AD/GENERAL/87 - Primary Flight Control Cable Assembly Retirement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were enacted to ensure the safety of air navigation and to address safety concerns within the Australian aviation industry. Under this regulatory framework, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is empowered to issue airworthiness directives (ADs) to correct identified unsafe conditions. The AD/GENERAL/87, introduced in 2015, pertains to the retirement of primary flight control cable assemblies and aims to address an identified unsafe condition that may exist or is likely to exist in such assemblies. The AD mandates the removal of affected primary flight control cable assemblies from service before they exceed 15 years in total time in service and prohibits the installation of such assemblies or parts thereof on any aircraft. This measure aligns with international obligations under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, where the State of Design and the State of Registry are responsible for the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. The AD was made by a delegate of CASA under the authority conferred by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and commenced on 1 February 2015. The instrument ensures compliance with human rights, as confirmed by the Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended by AD/GENERAL/87, apply to all aircraft and aeronautical products within Australia, ensuring they meet safety standards for air navigation as mandated by the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The authority to issue such regulations stems from section 98 of the Act, allowing the Governor-General to make rules in the interest of safety, with CASA exercising this authority under regulation 39.001 to issue airworthiness directives. AD/GENERAL/87 specifically mandates the retirement of primary flight control cable assemblies after 15 years of service to address identified unsafe conditions, ensuring compliance with international standards under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. This directive applies to all aircraft registered in Australia, and it is enforced by the State of Registry, which is responsible for maintaining the continuing airworthiness of the aircraft. The directive also prohibits the reinstallation of any retired primary flight control cable assemblies, thereby maintaining stringent safety measures across the Australian aviation industry.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) include the airworthiness directive (AD) AD/GENERAL/87 which mandates specific requirements for the retirement of primary flight control cable assemblies in aircraft. Section 39.001 of the CASR 1998 empowers the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue such directives to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft, and AD/GENERAL/87 is a legislative instrument under section 98(5B) and (5BA) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The directive stipulates that each affected primary flight control cable assembly must be removed from service before it exceeds 15 years in total time in service, and prohibits the installation of any such removed assembly or its parts on any aircraft. Entities governed by this AD, primarily including aircraft operators and maintenance providers, must adhere to the stipulated life limits for primary flight control cable assemblies. They must ensure that affected assemblies are removed from service before they reach 15 years of total time in service and must not reinstall any removed assemblies or their parts. This obligation extends to compliance with all the procedural and documentation requirements specified by CASA in the directive. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/GENERAL/87 may result in significant consequences. The safety of air navigation is paramount, and non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to serious safety risks. CASA has the authority to take enforcement actions against entities that fail to adhere to these safety requirements. Potential penalties for non-compliance could include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions. The specific penalties depend on the severity and circumstances of the non-compliance but are designed to enforce strict adherence to safety standards.