AD/GENERAL/53 - Flight Data Recorder Underwater Locating Device - Installation - CANCELLED

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).

What it does:

• Terminates a 1978 directive that mandated underwater locating devices to help find flight recorders after water crashes
• Removes the standalone compliance deadline (originally 1 January 1979)

Why it matters: The 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.

Who it affects: Aircraft 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.