COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Restraint Equipment
AD/RES/2 Inertia Reels - AN-R-29 - Inspection 2/65
Applicability: All inertia reels to US Spec. AN-R-29.
Requirement: Dismantle the inertia reel, clean and inspect for wear and corrosion lubricate where necessary and reassemble. Check the inertia lock for operation by means of a simple bump test.
Compliance: At intervals not exceeding 12 months from date of last inspection.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 107 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, introduce specific regulations concerning restraint equipment, particularly inertia reels as per US Spec. AN-R-29. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation was introduced to address the critical need for regular maintenance and inspection of inertia reels to ensure the ongoing safety and reliability of aviation restraint systems. The policy objective behind these regulations is to maintain a high standard of airworthiness by mandating that inertia reels are dismantled, cleaned, inspected for wear and corrosion, lubricated as necessary, and reassembled. This ensures the inertia lock operates correctly, as verified by a simple bump test, and that such inspections are conducted at intervals not exceeding 12 months from the last inspection to uphold the highest safety standards in civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 107, applies to all inertia reels that comply with US Spec. AN-R-29, which are critical components in aviation safety. These regulations govern the inspection and maintenance of restraint equipment to ensure that the equipment remains in a safe operational condition. The Act applies to the entities responsible for the maintenance of aircraft restraint systems, which includes aircraft manufacturers, maintenance service providers, and operators. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, applying across all states and territories of Australia. Compliance with these regulations is mandatory, with no stated exclusions or exemptions, and involves regular inspections at intervals not exceeding 12 months from the date of the last inspection. These regulations are implemented and enforced through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may also extend or restrict application through subordinate instruments as necessary to ensure safety standards are met.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes a directive on restraint equipment, more precisely on inertia reels specified as AN-R-29. The directive, identified as AD/RES/2, outlines the requirements for the inspection of these inertia reels (Part 39 - 107, AD/RES/2, 2/65). The directive applies to all inertia reels that conform to US Specification AN-R-29. It mandates that these inertia reels must be dismantled, cleaned, and inspected for any signs of wear and corrosion. Lubrication is required where necessary, followed by reassembly of the inertia reel. Additionally, the inertia lock must be checked for proper operation through a simple bump test.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties or entities it governs. These entities are required to ensure that the inertia reels are inspected at regular intervals, specifically not exceeding 12 months from the date of the last inspection (Part 39 - 107, AD/RES/2, 2/65). This involves a meticulous process that includes dismantling the inertia reel, cleaning it, inspecting it for wear and corrosion, and lubricating as needed. Furthermore, the operation of the inertia lock must be verified through a bump test to ensure it functions correctly. These obligations are critical to maintaining the airworthiness and safety standards of aircraft equipment.
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in various civil and criminal consequences. While specific penalties are not detailed in this excerpt, under Australian law, breaches of civil aviation regulations can lead to substantial fines and, in more severe cases, criminal charges. The maximum penalties can vary depending on the nature and severity of the breach, but they are designed to enforce compliance and ensure the highest standards of safety and airworthiness in the aviation industry. The exact penalties would be determined based on the specific regulations and the context of the violation.