AD/INST/25 - Aerosonic Encoding Altimeters - Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve as the primary regulatory framework governing aviation safety within the country. Among its various parts, Part 39 - 107 specifically addresses airworthiness directives, ensuring that all aircraft and related equipment meet the necessary safety standards. One such directive, AD/INST/25, pertains to Aerosonic Encoding Altimeters, mandating their replacement to maintain operational safety. This directive was introduced to address the problem of ensuring that specific series 1014 altimeters, identified by serial numbers between 26320C and 28921C, are replaced to prevent potential safety hazards. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1978, reflecting the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's commitment to maintaining stringent safety standards in the aviation industry.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 107, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), pertains to the airworthiness directives, including the replacement of certain aerosonic encoding altimeters. This particular legislation applies to all aerosonic encoding altimeters of series 1014 with serial numbers ranging from 26320C to 28921C, and only those with the suffix 'C' are affected. The requirement outlined in this regulation mandates the replacement of these altimeters with either series 1014 altimeters bearing a serial number outside the specified range, or with a Piper Service Bulletin No. 600-67. Compliance with this directive is to be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 30 April 1978. This legislation operates under the Commonwealth of Australia and has a national reach, applying to all aircraft registered within its jurisdiction that are equipped with the specified altimeters. The scope of the Act is not limited by state or territory boundaries, ensuring uniform safety standards across the aviation industry.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly in PART 39 - 107 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, focus on ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft equipment. Specifically, AD/INST/25 pertains to the replacement of Aerosonic Encoding Altimeters (section 1014) within certain serial number ranges. The directive applies to altimeters with serial numbers ranging from 26320C to 28921C, but only those with the suffix 'C' are affected (section 4/78). The requirement is straightforward: these altimeters must be replaced with series 1014 altimeters that do not fall within the specified serial number range or with a Piper SB No. 600-67 (section 4/78). Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1978 (section 4/78). The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties or entities it governs are clear and precise. Aircraft operators and maintenance personnel must ensure that the specified Aerosonic Encoding Altimeters are either replaced with the correct series 1014 altimeters or an equivalent Piper SB No. 600-67. This obligation extends to verifying the serial numbers of the altimeters in question and ensuring that any replacements are carried out within the stipulated timeframe of 100 hours after 30 April 1978. Proper documentation and record-keeping are also necessary to demonstrate compliance with the directive, which is crucial for both regulatory purposes and safety audits. Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this directive can lead to significant legal consequences. Although the specific offences, penalties, or consequences are not detailed in the provided text, it is generally understood that non-compliance with CASA directives can result in enforcement actions. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory penalties. The severity of the penalties may depend on the extent of non-compliance and the potential risk posed to aviation safety. Therefore, adherence to the directive is not only a regulatory requirement but also a critical safety measure.