelines provided in specific service bulletins from manufacturers such as Fairchild Industrial Products, Sundstrand Data Control Inc., and Rockwell Collins. This legislative measure extends to ensuring that the aircraft industry adheres to safety and maintenance standards, and it does not specify any exclusions or exemptions within the provided text.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, outline the requirements for voice recorders on aircraft (section 39-105). This legislation mandates that all aircraft that are required to carry voice recorders must have reflective strips fitted to the cover of these recorders. The fitting of these strips is to be done according to the guidelines provided in several manufacturer service bulletins: Fairchild Industrial Products Field Service Bulletin No. CVR 13, Sundstrand Data Control Inc. Service Bulletin AV-557A No. 13, and Rockwell Collins Service Bulletin 642C-1 No. 17 (section 39-105(1)). Compliance with this directive is required at the first removal of the recorder for repair following 1 December 1979 (section 39-105(2)). The Act imposes specific obligations on the operators and maintainers of aircraft. They must ensure that voice recorders are equipped with reflective strips in accordance with the specified service bulletins when the recorders are next serviced or repaired after the specified date (section 39-105(1)). This requirement is designed to enhance the visibility of the voice recorders in emergency situations, thus improving safety and aiding in the recovery process. Non-compliance with these provisions could lead to safety risks and potential regulatory action. Failure to comply with the voice recorder directive can result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, operators and maintainers who do not adhere to the specified requirements may face enforcement actions. This can include fines and other penalties as determined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (section 95-97). The exact penalties for non-compliance are not explicitly stated in the regulations but could range widely based on the severity and impact of the breach, as outlined under the general enforcement provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.