AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/GENERAL/64 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Aircraft - General

AD/GENERAL/64

Amdt 2

Side Facing (SF) Seats - Improved Occupant Restraint

9/2001

DM

Applicability:  All aircraft fitted with side facing seats, except for those with a special certificate of airworthiness for limited category aircraft as defined in Civil Aviation Regulation (1998) CAR 21.189.

Requirement: 1. Modify the occupant restraint system to a scheme approved by the Authority for each seat occupied during take-off or landing.

2. Install a placard prohibiting occupancy during take-off or landing for seats not modified in accordance with paragraph 1.

Note: ARP 85/7 or AAC No 175 specifies means of accomplishing compliance with this Directive.

Compliance: Before 18 July 2001.

This Amendment becomes effective on 18 July 2001.

Background:  Crashworthiness investigation and medical opinion have determined that in the event of an emergency deceleration or impact, occupants of sidefacing seats are at greater risk than occupants of forward facing seats. For this reason the FAA and other responsible airworthiness authorities have taken action to improve this situation. For instance, FAR 23 now requires that SF seats provide restraint comparable with seats oriented longitudinally but provides no guidance for achieving this.

This Directive requires modification of the restraint system to improve occupant protection by installing a safety belt and an energy absorbing rest which will support the arms, shoulders, head and spine or a safety belt and shoulder harness which will prevent the head from contacting any injurious object.

Aircraft - General

AD/GENERAL/64 Amdt 2 (Continued)

Amendment 1 was issued to ensure seats without an improved restraint system are not used during take-off or landing.

Amendment 2 is issued to exclude limited category aircraft from the applicability. Amendment 1 became effective on July 1989.

David Alan Villiers

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 12 July 2001

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 18 July 2001.