{"id":"F2016L00147","name":"AD/GENERAL/37 Amdt 10 — Emergency Exits","slug":"ad-general-37-amdt-10-emergency-exits","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":94014,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2016L00147-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Aircraft - General","sectionType":"division","heading":"Aircraft - General","content":"### Aircraft - General\n\n| AD/GENERAL/37 Amdt 10 | Emergency Exits | 5/2016 |\n| --------------------- | --------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | For aircraft to which Part 42 of CASR 1998 applies, that have an emergency exit which is not a normal entry/exit/service door. This directive does not apply to emergency exits that are destroyed when operated, such as exits that require the smashing of a window or ripping of a fabric panel.                                                                                                                                     |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | With the aircraft in its normal operating configuration (that is, with all trim and interior fittings installed), operate the emergency exits in accordance with the placarded instructions. When the operating mechanism is protected by a breakable cover, this may be removed before operating the exit.                                                                                                                             |\n| Compliance:    | 1. Aircraft not maintained to an approved system of maintenance, or where the approved system of maintenance does not specify periodic checking of the exits’ operation:(a) Unpressurised aircraft: at periods not exceeding 12 months; and(b) Pressurised aircraft: at periods not exceeding 6 months.2. All aircraft: at any time there is role equipment or an interior configuration change that may inhibit operation of the exit. |\n|                | The effective date of this AD is 26 February 2016.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| Background:    | Inspections have revealed that, after a relatively short period of time, it can be impossible in some cases, and extremely difficult in others, to open emergency exits. Experience has also shown opening of exits can be inhibited by equipment/interior reconfigurations installed after testing the exit’s operation.                                                                                                               |\n|                | Amendment 7 ensured that emergency exits which are destroyed during operation were not subject to the requirement.Amendment 8 simplified the applicability and compliance requirements.Amendment 9 corrected the inclusion of aircraft under a system of maintenance in the calendar compliance period requirements.                                                                                                                    |\n|                | Amendment 10 is issued to limit the applicability to of the AD to Part 42 aircraft only. This AD will be repealed after the requirements are incorporated into a future amendment of the Part 42 Manual of Standards.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n\n![VAN DIJK_P](image.001.jpeg)\n\nPieter van Dijk  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n22 February 2016","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/GENERAL/37 Amdt 10","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/GENERAL/37 Amdt 10","content":"## AD/GENERAL/37 Amdt 10","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Emergency Exits","sectionType":"part","heading":"Emergency Exits","content":"## Emergency Exits","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"5/2016","sectionType":"part","heading":"5/2016","content":"## 5/2016","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 10 narrows the AD’s applicability to only aircraft subject to Part 42 of CASR 1998 (Background: “Amendment 10 is issued to limit the applicability ... to Part 42 aircraft only”). Other substantive requirements — operate exits per placards, periodic intervals, and exclusion for destructible exits — remain. The AD is transitional and will be repealed after incorporation into the Part 42 Manual of Standards (Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Targeted applicability: limited to aircraft to which Part 42 of CASR 1998 applies (Applicability; Background — “Amendment 10 is issued to limit the applicability ... to Part 42 aircraft only”).","Differential compliance intervals by pressurisation status (Compliance — unpressurised 12 months; pressurised 6 months).","Conditional checks triggered by non-routine events (Compliance — when role equipment or interior configuration changes may inhibit operation).","Operational detail: requirement to operate exits in normal aircraft configuration and follow placarded instructions (Requirement).","Limited discretion: authorised removal of breakable covers before operation (Requirement — “this may be removed before operating the exit”).","Narrow exclusion: exits destroyed during operation are outside scope (Applicability/Requirement — “does not apply to emergency exits that are destroyed when operated”).","Transitional governance: AD to be repealed once requirements are folded into Part 42 Manual of Standards (Background) — creates a time-limited regulatory overlay.","Compliance linkage to approved maintenance system status (Compliance — different rule where aircraft are not maintained to an approved system or where the system lacks periodic checking)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires operators of aircraft subject to Part 42 of CASR 1998 to periodically operate each emergency exit (with the aircraft in its normal operating configuration) following the placarded instructions to confirm it opens. It excludes emergency exits that are destroyed by use (for example, smashed windows or ripped fabric panels).\n\nUnpressurised aircraft: checks at least every 12 months; pressurised: every 6 months, and after any role-equipment or interior change that may inhibit operation. The AD will be repealed once incorporated into the Part 42 Manual of Standards."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original directive appears to have applied more broadly to aircraft generally. Amendment 10 significantly narrows the scope to only Part 42 aircraft (those under approved maintenance systems). The directive also notes it will be repealed once requirements are absorbed into the Part 42 Manual of Standards, indicating a shift from standalone directive to integrated regulatory framework."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple amendment history referenced (Amendments 7, 8, 9, 10) creating contextual overhead","Dual compliance pathways based on maintenance system status and pressurisation status","Cross-reference to Part 42 of CASR 1998 and Part 42 Manual of Standards","Conditional applicability exclusions (destroyed-when-operated exits)","Trigger-based compliance requirement (interior configuration changes)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Part 42 aircraft to regularly operate and test reusable emergency exits to ensure they open in an emergency. Tests must be done at least every 6 months for pressurised aircraft and every 12 months for unpressurised aircraft, and whenever cabin layout changes could obstruct an exit. The amendment narrows applicability to Part 42 aircraft and the requirements will later be incorporated into the Part 42 Manual of Standards."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-general-37-amdt-10-emergency-exits","history":"/api/acts/ad-general-37-amdt-10-emergency-exits/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-general-37-amdt-10-emergency-exits/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-general-37-amdt-10-emergency-exits/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-general-37-amdt-10-emergency-exits/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-general-37-amdt-10-emergency-exits/documents"}}