AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (14 CFR PART 39),
AMENDMENT 39 6831 (BOEING 747 400):
This research assesses, from a public policy perspective, Amendment 39 6831 to the Airworthiness Directive for Boeing Model 747 400 Series Airplanes, issued under Part 39, 14 CFR. The effective date of the Amendment was 26 December 1990.
Objective and Essence of Amendment 39 6831
The manufacturer of the Model 747 400 airplanes observed that, when some versions of Integrated Display Systems software were installed in Model 747 400 airplanes, the aural and master systems of the fire detection system on the aircraft becomes inoperative. Left uncorrected, this condition could result in a situation wherein a fire in the airplane's auxiliary power unit, engines, wheel well, or cargo compartment would not be annunciated to the air crew.
The manufacturer developed proposed corrective actions to be effected by the operators of Model 747 400 airplanes, and to be incorporated into the Model 747 400 airplanes which have yet to be delivered by the manufacturer to purchasers. The manufacturer issued these proposed corrective actions in a Boeing Alert Service Bulletin on 4 October 1990. The manufacturer further submitted the proposed corrective actions to the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), together with a recommendation that the proposed corrective actions be issued as an amendment to the airworthiness directive pertaining to Model 747 400 Series Airplanes. The manufacturer recommended further that the amendment to the airworthiness directive be effective as soon as possible. The Administrator of the FAA accepted the manufacturer's recommendations, and issued Amendment 39 6831 on 3 December 1990 with an effective date of 26 December 1990.
Assessing Amendment 39 6831 within a public policy perspective requires the addressing of nine separate issues. These issues are (1) authority to act, (2) applicability of the problem area to Airworthiness D...