{"id":"F2016L00369","name":"AD/REC/1 Amdt 4 - Maintenance of Cockpit Voice Recording Systems","slug":"ad-rec-1-amdt-4-maintenance-of-cockpit-voice-recording-systems","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":94355,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2016L00369-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recording ","sectionType":"division","heading":"Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recording Systems","content":"### Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recording Systems\n\n| AD/REC/1 Amdt 4 | Maintenance of CockpitVoice Recording Systems | 7/2016 |\n| --------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | For aircraft to which Part 42 of CASR 1998 applies:All aircraft with cockpit voice recording systems installed in compliance with Civil Aviation Order 20.18 (CAO 20.18). |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Requirement: | Check and functionally test the cockpit voice recorder installation as follows:1. Confirm the proper recording of:(a) voice communications transmitted from, or received in, the aircraft by radio; and(b) all conversation, audio signals from alerting or warning devices and general sounds on the flight deck; and(c) voice communications of flight crew members on the flight deck, using the aircraft’s interphone system; and(d) voice or audio signals identifying navigation or approach aids introduced into a headset or speaker; and(e) voice communications of flight crew to cabin crew and/or passengers using the passenger address system, if a recording channel has been utilised.2. Confirm the proper functioning of the bulk erase inhibit logic.3. Maintain the underwater locating device, if fitted, in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.4. Check the operation of crash sensor switches, in accordance with the manufacturer's procedures, in installations incorporating these switches in the cockpit voice recorder power feed. |\n| Compliance: | For requirements 1, 2, 3 and 4, after 1 July 1988:1. For equipment utilising analogue technology (tape based), at intervals not exceeding 12 months or 2 000 hours time in service, whichever occurs first; or2. For equipment utilising digital technology (solid state based), at intervals not exceeding 24 calendar months; or3. At intervals in accordance with an approved maintenance program for the aircraft under regulation 42.140 of CASR 1998. The approved maintenance program must incorporate instructions, mentioned in requirements 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this AD, for the maintenance of the cockpit voice recorder. |\n| | This AD commences on 23 March 2016. |\n| Background: | The maintenance procedures presently applied to some cockpit voice recording systems have been shown to be inadequate. Experience both in Australia and overseas has shown that the above maintenance periods will normally ensure the proper functioning of these systems.Amendment 1 was administrative only and removed reference to the obsolete terms of Air Navigation Order (ANO) and Air Navigation Regulation (ANR). Reference to subregulation 43 (3) of the ANR was replaced by subregulations 39 (1) and 41 (1) of CAR 1988.Amendment 2 was issued to incorporate the particular audio tracks required to be recorded and listed in CAO 103.20 in anticipation of the cancellation of that CAO. The amendment also acknowledged the increased reliability of modern digital solid state recorders and so extended the compliance time interval for testing. In addition, if modern aircraft have an approved system of maintenance, maintenance schedule or maintenance program that address the requirements of this AD, the intervals within those approved programs may be used for the purpose of compliance with this AD. |\n| | Amendment 3 was issued to limit the applicability of the AD to Part 42 aircraft only. |\n| | Amendment 4 is issued to remove obsolete regulatory references in the compliance section to regulations 41 and 42M of CAR 1988. The reference to the approved maintenance program under regulation 42.140 has also been clarified to require incorporation of the AD’s 4 requirements. This AD will be repealed after the requirements are incorporated into a future amendment of the Part 42 Manual of Standards. |\n\n![DAVID_W](image.001.png)\n\nWilliam M. David \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n18 March 2016","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/REC/1 Amdt 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/REC/1 Amdt 4","content":"## AD/REC/1 Amdt 4","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Maintenance of CockpitVoice Recording Sy","sectionType":"part","heading":"Maintenance of CockpitVoice Recording Systems","content":"## Maintenance of Cockpit \nVoice Recording Systems","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"7/2016","sectionType":"part","heading":"7/2016","content":"## 7/2016","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument remains focused on ensuring CVR functionality through specified checks and maintenance intervals. Amendments altered administrative references, clarified incorporation into approved maintenance programs, extended testing intervals for digital (solid‑state) recorders, and limited applicability to Part 42 aircraft, but these changes update and refine the original mandate rather than expanding it significantly beyond its initial safety purpose. (See \"Background\" and Amendments summary.)"},"complexity_factors":["Short, focused instrument with a single subject (CVR maintenance) and four explicit functional requirements","Three alternative compliance timing paths (analogue interval; digital interval; or approved maintenance program) creating conditional logic","Cross-references to external instruments: Part 42 of CASR 1998, Civil Aviation Order 20.18, and regulation 42.140 (approved maintenance program) — requires readers to consult other instruments for full picture","Amendment history introduces some interpretive context (Amendments 1–4) but no dense nested exceptions","Technical dependence on manufacturers' procedures for specific components (underwater locating device, crash sensors) adds operational complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- Applicability: Applies to aircraft subject to Part 42 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 that have a cockpit voice recorder (CVR) installed in accordance with Civil Aviation Order 20.18 (CAO 20.18). (See \"Applicability\".)\n\n- Mandatory checks and tests: Requires operators/maintenance organisations to verify that the CVR installation properly records:\n - radio voice communications to/from the aircraft;\n - all flight-deck conversations, warning tones and general sounds on the flight deck;\n - interphone (flight-deck) communications between flight crew;\n - voice/audio signals from navigation or approach aids when routed to headsets or speakers; and\n - passenger-address or crew-to-cabin communications when those channels are recorded. (Requirement 1.)\n It also requires checking the bulk-erase inhibit logic, maintaining any fitted underwater locating device to the manufacturer's instructions, and checking crash-sensor switches where those switches affect the CVR power feed. (Requirements 2–4.)\n\n- Frequency / compliance timing: Sets repeat intervals for these checks:\n - analogue (tape) CVR equipment: every 12 months or 2,000 flight hours, whichever comes first;\n - digital (solid-state) CVR equipment: every 24 calendar months;\n - alternatively: at intervals specified in an approved maintenance program for the aircraft under regulation 42.140 of CASR 1998, provided that program incorporates the AD's four maintenance requirements. (See \"Compliance\".)\n\n- Administrative details: The AD commenced on 23 March 2016 and is to be repealed once its requirements are folded into a future amendment of the Part 42 Manual of Standards. (See \"Background\" / final paragraph.)\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and what it changes for operators)\n\n- Stated purpose: The instrument responds to evidence that some CVR maintenance procedures in use were inadequate. It prescribes specific checks and minimum intervals intended to maintain CVR reliability and effectiveness for post‑incident investigation. (Background.)\n\nWho this affects and who pays\n\n- Directly affected: aircraft operators and maintenance organisations responsible for aircraft certified under Part 42 with CVRs installed per CAO 20.18 (Applicability).\n- Who pays: the operator or their contracted maintenance provider bears the cost of carrying out the required inspections, tests, maintenance and any parts replacement (Compliance; Requirements 1–4).\n- Who decides day‑to‑day: the operator or approved maintenance organisation implements the checks and either follows the AD intervals or incorporates the AD's specific checks into an approved maintenance program (Compliance; regulation 42.140 cross‑reference).\n\nPractical effects on behaviour and choices\n\n- Operators must schedule and perform the specified CVR checks at the stated intervals or include those checks into an approved maintenance program that can set alternative intervals.\n- Some operators can rely on an approved maintenance program (which requires regulator approval) to adopt different intervals; modern digital CVRs are permitted a longer interval (24 months) than analogue units (12 months/2,000 hours), creating an incentive to upgrade equipment to reduce recurring maintenance checks.\n- Maintenance effort includes functional tests of audio capture, logic that prevents inadvertent erasure, upkeep of any underwater locating device per manufacturer instructions, and checking crash‑sensor switches where fitted.\n\nCosts, trade‑offs and implementation considerations (testing the stated purpose)\n\n- Costs: recurring labour, test equipment/time out of service, potential replacement of faulty components (paid by operators/maintenance providers). These are concentrated on operators; the safety benefit (availability of recorded audio if needed) is more diffuse.\n\n- Incentives and substitution effects: By explicitly allowing compliance via an approved maintenance program, the AD creates a route for operators to adopt an alternative maintenance cadence approved by the regulator. The longer interval for digital CVRs reduces maintenance frequency and thereby creates an economic incentive to move to solid‑state recording systems.\n\n- Implementation risk and compliance burden: The AD relies on correct execution of functional tests and on approved maintenance programs to properly incorporate the AD's four requirements. That places discretion and administrative burden on both operators (to prepare compliant programs) and the regulator (to approve them). Reliance on manufacturer procedures for underwater locating device maintenance and crash sensor checks means the effectiveness of the AD in practice depends on the quality and availability of those manufacturer instructions.\n\n- Opportunity cost: Time spent on CVR checks displaces other maintenance tasks or aircraft utilisation; operators will weigh that against safety/regulatory risk.\n\n- Administrative change from prior versions: The instrument has been updated over time to remove obsolete regulatory references and to recognise greater reliability of digital recorders (longer intervals), and it was limited in applicability to Part 42 aircraft. These changes are described in the Background and Amendments summary.\n\nNet mechanical effect (summary sentence)\n\nOperators of Part 42 aircraft with CAO 20.18‑compliant CVRs must perform specified functional checks of recording capability and related components at set intervals (or under an approved maintenance program that incorporates the AD's requirements); failure to do so would be a breach of the applicable safety regulation. (See Applicability, Requirements and Compliance.)"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The directive has narrowed in scope over its lifetime. Originally broader, Amendment 3 (prior to this version) restricted applicability to Part 42 aircraft only, excluding aircraft maintained under other regulatory frameworks. Amendment 4 further tightens compliance by clarifying that approved maintenance programs must specifically incorporate all four requirements of this AD to be valid alternatives. The directive is also explicitly temporary — it will be repealed once its requirements are absorbed into the Part 42 Manual of Standards, indicating a shift from standalone directive to integrated regulatory standard."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument (approximately 500 words)","Only 4 defined compliance requirements, clearly numbered","Limited cross-referencing: references to CASR 1998 Part 42, CAO 20.18, and regulation 42.140 only","Simple conditional structure: two technology-based compliance intervals (analogue vs digital) plus alternative maintenance program pathway","Historical amendments explained in plain English background section rather than embedded in operative text","No nested exceptions or complex definitional provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates regular testing and maintenance of cockpit voice recorders to ensure they capture cockpit and radio audio and remain recoverable after accidents. It applies to aircraft with CVRs installed under CAO 20.18 and operators subject to CASR Part 42. The rule tightens past practices, reflecting differences between older analogue and modern digital recorders to improve investigation reliability."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-rec-1-amdt-4-maintenance-of-cockpit-voice-recording-systems","history":"/api/acts/ad-rec-1-amdt-4-maintenance-of-cockpit-voice-recording-systems/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-rec-1-amdt-4-maintenance-of-cockpit-voice-recording-systems/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-rec-1-amdt-4-maintenance-of-cockpit-voice-recording-systems/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-rec-1-amdt-4-maintenance-of-cockpit-voice-recording-systems/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-rec-1-amdt-4-maintenance-of-cockpit-voice-recording-systems/documents"}}