{"id":"F2008L01832","name":"AD/GENERAL/53 - Flight Data Recorder Underwater Locating Device - Installation - CANCELLED","slug":"ad-general-53-flight-data-recorder-underwater-locating-device-installation-cancelled","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":74015,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L01832-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Aircraft - General","sectionType":"division","heading":"Aircraft - General","content":"### Aircraft - General\n\n| AD/GENERAL/53 | Flight Data Recorder UnderwaterLocating Device - Installation | 7/2008 |\n| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Requirement: | CANCELLED.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n|              | This AD is cancelled on 3 July 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |\n| Background:  | This unique Australian AD, issued in 1978, required the installation of an approved underwater locating device to the flight data recorder. The AD required compliance before 1 January 1979. As this AD is now covered by CAO 20.18 and the design standard CASR Part 25, the AD is no longer required. |\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nJames Coyne  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n23 May 2008","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/GENERAL/53","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/GENERAL/53","content":"## AD/GENERAL/53","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Flight Data Recorder UnderwaterLocating ","sectionType":"part","heading":"Flight Data Recorder UnderwaterLocating Device - Installation","content":"## Flight Data Recorder Underwater  \nLocating Device - Installation","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"7/2008","sectionType":"part","heading":"7/2008","content":"## 7/2008","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-batch","completionTokens":1733},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument terminates Airworthiness Directive AD/GENERAL/53 entirely. Rather than expanding the scope, it eliminates the directive because its requirements are now encompassed by CAO 20.18 and CASR Part 25."},"complexity_factors":["Single operative provision (cancellation)","No substantive obligations or conditions imposed","No interpretation section or defined terms","Minimal length (under 100 operative words)","Only references superseding instruments in explanatory background"],"plain_english_summary":"This document **cancels** an old aviation safety rule (Airworthiness Directive 53) that originally required aircraft to install underwater locating beacons on their flight data recorders (black boxes).\n\n**What it does:**\n- Terminates a 1978 directive that mandated underwater locating devices to help find flight recorders after water crashes\n- Removes the standalone compliance deadline (originally 1 January 1979)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe safety standards haven't disappeared—they've simply moved to newer, comprehensive regulations (CAO 20.18 and CASR Part 25). Aircraft operators now follow those broader rules instead of this specific directive.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nAircraft owners and operators who were previously subject to AD/GENERAL/53 now have one less specific directive to track, though they must still comply with the overarching safety standards in the Civil Aviation Orders and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-general-53-flight-data-recorder-underwater-locating-device-installation-cancelled","history":"/api/acts/ad-general-53-flight-data-recorder-underwater-locating-device-installation-cancelled/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-general-53-flight-data-recorder-underwater-locating-device-installation-cancelled/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-general-53-flight-data-recorder-underwater-locating-device-installation-cancelled/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-general-53-flight-data-recorder-underwater-locating-device-installation-cancelled/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-general-53-flight-data-recorder-underwater-locating-device-installation-cancelled/documents"}}