Explanatory Statement
Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998
AD/GENERAL/87 — Primary Flight Control Cable Assembly Retirement
Under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations for the Act and in the interests of the safety of air navigation. Under regulation 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), CASA may issue an airworthiness directive (AD) for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. Under subsections 98 (5B) and (5BA) of the Act, an AD is a legislative instrument unless it is expressed to apply in relation to a particular person, a particular aircraft or a particular aeronautical product. Therefore, this AD is a legislative instrument.
Under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the State of Design has overall responsibility for continuing airworthiness of an aircraft type, and must provide any information necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of a type to appropriate States of Registry. ADs (and their equivalents) are the most common form of continuing airworthiness information, and are issued by most International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States.
The State of Registry of an individual aircraft is responsible for its continuing airworthiness. Under Annex 8, the State of Registry must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft.
CASA has issued AD/GENERAL/87 to introduce primary flight control cable assembly life limits.
As an unsafe condition exists or is likely to exist, CASA is required to develop an AD to correct the problem. Commencing 1 January 2018, the AD requires:
1. The removal of each affected primary flight control cable assembly from service before the total time in service of the primary flight control cable assembly exceeds 15 years.
2. The prohibition of installation on any aircraft of a primary flight control cable assembly or part thereof that has been removed in accordance with this AD.
Consultation
CASA has consulted with the Australian aviation industry and the general public via CASA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 1303MS.
Regulation Impact Statement
A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is not required because ADs are covered by a standing agreement between CASA and the Office of Best Practice Regulation under which a RIS is not required for ADs.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.
Making and commencement
The AD has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR 1998 and subsection 94 (1) of the Act.
The instrument commences on 1 February 2015.
[Instrument number AD/GENERAL/87]
Attachment 1
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
AD/GENERAL/87– Primary Flight Control Cable Assembly Retirement
This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the legislative instrument
The legislative instrument is an airworthiness directive (AD). AD/GENERAL/87 has been issued to introduce primary flight control cable assembly life limits.
In accordance with ICAO Annex 8, CASA must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. Consequently, CASA is issuing an AD to correct an identified unsafe condition relating to primary flight control cable assemblies. The AD sets out required remedial action to ensure the removal of each affected primary flight control cable assembly from service before the total time in service of the primary flight control cable assembly exceeds 15 years and prohibit the installation on any aircraft of a primary flight control cable assembly or part thereof that has been removed in accordance with this AD.
Human rights implications
This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.
Conclusion
This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority