{"id":"F2009L03114","name":"AD/B717/18 Amdt 1 - Passenger Oxygen Release System","slug":"ad-b717-18-amdt-1-passenger-oxygen-release-system","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":80833,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L03114-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Boeing 717 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Boeing 717 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Boeing 717 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/B717/18 Amdt 1 | Passenger Oxygen Release System | 9/2009 |\n| ----------------- | ------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 aeroplanes, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 717-35A0003, Revision 1, dated 7 June 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Replace the relay in the passenger oxygen release system in the forward cabin with a new relay and test for proper operation in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of ASB 717-35A0003, Revision 1.                                                                                                                                                                   |\n|                | Replacements and tests accomplished before the effective date of this Directive in accordance with ASB 717-35A0003, dated 19 November 2004, are acceptable for compliance with Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                         |\n|                | Later revisions of the ASB 717-35A0003, Revision 1, approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) to FAA AD 2005-16-08, are considered acceptable for compliance with the equivalent Requirements of this Directive.                                                                                            |\n|                | Modifying the aircraft in accordance with either Boeing Service Bulletin (SB)717-35-0004 original issue dated 10 January 2006 or Revision 1, dated 3 May 2006, as applicable by aircraft group identified in the SB, is optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.                                                                                               |\n|                | Note 1: SB 717-35-0004 Revision 1 requires more work to be accomplished on Group 2 and 3 aeroplanes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n|                | Note 2: FAA AD 2005-16-08 Amdt 39-14213 refers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| Compliance:    | For Group 1 aeroplanes, as identified in the ASB - Within six months after the effective date of the original issue of this Directive and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 3,100 flight cycles, until the aircraft is modified in accordance with SB717-35-0004 or Revision 1, as applicable.                                                                                |\n|                | For Group 2 aeroplanes, as identified in the ASB - Before the accumulation of 3,100 total flight cycles, or within six months after the effective date of the original issue of this Directive, whichever is later, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 3,100 flight cycles, until the aircraft is modified in accordance with SB 717-35-0004 or Revision 1, as applicable. |\n\n|             | This Amendment becomes effective on 27 August 2009.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Background: | The FAA has received reports of a failed relay in the passenger oxygen release system, which could result in the oxygen masks failing to deploy and deliver oxygen to the passengers in the event of a rapid decompression or cabin depressurization.The original issue of this Directive required the repetitive replacing and testing a relay in the passenger oxygen release system in the forward cabin.This Amendment continues the repetitive inspection requirements but introduces an optional termination action to the repetitive inspections. |\n|             | The original issue of this Directive became effective on 29 September 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nJames Coyne  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n30 June 2009","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/B717/18 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/B717/18 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/B717/18 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Passenger Oxygen Release System","sectionType":"part","heading":"Passenger Oxygen Release System","content":"## Passenger Oxygen Release System","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"9/2009","sectionType":"part","heading":"9/2009","content":"## 9/2009","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose: ensuring the passenger oxygen release system on Boeing 717-200 aircraft functions properly. The amendment introduces an optional terminating action (permanent modification) to reduce the burden of repetitive inspections, but this is a refinement rather than scope creep. The core safety objective — fixing the relay fault — remains unchanged from the original 2005 directive."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple aircraft groupings (Group 1 and Group 2) with different compliance timelines","Cross-references to external Boeing documents (ASB 717-35A0003, SB 717-35-0004) and US FAA regulations (FAA AD 2005-16-08)","Conditional compliance paths: repetitive inspections OR optional terminating modification","Acceptance of prior work done under earlier document revisions as compliant","Technical aviation terminology (flight cycles, Alert Service Bulletin, AMOC) requiring domain knowledge"],"plain_english_summary":"CASA orders operators of Boeing 717‑200s identified in Boeing Alert SB 717‑35A0003 to replace and test a faulty forward‑cabin oxygen‑system relay and to repeat the test every 3,100 flight cycles until a terminating modification is installed. Failure could prevent passenger oxygen mask deployment during depressurisation, risking lives."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This amendment maintains the original repetitive relay replacement and test requirement but expands the compliance options by adding an optional terminating action: modification per Boeing SB717-35-0004 (original or Revision 1) that stops the repetitive inspections. It also formalises acceptance of later ASB revisions if approved by the FAA as AMOCs. In practical terms, the Directive’s scope did not add new aircraft or a new safety target, but it materially changed compliance pathways and operator choices by allowing a one‑time modification to terminate ongoing obligations and by tying acceptable methods to FAA AMOC approvals."},"complexity_factors":["References multiple external service documents (ASB 717-35A0003 Rev 1, earlier ASB dated 19 Nov 2004, SB717-35-0004 original and Revision 1, FAA AD 2005-16-08)","Conditional compliance tied to aircraft groups (Group 1 and Group 2 identified in the ASB; Note referencing Group 3 work under SB)","Two distinct compliance pathways (repetitive replacement/test vs optional terminating modification)","Timed intervals and thresholds (initial timing differs by group; ongoing intervals every 3,100 flight cycles)","Acceptance of later FAA-approved ASB revisions as AMOCs (dependency on external regulator approvals)","Cross-jurisdictional referencing (CASA directive relies on FAA AD/AMOC for acceptable methods)","Explicit grandfathering of earlier work (accepts compliance done under the 19 Nov 2004 ASB)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- Applies to McDonnell Douglas/Boeing Model 717-200 aeroplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 717-35A0003, Revision 1 (dated 7 June 2005).\n- Requires replacement of a relay in the passenger oxygen release system in the forward cabin with a new relay, and testing the system for correct operation, following the Accomplishment Instructions in ASB 717-35A0003, Revision 1.\n- Work already done in accordance with the earlier ASB dated 19 November 2004 is accepted as compliant.\n- Later revisions of ASB 717-35A0003 that the United States FAA has approved as an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) to FAA AD 2005-16-08 are treated as acceptable for compliance with this Directive.\n- Offers an optional terminating action: operators may modify the aircraft in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin SB717-35-0004 (original or Revision 1, as applicable to aircraft group). If the SB modification is performed, the repetitive relay replacement/testing requirement stops.\n- Notes that SB717-35-0004 Revision 1 requires additional work on Group 2 and Group 3 aeroplanes.\n\n**Compliance timing (how often and when)**\n\n- Group 1 aeroplanes (as identified in the ASB): replace and test the relay within six months after the effective date of the original Directive, and then repeat the replacement/test every 3,100 flight cycles until the aircraft is modified per SB717-35-0004 (or Revision 1).\n- Group 2 aeroplanes: do the initial replacement/test before accumulating 3,100 total flight cycles, or within six months after the directive’s effective date, whichever is later; thereafter repeat every 3,100 flight cycles until modified per the SB.\n\n**Why the measure exists (official rationale) and what that implies practically**\n\n- The FAA reported relay failures in the passenger oxygen release system. A failed relay can prevent passenger oxygen masks from deploying and supplying oxygen in the event of rapid decompression. The Directive therefore imposes a repetitive replacement-and-test requirement to reduce the risk of mask non-deployment.\n- The amendment keeps the repetitive inspection/replacement requirement but adds a practical option: perform a one‑time modification per Boeing SB717-35-0004 to eliminate the need for ongoing relay replacements.\n\n**Who this affects and who pays**\n\n- Affected parties: owners/operators of Boeing/McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 aircraft listed in the ASB.  \n- Costs fall on those operators: they must buy the replacement relay parts, pay labour for replacement and testing, and absorb aircraft downtime. Electing the SB modification will typically incur a larger one‑off cost (and possibly longer downtime) but stops the recurring replacement expense and operational disruption.\n- Regulators (CASA) enforce compliance; operators decide whether to continue repetitive replacements or do the SB modification to terminate the recurring requirement.\n\n**Operational trade-offs, incentives, and implementation risks**\n\n- Trade-off: recurring, lower-cost replacements and tests versus a larger up-front modification cost that ends repetitive work. Operators with high utilisation may prefer the terminating modification; low‑utilisation operators may prefer the periodic replacement cadence.\n- Incentives: the optional terminating action creates a clear financial decision for operators (pay now to avoid repeat future costs). Boeing’s SB can concentrate costs on operators who choose early modification; deferred modifiers continue to bear repeated costs and administrative burden.\n- Implementation risks: compliance depends on operators correctly following the ASB/SB instructions and keeping accurate maintenance records; CASA must monitor compliance. Changes the FAA later approves as AMOCs may alter acceptable procedures, so operators that rely on FAA AMOCs must track those FAA approvals.\n- Substitution effects: operators might adjust maintenance schedules or fleet deployment to delay initial replacement (if permissible by intervals), or choose modification when practical (e.g. at a heavy maintenance check) to minimise downtime impact.\n\n**Concrete legal mechanics to note**\n\n- The Directive explicitly accepts earlier ASB work (19 Nov 2004) as compliant, which avoids rework for operators who acted earlier.\n- Later ASB revisions approved by the FAA as AMOCs are accepted for compliance here, creating dependence on FAA AMOC decisions.\n- The SB termination route is optional, so the Directive does not force a one‑time universal modification but provides that choice.\n\n**Key cross-references**\n\n- Boeing ASB 717-35A0003 (Rev 1) and the earlier ASB dated 19 Nov 2004.  \n- Boeing SB717-35-0004 (original and Revision 1).  \n- FAA AD 2005-16-08 (and FAA AMOC approvals referenced).\n\nOverall, the Directive prescribes a specific hardware replacement and testing regime to mitigate a failure mode that affects passenger oxygen mask deployment, while providing an optional modification pathway to eliminate repetitive maintenance obligations."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b717-18-amdt-1-passenger-oxygen-release-system","history":"/api/acts/ad-b717-18-amdt-1-passenger-oxygen-release-system/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b717-18-amdt-1-passenger-oxygen-release-system/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b717-18-amdt-1-passenger-oxygen-release-system/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b717-18-amdt-1-passenger-oxygen-release-system/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b717-18-amdt-1-passenger-oxygen-release-system/documents"}}