{"id":"F2006B09539","name":"AD/EMY/20 - Life Jackets - Pressure Test","slug":"ad-emy-20-life-jackets-pressure-test","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":54160,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09539-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/EMY/20 - Life Jackets - Pressure Test","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nEmergency Equipment\n\nAD/EMY/20 Life Jackets \\- Pressure Test 4/84\n\nApplicability: All RFD lifejackets Type 102 MKI and 1B, MK2, 2A, 2B and 2BA. For adult and crew, and type 105 MKI infant, manufactured before March 1980.\n\nDocument: Refer to the appropriate RFD Overhaul Manual, Section B, Testing and, observing the procedure for testing stated, carry out a 1400 mm (55 inches) water gauge pressure test for a period of 5 to 10 minutes.\n\nReadjust pressure to 305mm (12 inches) water gauge. After a further 5 minutes, when corrected for temperature variation, the pressure shall not be less than 275 mm (10.8 inches) water gauge.\n\nNote: RFD Service Bulletin 25-33 refers.\n\nCompliance: At next scheduled inspection.\n\nBackground: It has been established that earlier types of polyurethane coatings are subject to deterioration under conditions of combined high heat and humidity. Appropriate overhaul manuals will be amended to reflect the requirements of RFD SB. 25-33.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive does not broaden which items are regulated; it prescribes an additional mandatory test and requires overhaul manuals to be amended (see Applicability, Document, Compliance, Background). It adds a procedural requirement at routine inspections rather than extending the set of regulated equipment or duties."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability to specific RFD lifejacket models and manufacture date (Applicability) — requires operators to identify affected units.","Detailed, technical pressure-testing steps with precise pressures and timings (Document) — needs calibrated test equipment and trained personnel.","Temperature-correction requirement (Document) — adds measurement and calculation step to pass/fail decision.","Reliance on external overhaul manual and RFD Service Bulletin 25-33 (Document/Note) — implementers must consult other documents for full procedure.","Compliance timing tied to next scheduled inspection (Compliance) — impacts maintenance planning and scheduling.","Potential downstream cost for repairs or replacement if units fail the test (implicit from test outcome and Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"AD/EMY/20 requires specified RFD lifejackets made before March 1980 to undergo a pressure test at the next scheduled inspection: hold at 1400 mm water gauge for 5–10 minutes, then reduce to 305 mm for 5 minutes; after correcting for temperature the pressure must not be less than 275 mm. It applies to listed adult, crew and infant types and refers operators and maintenance organisations to the RFD overhaul manual and Service Bulletin 25-33 because of suspected polyurethane coating deterioration."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive focused on a specific equipment defect. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring life jacket integrity."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 2 defined technical terms (water gauge pressure measurements)","Single, clear compliance pathway with no exceptions or alternatives","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a service bulletin reference","Straightforward applicability criteria (specific model numbers and manufacturing date cutoff)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's aviation safety regulator (CASA). It requires specific life jackets used in aircraft to undergo a pressure test to check they're still safe to use.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Orders owners/operators to test certain older RFD life jacket models (Types 102 and 105, manufactured before March 1980)\n- Requires a specific pressure test: inflate to 1400mm water pressure for 5-10 minutes, then adjust to 305mm and check it doesn't drop below 275mm after 5 minutes\n- The test checks for leaks in the life jacket's inflation system\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Aircraft operators using these specific old RFD life jacket models\n- Maintenance personnel responsible for aircraft emergency equipment\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Old polyurethane coatings on these life jackets can break down in hot, humid conditions, potentially causing them to fail when needed in an emergency\n- This directive prevents life jackets from failing to inflate properly during an aircraft ditching (emergency water landing)\n\n**When to comply:** At the next scheduled inspection of the equipment."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-emy-20-life-jackets-pressure-test","history":"/api/acts/ad-emy-20-life-jackets-pressure-test/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-emy-20-life-jackets-pressure-test/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-emy-20-life-jackets-pressure-test/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-emy-20-life-jackets-pressure-test/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-emy-20-life-jackets-pressure-test/documents"}}