AD/SEATS/13 Amdt 1 - SICMA AERO SEAT and FARNER Cabin Attendant Seats

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), include Part 39, which outlines the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This legislative instrument, F2006B06919, was introduced to address safety concerns specifically related to the design and functionality of cabin attendant seats manufactured by SICMA AERO and FARNER. This legislation was enacted to mandate the installation of protective fairings on certain cabin attendant seats to prevent injuries caused by fingers being trapped in the bottom folding mechanism. Compliance with these directives is critical to ensure the airworthiness and safety of aircraft, particularly for passengers and crew. This particular amendment, effective from 17 June 1999, required the installation of protection fairings and the replacement of identification placards on affected seats before 17 August 1999, reflecting a commitment to passenger and crew safety as articulated by CASA and the DGAC.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39, mandates Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safety of aircraft and their occupants. AD/SEATS/13 Amendment 1 applies to all SICMA AERO SEAT cabin attendant seats series 150, 151, 160, and 161, as well as FARNER cabin attendant seats series 150 type WN and 151 type FN, which are used in Airbus A319, A320, and A321 series aircraft. The directive requires the installation of two protection fairings on each affected seat, adhering to specific service bulletins to mitigate the risk of injury from the seat's bottom folding mechanism. The requirement also includes replacing the existing identification placard with a new one as per the service bulletin instructions. Compliance with this amendment must be achieved before 17 August 1999, with the amendment becoming effective on 17 June 1999. This legislative instrument is designed to enhance safety by preventing injuries caused by the trapping of fingers in the seat's folding mechanism.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39, Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/SEATS/13 Amendment 1, pertain to the installation of protective measures on certain SICMA AERO SEAT and FARNER cabin attendant seats. Section (1) identifies the specific seat models affected, namely all SICMA AERO SEAT cabin attendant seats series 150, 151, 160, and 161, as well as all FARNER cabin attendant seats series 150 type WN and 151 type FN. The requirement outlined in Section (2) mandates the installation of two protection fairings P/N 160100-49 on each affected seat, in accordance with the specified service bulletins. For SICMA AERO SEAT seats, this involves following the instructions in Service Bulletins 150-25-026, 151-25-027, 151-25-032, 160-25-028, or 161-25-029, while for FARNER seats, it involves Service Bulletins 150-25-036 or 151-25-037. Additionally, the existing identification placard must be replaced according to the instructions in paragraph 3 of the service bulletin. Compliance with these directives must be achieved before 17 August 1999, as per the amendment which became effective on 17 June 1999. The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this Act include ensuring that the specified cabin attendant seats are fitted with the required protective fairings and that the identification placards are replaced as mandated. This is to address the safety issue where the bottom folding mechanism of the seats has a gap, posing a risk of injury to children who could have their fingers trapped. The installation must be carried out in strict adherence to the detailed instructions provided in the relevant service bulletins. Furthermore, operators and maintainers of aircraft equipped with these seats must ensure that all modifications and replacements are completed within the stipulated timeframe. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this Airworthiness Directive may result in severe consequences. Section (3) of the regulations specifies that non-compliance could lead to civil and criminal penalties. Specifically, individuals and entities responsible for the oversight and maintenance of the affected seats could face fines and other legal repercussions. The exact penalties are not detailed in the provided text but typically, non-compliance with civil aviation safety directives can result in substantial financial penalties, operational restrictions, or even imprisonment in severe cases. The overarching aim of these provisions is to ensure the highest standards of safety in aviation, thereby protecting the passengers and crew on board.