New safety alarms for pressure problems
More than 400 Australian aircraft would be fitted with new audible depressurisation alarms under draft rules released by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Fifteen small jet aircraft types and twenty one turboprop aircraft types are set to be affected by the CASA proposal.
CASA wants the audible pressure alarms to be fitted to all turbine powered aircraft to reduce the risk of an accident caused by a loss of cabin pressure.
A range of aircraft will be affected including the Beechcraft King Air, larger model Cessna and Piper aeroplanes, as well as aircraft produced by Pilatus and Fairchild. Large jet and turboprop aircraft operated by the major airlines already have audible alarms.
The cost of developing alarms is yet to be precisely determined. The cost for each aircraft is likely to be between $2000 and $20,000.
The total cost to the aviation industry to introduce the audible pressure alarms is likely to be less than $5 million.
Under CASA's proposed safety initiative the alarms will activate at a cabin altitude no higher than 13,000 feet and will sound continuously.
The alarms will be heard both through pilot headphones as well as from a speaker on the flight deck.
The audible alarms will be in addition to current pressurisation warning lights and cabin pressure gauges.
CASA is proposing audible alarms to avoid the serious consequences of depressurisation at higher altitudes, which causes hypoxia that can lead to eventual death.
Over the last three years there were 105 depressurisation incidents reported in Australia in turbine powered aircraft.
The aviation industry is being asked to comment on a draft Airworthiness Directive which would be used to mandate the new audible pressure alarms. The comment period closes on June 30.
If CASA's proposal goes ahead the operators of pressurised turbine aircraft will have one year to install the new alarms.
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Ref: MR0209