COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Radio Communication and Navigation Equipment
AD/RAD/51 Rockwell International/Collins Aviation
Division TDR-94D Transponder
6/93
Applicability: Rockwell International/Collins Aviation Division TDR-94D Mode S Transponders installed on, but not limited to, the following airplanes:
Saab 340A and 340B, Short Brothers SD3-60,
de Havilland DHC-8 series, Grumman Gulfstram G1159 series,
Dassault Mystere-Falcon 200 and 900, Canadair Challenger CL-601 series, British Aerospace HS 125-700 series, and Beechcraft 300 series.
Requirement: 1. Fabricate a placard with the following words in letters at least 25mm in height and install the placard within the pilot’s clear view on the instrument panel:
`OPERATION OF TCAS II IN ANY MODE OTHER THAN THE “TA ONLY” MODE IS PROHIBITED’
2. Modify the software of the transponder in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Collins Service Bulletin TDR-94/94D-34-6 Revision 2 dated
21 September 1992. (The placard mandated by Requirement 1 is no longer necessary after this Modification is incorporated.)
Note: FAA AD 93-04-02 Amendment 39-8504 refers.
Compliance: Requirement 1 - Prior to 7 June 1993.
Requirement 2 - Prior to 1 December 1993.
Background: Tests have revealed that these Mode S Transponders, when operating in the resolution advisory mode, may loose the capability of co-ordinating with other aircraft. This could result in a near-hit situation or mid-air collision. Compliance with this Directive is intended to prevent collisions or near hits caused by failure of these Mode S Transponders.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, contain numerous provisions aimed at ensuring the safety of civil aviation within Australia. Part 39 of these regulations, which deals with airworthiness directives, includes specific requirements for the maintenance and operation of aircraft components, including radio communication and navigation equipment. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B06508, targets a specific safety issue identified with Rockwell International/Collins Aviation Division TDR-94D Mode S Transponders installed in various aircraft models. The problem this legislation addresses is the potential for these transponders to malfunction in a manner that could lead to near-collisions or actual mid-air collisions when operating in resolution advisory mode. The policy objective is to mitigate these risks through the mandatory installation of placards and software modifications to ensure the safe operation of these transponders.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, mandate that certain Rockwell International/Collins Aviation Division TDR-94D Mode S Transponders installed in specified aircraft models, including Saab 340A and 340B, Short Brothers SD3-60, de Havilland DHC-8 series, Grumman Gulfstram G1159 series, Dassault Mystere-Falcon 200 and 900, Canadair Challenger CL-601 series, British Aerospace HS 125-700 series, and Beechcraft 300 series, must comply with Airworthiness Directive AD/RAD/51. This directive applies to the entities and aircraft that have the specified transponders installed. Compliance with the directive is mandatory to ensure the safety of radio communication and navigation equipment by preventing potential near-hit situations or mid-air collisions due to transponder malfunctions when operating in resolution advisory mode. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this regulation is nationwide, as it falls under the Commonwealth of Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Compliance must be achieved by installing a placard as per Requirement 1 prior to 7 June 1993 and modifying the transponder software as per Requirement 2 prior to 1 December 1993. Once the software modification is completed, the placard is no longer necessary. This directive extends its application through subordinate instruments, such as the FAA AD 93-04-02 Amendment 39-8504, which provides further details on compliance.
Key Provisions
The main sections of this legislative instrument are the applicability and requirement sections, which detail the specific aircraft and modifications needed for compliance. Section (Applicability) outlines the specific aircraft types, including Saab 340A and B, Short Brothers SD3-60, de Havilland DHC-8 series, and others, on which the Rockwell International/Collins Aviation Division TDR-94D Mode S Transponders must be installed. Section (Requirement) specifies two modifications: the first is to fabricate a placard with certain words and install it within the pilot's clear view on the instrument panel, and the second is to modify the transponder software in line with the Collins Service Bulletin TDR-94/94D-34-6 Revision 2 dated 21 September 1992. The placard is no longer necessary once the software modification is incorporated.
The Act imposes obligations on the operators and owners of the specified aircraft. They must ensure that the placard is installed as required by Section (Requirement 1) before 7 June 1993. Furthermore, they must also ensure that the software modification is completed as per the instructions in Section (Requirement 2) before 1 December 1993. These obligations are critical for maintaining air safety by preventing near-hit situations or mid-air collisions caused by transponder failure.
Failure to comply with these requirements can result in civil and possibly criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the extract, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations can generally lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include fines, operational restrictions, or other punitive measures. The severity of these consequences depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, but they are designed to ensure that all operators adhere strictly to the safety directives outlined in the Act.