EASA AD 2023-0061: Nacelles / Pylons — Nacelle Panels — Inspection

What to do

Affected stakeholders, including military operators and maintenance organizations, should contact their respective military airworthiness authorities to obtain the applicable AD for the Airbus A400M. They should follow the instructions and compliance requirements issued by those authorities. No civil compliance deadlines are provided in this document.

Summary

The document titled 'Nacelles / Pylons — Nacelle Panels — Inspection' is an explanatory statement issued by EASA regarding the absence of an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Airbus A400M aircraft in civil service. It clarifies that no public AD exists because the Airbus A400M is currently not operated in civil aviation, and the document serves as an informational record for military authorities and design approval holders. The document recommends that military airworthiness authorities issue their own ADs for the affected aircraft.

What changed

This document introduces an informational Airworthiness Directive record (ADR) for the Airbus A400M nacelle panel inspection, despite no civil AD being available. It does not impose legally binding requirements but advises military authorities to develop their own applicable ADs based on this recommendation.

Why it matters

This matters to aviation professionals because it highlights the regulatory approach for military-operated Airbus A400M aircraft, ensuring that safety inspections are managed through military ADs rather than civil directives. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must be aware that the legally binding requirements come from military authorities, not EASA, for this aircraft type.

What to do

Summary

What changed

Why it matters

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