{"id":"F2005L03600","name":"AD/DO 328/3 - RVSM Operations","slug":"ad-do-328-3-rvsm-operations","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":39214,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L03600-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Dornier 328 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Dornier 328 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Dornier 328 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/DO 328/3 | RVSM Operations | 1/2006 DM |\n| ----------- | --------------- | --------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Model 328-100 series aeroplanes, serial numbers 3005 up to and including 3119, without Fairchild Dornier Service Bulletins SB-328-34-413 Revision 1 dated18 November 2002 and either SB-328-53-403 Revision 1 dated 7 November 2002 or Revision 2 dated 13 May 2003 incorporated. |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Amend the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) by inserting the following statement into the Limitations Section, this may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this Directive in the AFM:                                                                                           |\n|                | “Operation in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum airspace is prohibited.”                                                                                                                                                                                                        |\n|                | Note 1: Dornier All Operator Telex AOT-328-34-021 dated 11 September 2002 refers, however the AOT only limits the prohibition to European Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airspace.                                                                                    |\n|                | 2. Perform the actions specified in both SB-328-34-413 Revision 1 andSB-328-53-403 Revision 2.                                                                                                                                                                                    |\n|                | Actions accomplished in accordance with SB-328-53-403 Revision 1, before the effective date of this Directive, are acceptable for partial compliance with this Requirement.                                                                                                       |\n|                | The Requirement 1 AFM amendment may be removed following compliance with Requirement 2.                                                                                                                                                                                           |\n|                | Note 2: LBA AD 2002-337/2 refers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n| Compliance:    | For Requirement 1 - Within seven days after the effective date of this Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n|                | For Requirement 2 - Before requesting an RVSM Airworthiness Approval.                                                                                                                                                                                                             |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 23 November 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n\n| Background: | The German Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) has advised the Eurocontrol has found large height deviations whilst monitoring the performance of the Dornier 328 RVSM fleet and that as a result the approval for RVSM operations has been suspended in European airspace. RVSM operations may be resumed following optional actions in accordance with the two referenced SBs. |\n| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nJames Coyne  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n14 November 2005","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/DO 328/3","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/DO 328/3","content":"## AD/DO 328/3","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"RVSM Operations","sectionType":"part","heading":"RVSM Operations","content":"## RVSM Operations","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"1/2006 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"1/2006 DM","content":"## 1/2006 DM","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Directive is narrowly focused and stays within the original safety purpose: remove aircraft with known altitude‑keeping issues from RVSM until corrective technical work is completed. It does not broaden the subject matter beyond that original intent; it prescribes temporary operational limits and specifies the technical SBs required to restore RVSM approval, without adding new unrelated obligations."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument with two substantive requirements (AFM amendment and SB compliance)","Single, narrow aircraft applicability (serial numbers 3005–3119)","References to two service bulletins with specific revision numbers (SB-328-34-413 Rev 1; SB-328-53-403 Rev 2)","Conditional acceptance of an earlier revision (SB-328-53-403 Rev 1) for partial compliance","Temporary AFM amendment that is removable after SB compliance","Cross-references to external documents (Dornier AOT and LBA AD) that require operators to consult other sources"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- It prohibits certain Dornier 328-100 aeroplanes from operating in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airspace until specific maintenance/inspection work is done. (RVSM is an air traffic procedure that reduces vertical separation between flight levels to increase airspace capacity; it requires tight altitude-keeping performance.)\n- It requires a short-term amendment to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM): insert the limitation “Operation in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum airspace is prohibited.” (Requirement 1.)\n- It requires operators to carry out the actions set out in two manufacturer service bulletins: SB-328-34-413 Revision 1 and SB-328-53-403 Revision 2. If an operator already complied with SB-328-53-403 Revision 1 before the Directive took effect, that earlier work counts as partial compliance. (Requirement 2.)\n- The AFM limitation can be removed once the service-bulletin work is completed. \n- Compliance timing: the AFM amendment must be done within seven days of the Directive taking effect; the SB work must be completed before requesting an RVSM airworthiness approval. The Directive cites an effective date of 23 November 2005.\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- Owners/operators of Dornier 328-100 series aeroplanes with serial numbers 3005 through 3119, but only those that do not already have the specified service bulletins incorporated (SB-328-34-413 Rev 1 and either SB-328-53-403 Rev 1 or Rev 2). \n\n**Why it matters**\n\n- Purpose claimed by the issuing authority: Eurocontrol monitoring and the German Luftfahrt‑Bundesamt (LBA) found substantial height deviations in the Dornier 328 fleet operating in RVSM, and European RVSM approval was suspended until corrective actions. The Directive enforces a temporary ban on RVSM for affected aircraft and mandates corrective work in order to restore RVSM approval. (Background; Requirements 1–2.)\n\n**Practical effects, costs and incentives**\n\n- Direct compliance actions: operators must amend the AFM quickly (low administrative cost) and arrange for the inspections/modifications detailed in the two service bulletins (potentially higher cost and aircraft downtime). (Requirement 1; Requirement 2.)\n- Who pays: the aircraft owner/operator pays for the SB work and for any associated downtime, parts and certification activity required to restore RVSM compliance. \n- Behavioural change: until the SB work is done and RVSM approval is regained, affected aircraft cannot fly in RVSM airspace. That may force route changes, higher-fuel-consumption flight levels, or operational restrictions when flying in regions that require RVSM, producing recurring operational costs. \n- Timing and sequencing: the AFM amendment is a short-term administrative step that must be done within seven days; the substantive technical work must be completed before an RVSM airworthiness approval can be requested. This staging reduces immediate paperwork delay but preserves the operational prohibition until technical compliance. (Compliance.)\n\n**Trade-offs and implementation risks**\n\n- Benefit claimed: reduces risk from altitude deviations by removing non‑compliant aircraft from RVSM until corrective work is done. This is a concentrated safety benefit for airspace users and air traffic management.\n- Costs and opportunity cost: operators bear the financial and scheduling cost of the SB work; there may be limited availability of parts or qualified maintenance capacity, which could extend downtime and magnify operational costs. \n- Substitution effects: operators may avoid affected routes or seek exemptions, increasing complexity in flight planning and potentially reducing commercial efficiency for the affected fleet. \n- Compliance complexity: partial compliance is recognised for earlier versions of one SB (SB-328-53-403 Rev 1) for partial credit, and the AFM restriction is temporary—these conditional rules require operators and maintainers to track exact revision status of SBs and serial-number applicability. (Requirement 2; Notes.)\n\n**Who decides and enforces**\n\n- The regulator (Civil Aviation Safety Authority via the Directive) sets the mandatory actions; enforcement will be through the usual regulatory oversight for airworthiness and operations. Approval to re-enter RVSM airspace requires a follow-on RVSM airworthiness approval once SB work is completed. (Compliance.)\n\n**Source cross-references that matter operationally**\n\n- Two manufacturer service bulletins (SB-328-34-413 Rev 1; SB-328-53-403 Rev 2) define the technical work required. \n- The Directive references a Dornier All Operator Telex (AOT-328-34-021) and an LBA AD (LBA AD 2002-337/2), which provide background and related guidance; operators should check these documents to understand the geographical and historical context of the prohibition (Note 1 and Note 2)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety directive addressing a specific technical issue (height-keeping performance in RVSM operations) for a narrow fleet of aircraft. The scope remains precisely focused on the original safety concern identified by European regulators."},"complexity_factors":["Single-issue directive with only two requirements","Limited applicability (specific serial number range and conditional on prior modifications)","Clear sequential logic (Requirement 1 temporary, Requirement 2 permanent fix)","Cross-references to external technical documents (Service Bulletins) but these are standard in aviation regulation","No nested exceptions or complex conditional logic","Plain language background section explaining the safety rationale","Short document (approximately 300 words of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD grounds Dornier 328‑100 aircraft serials 3005–3119 from RVSM airspace until specified equipment upgrades are installed, after European authorities found large height deviations risking separation. \n\nOperators must add an AFM placard within 7 days prohibiting RVSM flight and install the upgrades in SB‑328‑34‑413 and SB‑328‑53‑403 before resuming RVSM operations. This affects owners/operators of the listed airframes and prevents unsafe high‑altitude operations until corrected."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-do-328-3-rvsm-operations","history":"/api/acts/ad-do-328-3-rvsm-operations/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-do-328-3-rvsm-operations/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-do-328-3-rvsm-operations/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-do-328-3-rvsm-operations/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-do-328-3-rvsm-operations/documents"}}