COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Aircraft - General
AD/GENERAL/61
Amdt 2
Cabin Attendant Seats 2/99
Applicability: All aeroplanes and rotorcraft which are required to carry cabin attendants in compliance with CAO Section 20.16.3.
Requirement: Modify cabin attendant seats to comply with the improved safety standards below:
- Cabin attendant seats shall be distributed uniformly throughout the passenger compartment or compartments as near as practicable to floor level emergency exits and be equipped with a restraint system consisting of an approved symmetric safety harness. There must be means to secure each safety harness, when not in use, to prevent interference with rapid egress in an emergency. Symmetric safety harnesses and three-point (lap/sash) harnesses approved and installed before
6 March 1980 may continue in service.
2. Cabin attendant seats must:-
(a) either be forward or rearward facing, with an energy absorbing rest that is designed to support the arms, shoulders, head, and spine; and
(b) be designed or positioned so that when not in use they will not interfere with the use of passageways and exits.
3. The risk of cabin attendant seat occupants being struck by items dislodged from galley, stowage compartments or serving carts shall be minimised, either by suitable location of seats or by provision of restraints such as nets, bulkheads, doors or other devices capable of retaining all items of mass. All items of mass to be expected in service in those compartments shall be considered. Compliance with the location requirement in para. 2 (a) may cause some cabin attendant seats to be located in exposed areas, in which case fully effective restraints of items of mass shall be provided.
Compliance: This Amendment becomes effective on 25 February 1999.
Background: Experience gained overseas on the crashworthiness of airline aeroplanes has demonstrated a need for improving the safety of cabin attendants. Injuries in an emergency may prevent them from supervising the evacuation of passengers from the aircraft. Cabin attendants should be provided with better protection because their knowledge of emergency procedures and their leadership qualities could make the difference between survival and death for many passengers following an accident.
Amendment 1 was raised to permit harnesses which have been approved separate to CAO 108.42. Amendment 2 is raised to clarify location to near floor level emergency exits to more accurately align requirement to overseas standard.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 18 June 1998.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 31 December 1984.