{"id":"F2006B06263","name":"AD/PL 12/17 - Pilot Compartment/Restraint - Modification","slug":"ad-pl-12-17-pilot-compartment-restraint-modification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":47264,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B06263-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/PL 12/17 - Pilot Compartment/Restraint - Modification","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 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Transavia PL 12 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/PL 12/17 Pilot Compartment/Restraint - Modification 9/78\n\nApplicability: All PL-12 Series.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Modify fuel pump switch and hopper door level installations to improve in-flight accessibility according to a scheme approved by the Secretary, or modify the pilot's safety harness by fitment of an inertia reel satisfying the requirements of ANO 108.42.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Before 1 October 1979.\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\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This directive imposes new mandatory modifications on all PL-12 series aircraft where none are described in the text prior to compliance: owners/operators must either alter cockpit installations for in-flight accessibility under a Secretary-approved scheme or fit an inertia reel meeting ANO 108.42, with completion required by 1 October 1979 (Applicability..., Requirement..., Compliance...). That changes the regulatory obligations applicable to these aircraft by adding compulsory physical modification and associated approval/compliance steps."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability covers all PL-12 series aircraft (clear but broad) (Applicability: All PL-12 Series).","Two alternative compliance routes create a decision for operators (modify cockpit installations OR fit inertia reel) (Requirement...).","One route requires a scheme approved by the Secretary, introducing administrative discretion and an approval step (Requirement: ...according to a scheme approved by the Secretary).","The inertia-reel option is tied to an external technical standard (ANO 108.42), requiring interpretation and technical compliance (Requirement: ...satisfying the requirements of ANO 108.42).","A fixed compliance deadline imposes scheduling pressure and potential aircraft downtime (Compliance: Before 1 October 1979)."],"plain_english_summary":"This airworthiness directive applies to every Transavia PL-12 series aeroplane (Applicability: All PL-12 Series). It requires owners/operators to do one of two things before 1 October 1979 (Compliance: Before 1 October 1979):\n\n- Modify the fuel pump switch and the hopper door level installations so they are more accessible in flight, following a modification scheme that must be approved by the Secretary (Requirement: Modify fuel pump switch and hopper door level installations to improve in-flight accessibility according to a scheme approved by the Secretary).  \n- Or, as an alternative, fit the pilot's safety harness with an inertia reel that meets the technical requirements set out in ANO 108.42 (Requirement: or modify the pilot's safety harness by fitment of an inertia reel satisfying the requirements of ANO 108.42).\n\nWho this affects and who pays\n- Affects: owners and operators of PL-12 series aircraft (Applicability: All PL-12 Series).  \n- Pays: the directive creates a maintenance or modification cost that must be borne by those owners/operators because it compels physical changes to the aircraft (Requirement...).\n\nWho decides and what must be approved\n- Administrative approval: if the owner/operator takes the route of modifying switches and door-level installations, the modification must follow a scheme approved by the Secretary, which gives the Secretary the formal authority to accept or require particular design or installation arrangements (Requirement: ...according to a scheme approved by the Secretary).  \n- Technical standard: if the owner/operator installs an inertia reel, it must satisfy the requirements of ANO 108.42 (Requirement: ...fitment of an inertia reel satisfying the requirements of ANO 108.42). That ties compliance to an external technical standard.\n\nPractical effects and implementation points to note\n- Deadline and timing: the work must be completed by the stated deadline, so owners/operators face a fixed compliance window (Compliance: Before 1 October 1979).  \n- Choice and substitution: the directive permits two alternative compliance routes (modify cockpit installations or fit an approved inertia reel), so operators can choose the solution that fits cost, availability, or operational preference (Requirement...).  \n- Administrative and technical steps: one route requires an approved scheme from the Secretary (introducing an administrative approval step) while the other requires meeting a technical specification in ANO 108.42 (linking compliance to that standard) (Requirement...).  \n- Costs and downtime: both options involve physical modification work that will impose direct costs, parts and labour, and likely aircraft downtime while modifications are performed (Requirement..., Compliance...).  \n- Enforcement mechanics: the directive is presented as a mandatory airworthiness measure with a compliance date; compliance will be judged against the two alternatives and the approval/technical requirements set out above (Requirement..., Compliance...).\n\nPurpose claimed by the instrument\n- The directive states the modifications are to \"improve in-flight accessibility\" of controls (Requirement: Modify fuel pump switch and hopper door level installations to improve in-flight accessibility). That is presented as the remedial objective; the instrument then sets two concrete compliance paths and ties them to approval or a technical standard.\n\nTrade-offs and implementation risk (source-grounded)\n- Concentrated payer: immediate financial and operational burden falls on individual PL-12 owners/operators (Applicability..., Requirement...).  \n- Administrative discretion: the Secretary approves the modification scheme for one compliance route, which creates an administrative decision point and potential variability in accepted solutions (Requirement...).  \n- Dependence on external standard: the inertia-reel option depends on satisfying ANO 108.42, so operators must locate, interpret and meet that external requirement to rely on that route (Requirement...).  \n- Substitution effects: allowing an alternative (inertia reel) lets operators substitute capital/installation cost for cockpit layout changes; the directive does not mandate which is more appropriate, it leaves that choice to the operator within the approval/standard constraints (Requirement...)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue airworthiness directive from 1978 addressing a specific cockpit safety concern. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring pilot restraint and control accessibility in PL-12 aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 150 words of substantive content)","Only 2 substantive requirements with a simple either/or structure","Single defined term reference (ANO 108.42 — external standard, not defined within)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the single ANO citation","Straightforward applicability statement ('All PL-12 Series')"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive** (a mandatory safety order) issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority for **Transavia PL-12 series aircraft** — a type of agricultural aeroplane (crop duster).\n\n**What it does:**\nThe directive requires owners/operators to fix a safety problem in the cockpit. They must choose **one of two options**:\n- **Option 1:** Modify the fuel pump switch and hopper door lever so the pilot can reach them more easily during flight; OR\n- **Option 2:** Upgrade the pilot's safety harness by installing an **inertia reel** (a type of seatbelt that automatically tightens in a sudden stop, like in modern cars) that meets the standard set out in **ANO 108.42** (an old Australian aviation safety order).\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis addresses a crash risk. If the pilot can't reach critical controls while belted in, or if the harness is inadequate, the pilot could lose control of the aircraft or be injured in an accident. The directive forces a fix before a deadline.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nAnyone operating a Transavia PL-12 agricultural aircraft in Australia.\n\n**Key deadline:**\nCompliance was required before **1 October 1979** (this is a historical directive from 1978)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pl-12-17-pilot-compartment-restraint-modification","history":"/api/acts/ad-pl-12-17-pilot-compartment-restraint-modification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pl-12-17-pilot-compartment-restraint-modification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pl-12-17-pilot-compartment-restraint-modification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pl-12-17-pilot-compartment-restraint-modification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pl-12-17-pilot-compartment-restraint-modification/documents"}}