Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. This legislative instrument, specifically within Part 39 - 105, addresses safety concerns by issuing airworthiness directives, including AD/SD3-60/31 for the SD3-60 Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the problem of arcing, burnt wires, and smoke in the cockpit due to improperly fitted wiring terminals, which could potentially lead to electrical fires and the loss of essential flight instruments. The policy objective is to ensure that all operators of affected aircraft take appropriate corrective action to mitigate these risks, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of air travel. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, with specific actions detailed in the referenced FAA AD 90-15-07 and AAR Oklahoma Inc. Service Information Letter 5-90-1.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39-105, applies to all model SD3-60 series aeroplanes equipped with AAR Oklahoma, Inc. freon air conditioning systems installed in accordance with STC SA3749SW. This regulation is intended to ensure the airworthiness of these specific aircraft by addressing safety issues related to the air conditioning systems. The applicability extends to all operators of the affected aircraft within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby encompassing both domestic and international operators when their aircraft are within Australian airspace. The regulation requires compliance with FAA AD 90-15-07 Paragraphs A and B, with a particular emphasis on having an Australian Flight Manual amendment specifying the required action for those opting to comply with Paragraph B. 1. of the FAA AD. The regulation also mandates that operators prepare and submit a suitable flight manual to their local Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Field Office for approval if they choose not to insert a copy of the AD in the flight manual. This ensures that all affected aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to prevent electrical fires and the potential loss of essential equipment or flight instruments.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contain an Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertaining to the SD3-60 series aeroplanes equipped with AAR Oklahoma, Inc. freon air conditioning systems (Section 39-105(1)). This AD, numbered AD/SD3-60/31, mandates compliance with FAA AD 90-15-07 Paragraphs A and B, aiming to address issues such as arcing, burnt wires, and smoke in the cockpit due to oversized wiring terminals (Section 39-105(2)). Operators of these aircraft must either adhere to the specified FAA actions or ensure their Australian Flight Manual includes the necessary amendments, with submissions for approval to be made to the local Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Field Office (Section 39-105(3)). Operators of affected aircraft must comply with the requirements as detailed in the FAA AD 90-15-07. For those opting to comply with Paragraph B.1 of the FAA AD, it is mandatory to have an Australian Flight Manual amendment that outlines the required actions (Section 39-105(4)). Instead of inserting a copy of the AD in the flight manual, operators can submit a suitable flight manual to their local CAA Field Office for approval (Section 39-105(5)). This ensures the safety measures are effectively documented and approved for operational use. The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators of SD3-60 series aeroplanes. They must ensure that any wiring terminals are appropriately sized for the studs to prevent arcing, burnt wires, and smoke in the cockpit (Section 39-105(6)). This involves either following the FAA AD 90-15-07 actions or amending the Australian Flight Manual to include the required actions (Section 39-105(7)). Failure to comply with these requirements could lead to serious safety issues, including electrical fires and loss of essential equipment or flight instruments (Section 39-105(8)). Non-compliance with the AD can result in significant civil and criminal consequences. The AD stipulates that operators must ensure compliance as specified in the requirement documents, with an effective date of 6 October 1990 (Section 39-105(9)). Failure to adhere to these provisions could potentially lead to severe penalties, including fines or other civil actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Section 39-105(10)). Additionally, operators may face criminal charges if their non-compliance results in safety hazards or accidents (Section 39-105(11)). The exact penalties are not detailed in the AD but can be severe, reflecting the critical nature of ensuring airworthiness and safety in aviation operations.