COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Aircraft - General
AD/GENERAL/62
Amdt 1
Turbo Insignia 5/87
Applicability: All piston engine powered aircraft.
Requirement: Remove or otherwise obliterate the word “turbo” from all exterior logos, decals, lettering or markings containing such words as “turbo”, “turbo-charged”, “turbo- supercharged”, “turbo-system”, “turbo-powered”, or similar.
Compliance: Prior to 1 July 1987.
Background: Removing reference to “turbo” should minimise any confusion in the type of fuel required for fuelling piston engined aircraft, and also reduce the possibility of turbine fuel being uplifted into aircraft requiring Avgas only. Airworthiness Advisory Circular article 163-4 refers. This amendment is raised to hasten compliance to aircraft of low utilisation.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through Legislative Instrument F2006B10291, introduced a specific Airworthiness Directive aimed at addressing potential confusion and safety risks associated with piston engine-powered aircraft. The problem this legislation was introduced to address was the potential for miscommunication regarding the type of fuel required for these aircraft, particularly in instances where the term "turbo" was used in exterior markings, which could erroneously imply the use of turbine fuel instead of Avgas. The objective of this directive, as stated in the relevant Airworthiness Advisory Circular article 163-4, is to minimise such confusion and reduce the risk of turbine fuel being mistakenly used for aircraft that require Avgas. This directive applies to all piston engine-powered aircraft and mandates the removal or obliteration of any external markings that include the word "turbo" or similar terms, to be completed prior to 1 July 1987. The regulations were enacted by the Australian Parliament to enhance aviation safety standards and to ensure compliance with international safety protocols.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandates that all piston engine powered aircraft must remove or obliterate the word "turbo" from all exterior logos, decals, lettering, or markings containing such terms as "turbo", "turbo-charged", "turbo-supercharged", "turbo-system", "turbo-powered", or similar. This directive applies to the entire fleet of piston engine powered aircraft, ensuring that there is no confusion regarding the type of fuel required for these aircraft. The requirement is to be met prior to 1 July 1987, aiming to reduce the risk of turbine fuel being mistakenly uplifted into aircraft that only require Avgas. The regulation is aimed at minimising potential safety risks and ensuring the correct type of fuel is used, in accordance with Airworthiness Advisory Circular article 163-4. This directive extends its application to all aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring uniformity in compliance across different jurisdictions and operators.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate certain safety directives that must be followed by all operators of piston engine-powered aircraft. One such directive, AD/GENERAL/62 Amendment 1 (effective from 5/87), requires that any aircraft of this type must remove or otherwise obliterate the word "turbo" from all exterior logos, decals, lettering, or markings that contain words such as "turbo," "turbo-charged," "turbo-supercharged," "turbo-system," "turbo-powered," or any similar terms (AD/GENERAL/62 Amdt 1). This directive applies to all piston engine-powered aircraft, ensuring that there is no confusion regarding the type of fuel required for these aircraft, and to prevent the potential hazard of turbine fuel being used in aircraft that only require Avgas.
The obligations imposed by this directive are straightforward but crucial for safety. Aircraft owners and operators must ensure that any reference to "turbo" on their aircraft's exterior is either removed or obscured in a manner that it is no longer legible. This requirement is intended to eliminate any potential confusion about the aircraft's engine type and fuel requirements, which is vital for maintaining safety standards in aviation (AD/GENERAL/62 Amdt 1). Compliance with this directive must be achieved prior to 1 July 1987, as stipulated in the regulations.
Failure to comply with this directive could result in significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority may take enforcement action against non-compliant aircraft, which could include grounding the aircraft until the required changes are made. Although specific penalties are not detailed in the referenced text, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations can generally lead to civil penalties, such as fines, or in more severe cases, criminal charges. The exact penalties would depend on the severity and impact of the non-compliance, but they could potentially include substantial financial penalties and, in some instances, imprisonment for individuals or corporations found to be in breach of the regulations.