Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, were enacted by the Parliament of Australia to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within the country. These regulations aim to maintain high safety standards for aircraft operations, addressing various aspects including airworthiness directives. One such directive is AD/RAD/52, which pertains to the Rockwell International, Collins Air Transport Division DME-700 Distance Measuring Equipment. The directive was introduced to address issues with certain models of DME equipment, which had been experiencing problems such as erroneous distance indications and entering a continuous restart mode upon power application, known as "sleeping" or "deaf" modes. The policy objective of AD/RAD/52 is to mandate the incorporation of specific service bulletins to rectify these operational faults and ensure the reliable functioning of the equipment. Compliance with these directives is essential to maintain the safety and reliability of the affected aircraft and their operations.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, applies to all Rockwell International, Collins Air Transport Division DME-700 Distance Measuring Equipment with designated part numbers and serial numbers, installed on certain aircraft series including Airbus Industrie, Boeing, Fokker, and McDonnell Douglas. This regulation is a Commonwealth instrument aimed at ensuring the safety and reliability of aviation equipment by mandating the incorporation of specified service bulletins to prevent erroneous DME indications and operational failures known as "sleeping" or "deaf" modes. The regulation applies nationwide, enforcing compliance by all relevant entities within the specified timeframe. The requirement necessitates adherence to Collins Air Transport Division Service Bulletins, which must be incorporated according to a detailed schedule outlined in the directive, ensuring that the DME-700 equipment is updated to eliminate the reported operational issues. The application of this legislation is direct, with no stated exclusions or exemptions, and compliance must be achieved by 31 March 1995.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, contains Airworthiness Directives (AD) that govern the maintenance and operation of certain aviation equipment. Under this schedule, AD/RAD/52 pertains to the Rockwell International, Collins Air Transport Division DME-700 Distance Measuring Equipment. This AD applies to all serial numbers of DME-700 equipment with part numbers 622-4540-020, 622-4540-021, 622-4540-022, 622-4540-120, and 622-4540-121. These units are commonly installed on aircraft such as the Airbus Industrie A300, A310, A300-600, A320 and A340, Boeing 737, 747-400, and 767, Fokker F-100, and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and MD-80. The requirement of AD/RAD/52 mandates the incorporation of specific Collins Air Transport Division Service Bulletins (SB) to ensure the proper functioning of the DME-700 equipment. Operators must install SB 20 Revision 1 for part numbers 622-4540-020 and -120, with serial numbers 1 through 4247 inclusive, dated 30 August 1991. SB 25, dated 11 November 1992, applies to part numbers 622-4540-020, -021, and -022, and SB 26, dated 21 October 1992, applies to part numbers 622-4540-120 and -121. It is important to note that SB 20 Revision 1 must be installed before or in conjunction with SB 25, and SB 26 eliminates the need for SB 21. Operators of the affected DME-700 equipment must ensure compliance with these service bulletins to prevent random erroneous distance indications, which are colloquially referred to as'sleeping' or 'deaf' modes. Failure to incorporate the specified service bulletins could lead to operational failures, thus compromising flight safety. Compliance with AD/RAD/52 is mandatory, and all necessary actions must be completed by 31 March 1995. This deadline is crucial to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft equipped with the DME-700 units. The obligations imposed by this directive require operators to meticulously follow the outlined service bulletins and ensure they are correctly implemented before the specified compliance date. Operators must verify the serial numbers and part numbers of the DME-700 equipment on their aircraft and apply the correct service bulletins as per the directive. Documentation and record-keeping of these compliance activities are also essential to demonstrate adherence to the AD and to satisfy any regulatory audits or inspections. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/RAD/52 may result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance, and non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions, including fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft involved. The maximum penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives can include substantial financial penalties and potential legal actions against the operators or owners of the non-compliant aircraft. These measures are intended to ensure that all operators prioritise the safety and reliability of their equipment, thus maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety.