COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Aircraft - General
AD/GENERAL/70
Amdt 1
Cargo and Baggage Compartment Liner 12/91
Applicability: All passenger aeroplanes certified in the Transport Category and for which the initial Australian Certificate of Airworthiness for the type was issued after 1 January 1958.
Requirement: Each Class C or D compartment, as defined in FAR 25.857 and greater than 5.66 cubic metres (200 cubic feet) in volume, must have ceiling and sidewall liner panels, including any design feature, such as a joint or fastener, which would affect the capability of the liner to safely contain a fire, which are constructed of:
- Glass fibre reinforced resin; or
2. Aluminium/aluminium alloy (if approved prior to 20 March 1989); or
3. Other materials which meet the test requirements of Amendment 25-60 of FAR Part 25, Appendix F, Part III.
Compliance: Prior to 21 March 1992.
Background: This AD upgrades the fire safety standards for cargo and baggage compartment ceiling and sidewall liner panels by reflecting the current FAA certification and operations requirement; Federal Aviation Regulation 14 CFR Part 121.314.
This amendment is issued to clarify the definition of “liner” as defined in original FAA requirement, and to provide compliance date to reflect extensions granted by the FAA and previously covered by CAA concessions.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth) were enacted to regulate civil aviation activities and ensure safety standards across the industry. The specific amendment AD/GENERAL/70 Amendment 1, concerning the cargo and baggage compartment liner, was introduced to address the need for enhanced fire safety measures in passenger aeroplanes certified in the Transport Category, particularly those issued with an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness after 1 January 1958. This legislative instrument, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, aims to align Australian standards with international safety requirements and ensure that the compartment liners are constructed with materials that can safely contain a fire. The policy objective is to improve the overall safety of air travel by preventing potential fire hazards within aircraft cargo and baggage compartments.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/GENERAL/70 Amendment 1, applies to all passenger aeroplanes certified in the Transport Category and for which the initial Australian Certificate of Airworthiness for the type was issued after 1 January 1958. This legislative instrument mandates that all Class C or D cargo and baggage compartment liners, which exceed 5.66 cubic metres (200 cubic feet) in volume, must be constructed from materials that meet stringent fire safety standards. Acceptable materials include glass fibre reinforced resin, aluminium/aluminium alloy (if approved prior to 20 March 1989), or other materials that comply with Amendment 25-60 of the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 25, Appendix F, Part III. The requirement also applies to any design features such as joints or fasteners that could impact the liner's fire containment capability. Compliance with these standards must be achieved prior to 21 March 1992, aligning with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) fire safety requirements under 14 CFR Part 121.314. This amendment serves to clarify the definition of “liner” and to provide a compliance date reflecting extensions granted by the FAA and previously covered by CASA concessions.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include an Airworthiness Directive (AD) that governs the safety requirements for cargo and baggage compartment liners in certain passenger aeroplanes (AD/GENERAL/70 Amendment 1). This directive applies to all passenger aeroplanes certified in the Transport Category and for which the initial Australian Certificate of Airworthiness was issued after 1 January 1958. The primary requirement of this AD is that each Class C or D compartment, greater than 5.66 cubic metres (200 cubic feet) in volume, must have ceiling and sidewall liner panels constructed of specific materials. These materials include glass fibre reinforced resin, aluminium/aluminium alloy (if approved before 20 March 1989), or other materials meeting the test requirements of Amendment 25-60 of FAR Part 25, Appendix F, Part III. These materials must be capable of safely containing a fire without compromising their structural integrity.
The AD imposes obligations on the operators and owners of affected aircraft to ensure that the liner panels in their cargo and baggage compartments meet the specified material requirements. Operators must conduct a thorough inspection of the compartment liners and replace any non-compliant materials with those specified in the AD. Additionally, operators are required to document compliance and retain records for a period specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This includes keeping records of any modifications or repairs made to the compartment liners, as well as any inspections conducted to verify compliance with the AD.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD can result in serious consequences. The AD outlines that non-compliance with the specified compliance date of 21 March 1992 may lead to enforcement actions by CASA. These actions can include fines, grounding of the aircraft, and potentially, the suspension or revocation of the aircraft’s Certificate of Airworthiness. The specific penalties and enforcement actions are detailed in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, which provide a framework for imposing fines and other regulatory actions against non-compliant operators. The exact penalties may vary depending on the severity and frequency of the non-compliance, but they can include significant financial penalties and other administrative measures to ensure compliance with aviation safety standards.