COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Aircraft - General
AD/GENERAL/73 Access to Type III Exits 11/92
Applicability: All passenger carrying aeroplanes for which a Type Certificate in the Transport Category was first issued (whether in Australia or elsewhere) on, or after 1 January 1958, and which are fitted with Type III emergency exits.
Requirement: At each Type III exit, install placards that:-
(i) can be read by all persons who are seated adjacent to and are facing a passageway to the exit;
(ii) accurately state or illustrate the correct method of opening the exit, including the use of handholds; and
(iii) if the exit is a removable hatch, state the weight of the hatch and indicate an appropriate location to place the hatch after removal.
2. For each aeroplane that has a passenger seating configuration of 60 or more, provide access to each Type III exit:
(i) in accordance with FAR 25.813(c)(1) at amendment 25-76 effective 3 June 1992 or later, or
(ii) to alternative configuration acceptable to the Authority which provides an equivalent level of safety.
Note: Some applicable aircraft have special circumstances for which a literal compliance with this directive is impractical. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- emergency exits located in close proximity to each other;
- fixed installations such as toilets and galleys;
- permanently mounted bulkheads;
- an insufficient number of rows ahead of or behind the exit.
Where such circumstances would preclude compliance with Part 2 of this directive without;
(i) a reduction in the total number of passenger seats,
(ii) a reduction in seat pitch of more than 25 mm (1 inch), or
(iii) a reduction of seat pitch to less that 760 mm (30 inches), a variation to this directive would be acceptable.
The applicant must furnish credible reasons why literal compliance is impractical and a description of the steps taken to achieve a level of safety as close to that intended by this directive as practical.
Compliance: Before 15 October 1993.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: Investigation of several major overseas accidents have indicated a need for improved access to Type III exits (normally overwing). In April 1991, the FAA issued a proposal to require improved access to Type III exits in aeroplanes that had been Type certificated since January 1958. After consideration of responses (including input from Australia), the FAA issued an amendment to FAR 25 as well as amendments to FARs 121 and 135 which required all applicable aircraft to meet the requirements of FAR 25.813(c) by 3 December 1992. This Directive is issued to ensure that passengers in Australian aircraft are provided the same level of safety in an emergency situation.