Advisory U.S. Department Circular of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Subject: MAINTENANCE PROGRAM APPROVAL Date: 9/26/83 AC No: 135-5B FOR CARRY-ON OXYGEN EQUIPMENT Initiated by: AWS-300 Change:
FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES
1. PURPOSE. This advisory circular is to provide a means whereby air taxi operators may submit a maintenance program to comply with Part 135, Section 135.91, of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
2. CANCELLATION. Advisory Circular 135-5A, dated November 23, 1976, is cancelled.
3. BACKGROUND. Section 135.91(a)(1)(ii) requires that equipment used for storage, generation, or dispensing or oxygen, and carried aboard aircraft, when owned by the certificate holder, must be maintained in accordance with the certificate holder's approved maintenance program. FAR Part 135 does not prescribe specific rules for maintenance and test of pressure cylinders;
however, when approved by the Administrator, the provisions or operations Specifications are rules which require precisely the same consideration as the Federal Aviation Regulations. In exercising this authority, the Administrator has, in the interest of safety, adopted the rules and regulations of the Department of Transportation (DOT) as an acceptable method for controlling the hydrostatic and life limits of pressure cylinders through Operations Specifications.
4. GENERAL. Air taxi operators wishing to submit a maintenance program required by Section 135.91 should be encouraged to contact their certificate holding district oftice prior to development of their program. In this manner, both the operator and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector will become mutually aware of the elements necessary for FAA approval.
5. APPLICATION OF 49 CFR, SECTION 173.301(C). Section 173.301(c), Retest of Container, states: A container for which prescribed periodic retest has become due must not be charged and shipped until such retest has been properly made."
Pressure cylinders used as aircraft equipment which remain charged or partially charged on the due date of their hydrostatic test may remain in service beyond the test date providing that the cylinder is retested prior to its next full or partial refilling.
b. Standards used for approval of pressure cylinders are those established by the DOT, Research and Special Programs Administration, Materials Transportation Bureau. The manufacturing standards and maintenance specifications that pressure cylinders must meet to be eligible for transportation purposes are prescribed in 49 CFR, Chapter 1, Parts 100-199.
PREPARATION OF OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS, FAA FORM 1014, (OMB-04-R0075).
Air taxi operators wishing to submit a maintenance program for carry-on oxygen equipment should submit an application to amend their Operations Specifications.
Operations Specifications are prepared by the operator using FAA Form 1014. The tormat shown in Figure 1 should be used for amending Operations Specifications relating to the inspection and maintenance of pressure cylinders. It is not intended to list all pressure cylinders on one page. Figure 1 illustrates the various systems which use pressure cylinders and how they will be listed when entering them in the proper sequence and ATA chapter of the approved Operations Specifications jons. fications inspector r Operations Specifications is shown in Figure 2.) Before approval of a maintenance program, the inspector reviewing the program will consider:
If the schedule for the performance of the inspection and maintenance, whether it be by the time in service, calendar time, system cycles, or by combination, is adequate and in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR, Part 173, currently in effect.
b. If the instructions and procedures for the conduct of the maintenance program, including the necessary checks and tests, are in sufficient detail for the maintenance personnel to correctly perform the maintenance without further guidance.
7. REVIEW AND APPROVAL. Operations Specifications - Aircraft Maintenance - Part D, will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Operations Specifications may be approved only by those inspectors authorized to perform such functions. (An example of an acceptable Operations Specification is shown in Figure 1.)
9. A Pontecorvo J. A. Pontecorvo Acting Director of Airworthiness 2 Par 6 ..
Appendix 1 FIGURE 1. OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS - Aircraft Maintenance Form Approved OMB No. 04-R0075 Part D
OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS Aircraft Maintenance Overhaul Inspection & Period Check Period Oxygen, Chapter 35 Bottle - Oxygen Portable (DOT-ЗА) 5 or 10 years* (See 49 CFR, Section
173.34(e) (11), (e) (14), and (e) (15).)
Bottle - Oxygen Crew (DOT-3HT) Bottle - Oxygen Cassenger 1D01-3HT) 3 years* (See 49 CFR, Section
173.34(e) (13).)
*Inspections, hydrostatic tests, and life limits will be accomplished as set forth in Part 173, Chapter 1, Subtitle B of 49 CFR currently in effect.
Effective date FAA Form 1014 (2-72) 1
Appendix 1 FIGURE 2. OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS - Reverse FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Operating Certificate No....16-EA-2..
Washington, D.C.
ABC Air, Inc. .. hereby makes application for amendment of the Operations Specifications appearing on the reverse side hereof, as follows:
To establish an approved maintenance program for carry-on oxygen equipment for medical purposes for aircraft operated by ABC Air, Inc.
Reasons and supporting data (if insufficient space attach additional page):
To comply with Section 135.91.
I CERTIry that the statements submitted in connection herewith are true and that I am duly authorized to make this application on behalf of the applicant.
(to be signed by applicant) (Signature) Date ..- May 5, 1983 President (Title) INSPECTOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
(Signature) (Title) The Opcrations Specifications set forth on the reverse side hereof are Amendment No. . By direction of the Administrator:
Effective date.
(Signature) Supersedes specifications dated (Title) Received for the applicant by:
(Signature) Date .. (Title) 2 * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1983 • - 421-428 - 313/3336