28Parachute airworthiness

28 Parachute airworthiness

(1) It is an aviation administration function to administer the airworthiness of: (a) a parachute used to undertake a parachute descent under Part 105 of CASR; or (b) an emergency parachute.

Note: Part 105 of CASR does not apply to emergency parachute descents: see regulation 105.005 of CASR.

(2) The function includes: (a) issuing an authorisation to an individual to undertake an airworthiness activity mentioned in subsection (3); and (b) developing competency standards and units of competency (however described) for parachute airworthiness training that must be completed by a candidate for the issue of an authorisation to undertake an airworthiness activity mentioned in subsection (3); and (c) developing and publishing requirements (defined as the Part 105 ASAO’s requirements in paragraph 2.04(4)(b) of the Part 105 Manual of Standards) about the airworthiness of a reserve parachute assembly; and (d) assuming the provision of airworthiness support for a reserve parachute assembly, and publishing airworthiness requirements for that purpose, in the case that the reserve parachute assembly’s manufacturer no longer provides airworthiness support for the assembly.

Note 1: Subsection 2.04(4) of the Part 105 Manual of Standards prescribes maintenance requirements for reserve parachute assemblies, for the purposes of paragraph 105.055(3)(b) of CASR.

Note 2: Under section 2.06 of the Part 105 Manual of Standards, if the ASAO assumes the provision of airworthiness support for a reserve parachute assembly as mentioned in paragraph (d), the assembly must be maintained in accordance with the ASAO’s airworthiness requirements.

Note 3: See also the exposition requirements in section 5.03 of the Part 105 Manual of Standards, concerning airworthiness requirements and Part 105 ASAOs.

(3) An airworthiness activity includes the following: (a) packing a parachute; (b) maintaining a parachute; (c) assembling a parachute. (4) Authorisations to undertake an airworthiness activity include an authorisation to pack, assemble or conduct maintenance on a parachute. (4A) Subsection (4B) applies if an ASAO has an approved function mentioned in section 23 to administer a parachute descent. (4B) It is an aviation administration function for the ASAO to administer the airworthiness activity of assessing the compatibility of a main parachute and the parachute container of a reserve parachute assembly (a compatibility assessment), including issuing an authorisation to an individual to carry out the assessment.