EASA AD 2021-0159: Auto Flight — Flight Control Unit — Replacement

What to do

Affected stakeholders should contact their responsible military airworthiness authority to obtain the applicable military AD for the Airbus A400M flight control unit replacement. They should follow the instructions and compliance requirements issued by those military authorities. No civil compliance deadlines are provided in this document.

Summary

The document titled 'Auto Flight — Flight Control Unit — Replacement' is an explanatory statement issued by EASA regarding the absence of an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Airbus A400M aircraft. Since there are currently no Airbus A400M aeroplanes in civil service, no publicly available AD exists. The document serves as an informational record intended for military airworthiness authorities and design approval holders.

What changed

This document introduces an informational Airworthiness Directive record (ADR) rather than a formal AD, highlighting that the legally binding requirements for the Airbus A400M flight control unit replacement are issued by the respective military authorities. It clarifies that EASA provides recommendations but does not issue a civil AD for this aircraft type.

Why it matters

This matters for aviation professionals because it clarifies the regulatory framework for the Airbus A400M, which is a military aircraft not subject to civil ADs. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must coordinate with their national military airworthiness authorities to ensure compliance with applicable directives, avoiding confusion about civil regulatory applicability.

What to do

Summary

What changed

Why it matters

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