{"id":"F2006B02961","name":"AD/B737/61 Amdt 1 - Main Deck Cargo Compartment","slug":"ad-b737-61-amdt-1-main-deck-cargo-compartment","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":42303,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B02961-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/B737/61 Amdt 1 - Main Deck Cargo Compartment","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nBoeing 737 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/B737/61\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nMain Deck Cargo Compartment 8/93\n\nApplicability: Model 737 equipped with a main deck class B cargo compartment with a volume exceeding 5.66 cubic metres (200 cubic feet).\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 93-07-15 Amdt 39- 6986.\n\nCompliance: As specified in the Requirement Document with a revised effective date of 22 July 1993 for Australian registered aircraft.\n\nBackground: Following the loss of a Boeing model 747-200 “Combi” aircraft that developed a major fire in the main deck cargo compartment, the FAA carried out an evaluation of fire protection requirements of such aircraft. The conclusion indicated that the fire protection requirements for class B cargo compartments are inadequate. Amendment 1 has been raised to apply FAA AD 93-07-15 which supersedes AD 91-10-02.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This Amendment (Amdt 1) updates the earlier Australian directive by applying FAA AD 93-07-15 in place of the previous AD (AD 91-10-02). Mechanically, the scope is changed to require compliance with the FAA’s revised technical requirements for class B main deck cargo compartments and sets a revised effective date of 22 July 1993 for Australian-registered aircraft. (Requirement; Background; Compliance)"},"complexity_factors":["Incorporation by reference of an external technical document (FAA AD 93-07-15) rather than reproducing technical steps increases lookup/coordination complexity (Requirement).","Narrow, technical applicability limited to a specific model and a compartment-size threshold requires careful applicability checks by operators and maintainers (Applicability).","Requirement sets compliance based on an effective date revised for Australian aircraft, creating a specific calendar compliance obligation (Compliance).","Regulatory linkage to a foreign authority’s technical judgment (FAA) means the substantive requirements are governed outside the text of this AD (Requirement; Background).","The AD supersedes an earlier AD (AD 91-10-02), so affected parties must ensure they follow the current amendment rather than prior instructions (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanical change)\n\n- This Airworthiness Directive (AD) makes a specific safety requirement mandatory for a subset of Boeing 737 aeroplanes registered in Australia. (Applicability; Requirement)\n- It requires operators of those aeroplanes to carry out the technical actions set out in FAA AD 93-07-15 (Amendment 39-6986). The AD does not reproduce the technical steps; it incorporates the FAA document by reference. (Requirement)\n- The compliance timetable for Australian-registered aircraft is set by this AD, with a revised effective date of 22 July 1993. (Compliance)\n\nWho is affected\n\n- The rule applies only to Boeing 737 aeroplanes that have a main deck class B cargo compartment larger than 5.66 cubic metres (200 cubic feet). Operators, owners and maintenance organisations responsible for those Australian-registered aeroplanes must comply. (Applicability)\n\nWhy the rule is stated to matter (source claim) and how that interacts with costs and incentives\n\n- The AD cites a safety evaluation by the FAA following the loss of a Boeing 747-200 “Combi” that suffered a major fire in its main deck cargo compartment. The FAA concluded that fire protection for class B cargo compartments was inadequate and issued AD 93-07-15; this Australian AD applies that FAA AD to the identified 737s. (Background; Requirement)\n\n- The AD therefore makes the FAA’s technical requirements compulsory for the affected Australian aircraft. That transfers the obligation to act, and the associated costs (inspections, modifications, parts, labour, and aircraft downtime), to the operators and owners of the affected aeroplanes. The AD itself does not list those technical tasks or costs; it directs readers to the FAA document for the precise work and timing. (Requirement; Compliance)\n\nCompliance burden and implementation mechanics\n\n- To comply, operators must obtain and follow FAA AD 93-07-15 and any related Requirement Document referenced by this AD. Because the technical content is in an external FAA document, compliance requires cross-checking two documents: this AD (which creates the duty to comply for Australian aircraft) and the FAA AD (which sets the technical steps and times). (Requirement)\n- The AD revises the effective date to 22 July 1993 for Australian-registered aircraft, so operators must ensure compliance by the dates specified in the incorporated FAA AD as adjusted by this instrument. (Compliance)\n\nDecision authority, discretion and regulatory linkage\n\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (the issuing authority of this Schedule of Airworthiness Directives) enforces the AD for Australian-registered aircraft; the FAA AD supplies the technical requirements that the AD makes mandatory in Australia. (Requirement)\n- Because the technical direction is adopted from an FAA action, the Australian AD’s substantive content depends on the FAA’s technical judgments rather than text reproduced here. (Requirement)\n\nTrade-offs, risks and possible behavioural effects (mechanism-focused)\n\n- Who pays: operators/owners of affected 737s pay for the work required by the FAA AD and for any associated operational disruption. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- Incentives: making the FAA technical prescription mandatory increases compliance pressure on operators; if compliance costs are high, operators may reconsider use of the compartment, maintenance schedules, or aircraft deployment decisions to manage costs or downtime. (Requirement)\n- Implementation risk and administrative burden: effective compliance requires timely access to the FAA AD and any Australian Requirement Document; failure to follow the incorporated FAA document still contravenes this AD. (Requirement; Compliance)\n- Interaction with prior rules: this Amendment 1 replaces the previous AD (AD 91-10-02) by applying the updated FAA AD (AD 93-07-15), so operators must follow the current FAA-derived requirements rather than the earlier AD. (Background)\n\nBottom line (practical takeaways)\n\n- If you operate an Australian-registered Boeing 737 with a main deck class B cargo compartment larger than 5.66 m3, this AD requires you to perform the technical actions set out in FAA AD 93-07-15 by the compliance times specified (with the AD’s effective date of 22 July 1993). The operator bears the cost and responsibility to obtain and implement the FAA-prescribed work. (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard amendment to an existing Airworthiness Directive. It updates the technical requirements to match a revised FAA directive, replacing the previous version (AD 91-10-02). The scope remains tightly focused on fire safety for main deck cargo compartments in Boeing 737 aircraft — consistent with the original safety purpose following the 747 Combi accident."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 300 words)","Only 4 defined structural elements (Applicability, Requirement, Compliance, Background)","Single cross-reference to external FAA document (AD 93-07-15)","No nested conditions or exceptions","No interpretation section or defined terms","Straightforward mandatory obligation with clear applicability criteria"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — essentially a mandatory safety order for aircraft owners and operators. It applies to **Boeing 737 aircraft** that have been modified to carry cargo on the main passenger deck (specifically, those with a large Class B cargo compartment over 200 cubic feet).\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires owners/operators to follow specific technical instructions from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA AD 93-07-15) to improve fire safety in these cargo compartments.\n- This replaces an earlier directive (AD 91-10-02) with updated requirements.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- This rule was triggered by a fatal accident — a Boeing 747-200 \"Combi\" (mixed passenger/cargo) aircraft crashed after a major fire broke out in its main deck cargo area.\n- The investigation found that existing fire protection rules for this type of cargo compartment were **inadequate**.\n- The directive closes that safety gap by mandating better fire detection and suppression systems.\n\n**Who must comply:**\n- Australian-registered Boeing 737 operators with main deck cargo modifications.\n- Compliance deadline: 22 July 1993 for Australian aircraft.\n\n**In short:** If you're flying a modified Boeing 737 with a big cargo bay upstairs, you must upgrade your fire safety systems to prevent a repeat of the 747 disaster."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b737-61-amdt-1-main-deck-cargo-compartment","history":"/api/acts/ad-b737-61-amdt-1-main-deck-cargo-compartment/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b737-61-amdt-1-main-deck-cargo-compartment/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b737-61-amdt-1-main-deck-cargo-compartment/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b737-61-amdt-1-main-deck-cargo-compartment/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b737-61-amdt-1-main-deck-cargo-compartment/documents"}}