service bulletin
In the aircraft sector, the service bulletin (SB, in German-speaking countries often security bulletin ) is a document aimed at aircraft operators.
If an aviation authority detects a security risk, it shall take a airworthiness directive (AD, translated Airworthiness Directive ), whereupon the holder of the Type Certificate (English type certificate ) - usually the manufacturer of the aircraft - developed a security bulletin. This bulletin describes how the security risk can be eliminated or reduced. The official instruction specifies a deadline by when a security bulletin must be created and implemented. There are also safety bulletins that only serve to inform aircraft operators, and there are also those whose technical implementation is voluntary.
A safety bulletin is drawn up by aeronautical engineers. As far as the bulletin relates to the aircraft itself, it will be implemented by aircraft mechanics.
The security bulletin is important for older models. Aircraft can generally only be operated for as long as a company is type-certified and ready to issue safety bulletins.
Typical content
- which aircraft type it concerns, sometimes with details of the years of construction or the serial numbers
- which airworthiness directive it refers to
- Brief descriptions:
- the cause of the security risk
- the security risk itself
- problem solving
- deadlines to be observed; whether the implementation of the bulletin is mandatory
- which authority approved the SB
- concrete instructions to the aircraft mechanic or maintenance company
- Changes and additions to existing manuals
- Estimated effort, required materials, relevant regulations in the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM)
- Confirmations that have to be sent to the manufacturer and / or to the aviation authority