{"id":"F2006B06054","name":"AD/PARA/1 - GQ Security Aeroconical (SAC) Parachutes","slug":"ad-para-1-gq-security-aeroconical-sac-parachutes","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114452,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06054-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PARA/1 - GQ Security Aeroconical (SAC) Parachutes","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Parachute Equipment\n\n \n\nAD/PARA/1 GQ Security Aeroconical (SAC) Parachutes 6/88\n\nApplicability: All model 79A1684 parachute canopies.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Remove or obliterate TSO-C23b marking from the parachute canopy and remove canopy from service.\n\n \n\nFAA AD 88-05-08 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Forthwith.\n\n \n\nBackground: Defective canopies have been found both in Australia and overseas where the fabric adjacent to mesh panels has deteriorated in strength.\n\n \n\nAustralian Parachute Federation (APF) Rigging Advisory Circular (RAC) No 314 refers.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive’s scope is limited to all model 79A1684 parachute canopies and requires their removal from service and obliteration of the TSO-C23b marking. The stated actions align with the stated purpose (fabric deterioration adjacent to mesh panels) and no change of scope from that stated intent is evident in the provided text. (Applicability; Requirement; Background)"},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability (single canopy model 79A1684). (Applicability)","Single, straightforward mandatory action (remove/obliterate TSO marking and remove canopy from service). (Requirement)","Immediate compliance required with no exceptions or phased schedule (“Forthwith”). (Compliance)","Short directive text with no procedural detail about how to dispose, replace, or verify removal. (Requirement)","Cross-references to external guidance (FAA AD and APF RAC) creating some need to consult additional documents for technical detail. (FAA AD 88-05-08 refers; APF RAC No 314 refers)"],"plain_english_summary":"### What this directive does\n\nThis airworthiness directive requires that every parachute canopy of model 79A1684 be taken out of service and that the TSO-C23b marking on the canopy be removed or obliterated. (Requirement; Applicability)\n\n### Who it affects\n\n- Owners and operators of parachutes with canopy model 79A1684. (Applicability)\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the issuing authority for the directive as part of the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations. (header)\n\n### Why it matters / official rationale\n\nThe directive says defective canopies have been found in Australia and overseas where the fabric next to mesh panels has deteriorated in strength. That is given as the reason for removing these canopies from service. (Background)\n\n### How it works mechanically\n\n- Applicability: All model 79A1684 parachute canopies are covered. (Applicability)\n- Mandatory action: Remove or obliterate the TSO-C23b marking from the canopy and remove the canopy from service. (Requirement)\n- Timing: The action must be carried out immediately — “Forthwith.” (Compliance)\n- Cross-references: The directive refers to FAA AD 88-05-08 and the Australian Parachute Federation Rigging Advisory Circular No 314 for related guidance. (FAA AD 88-05-08 refers; APF RAC No 314 refers)\n\n### Who pays, who decides, and what changes in behaviour\n\n- Who decides: CASA issues and enforces the directive as an airworthiness directive under the Civil Aviation Regulations. (header)\n- Who pays: The directive requires owners/operators to remove affected canopies from service and to obliterate the TSO marking; those actions and any replacement or disposal costs fall to the owners/operators. (Requirement; Applicability)\n- Behavioural change required: Owners/operators must stop using each affected 79A1684 canopy immediately and take steps to remove or permanently mark the canopy so it cannot be used (obliterate marking). (Requirement; Compliance)\n\n### Practical trade-offs, costs and implementation notes\n\n- Direct compliance cost: Owners/operators lose the use of each affected canopy and will bear any replacement or disposal cost. (Requirement; Applicability)\n- Timing and flexibility: The requirement is immediate (“Forthwith”), so there is no regulatory grace period or staged compliance. This reduces flexibility for owners/operators. (Compliance)\n- Administrative and operational burden: Owners/operators must identify affected canopies, perform or arrange removal/obliteration and withdraw them from service. The directive does not set out steps for disposal or replacement. (Requirement)\n- Guidance and coordination: The directive points to an FAA airworthiness directive and an APF rigging advisory circular for related information; users are signposted to these for further technical detail. (FAA AD 88-05-08 refers; APF RAC No 314 refers)\n\nThis summary is based solely on the text of the directive provided (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Background; references). It describes the mandated actions, who must act, and the immediate costs and choices required to comply."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete safety directive targeting a specific defective product. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of grounding dangerous parachute canopies."},"complexity_factors":["Single, unambiguous requirement with no conditional logic","No defined terms section — only one model number specified","No cross-references to other legislation sections (only external references to FAA AD and APF circular for background)","Extremely short — approximately 150 words of substantive content","Immediate compliance with no phased implementation or exceptions","Single applicability criterion (model number)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** — essentially a safety order issued by Australia's aviation regulator (CASA) telling parachute owners and operators to immediately stop using a specific type of parachute canopy.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Targets:** All model 79A1684 parachute canopies made by GQ Security Aeroconical (SAC)\n- **Action required:** \n  - Remove or cover up the \"TSO-C23b\" certification marking on the canopy (this marking indicates it meets US technical safety standards)\n  - Take the canopy out of service completely — meaning don't use it for jumping\n- **When:** Immediately (\"forthwith\")\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThese parachute canopies have a dangerous defect. The fabric next to mesh panels has been found to weaken and deteriorate — both in Australia and overseas. A parachute with weakened fabric could fail to open properly or tear during deployment, potentially killing the jumper.\n\n**The bigger picture:**\nThis directive references a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety order (AD 88-05-08) and an Australian Parachute Federation advisory, showing this is a known international safety issue. The TSO marking removal ensures these defective canopies can't be mistaken for airworthy equipment."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-para-1-gq-security-aeroconical-sac-parachutes","history":"/api/acts/ad-para-1-gq-security-aeroconical-sac-parachutes/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-para-1-gq-security-aeroconical-sac-parachutes/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-para-1-gq-security-aeroconical-sac-parachutes/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-para-1-gq-security-aeroconical-sac-parachutes/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-para-1-gq-security-aeroconical-sac-parachutes/documents"}}