Airworthiness Directives and Advisory Circulars Essay

The principal role of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to regulate the air transportation business of the United States. To perform this task efficiently, it has legal powers to enforce governing policies through notifications like Airworthiness Directives and publications like the Advisory Circulars. Airworthiness Directives (ADs) are regulations that can be applied legally by the FAA. They inform the targeted registered operator of a hazardous condition in an aircraft and the necessary measures that should be taken to rectify the situation. On the other hand, Advisory Circulars (ACs) are publications that give directions on how to meet the required standard set by the FAA for air safety. They are meant to provide a further understanding of the already established regulations. Though not entirely similar, ACs and ADs have many commonalities in their importance in aiding FAA to perform efficiently.

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The core purpose of ADs an ACs is to ensure air transportation safety by creating awareness of potential accident causes. It succeeds through aircraft owners adhering to the disseminated information. An AD, for instance, can contain information on a noted unsafe aspect of an aircraft. It will then clarify if the condition is an emergency or notice that should get solved within a given period. If it is an emergency, the aircraft is known to be unairworthy until the AD's requirements get met. Also, the AD will be containing information on the required measures to solve the problem. The registered operators can, however, suggest an alternative standard to comply. Based on the analyzed data, the FAA also decided if there is a need for the alarm to other owners of the affected design of aircraft. On the other hand, ACs contain information on how to comply with given procedures, practices or levels of standards that are considered acceptable by the FAA. ACs can, therefore, include materials that explain these requirements further. While ACs could be recommendations, ADs are mandatory. Due to these purposes, ADs and ACs are essential publications.

The importance of ADs to the flight department manager is that it makes it possible to boost safety in air transportation. Most of the space transportation accidents are fatal. Most of them result from mechanical failures on the planes. ADs are meant to identify and solve these mechanical problems. By warning the aircraft owners, impending dangers get avoided. By fear of repercussions imposed on Registered Operators who fail to adhere to ADs, many aircraft owners comply with these regulations. Most insurance policies do not compensate aircraft accidents caused by defying Airworthiness Directives. On August 2016, a Piper PA28-161 crashed into a lake after its engine lost power. The pilot, who managed to swim safely of the lake, had failed to comply with an AD (AgAir Update, 2016). It shows the necessity of ADs in respect air transportation safety. Therefore, without ADs, it would be difficult for flight department managers to curb accidents caused by mechanical faults.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Airworthiness Directives and Advisory Circulars play a crucial role in aiding FAA to regulate air transportation and curb accidents that are related to mechanical faults. Therefore, it is every aircraft owner's responsibility to both keep in current and adhere to these regulations. Others regulations from the FAA should receive similar adherence. By doing this, there is assurance of curbed air transport accidents.

References

AgAir Update (2016). Airworthiness Directives What is the Process, and Why are they Important? Retrieved from http://www.agairupdate.com/airworthiness-directives-what-is-the-process-and-why-are-they-important/Federal

Aviation Administration (2017). Airworthiness Directives (ADs) Current Only. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/airworthiness_directives/

John M. Allen. (2012). Advisory Circular., U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Aviation Administration.

Boeing (2011). Industry Effort to Improve Airworthiness Implementation Directive Implementation and Compliance. Retrieved from http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/2011_q2/2/