CASA EX183/16 Exemption — provision of a wind direction indicator (Cth)

Instrument number CASA EX183/16

I, ANDREW HERBERT RUDOLF TIEDE, Air Navigation, Airspace and Aerodromes Manager, Aviation Group, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under subregulations 11.160 (1) and 11.205 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998).

[Signed A.H. Tiede]

Andrew Tiede
Air Navigation, Airspace and Aerodromes Manager
Aviation Group

21 December 2016

Exemption — provision of a wind direction indicator

1          Duration

          This instrument:

(a)   commences on the day of registration; and

(b)   is repealed at the end of 30 November 2019.

2          Application

          This instrument applies to the operator of a certified aerodrome or a registered aerodrome.

3          Exemptions

        (1)     The operator of a certified aerodrome is exempt from compliance with subregulation 139.185 (1) of CASR 1998.

        (2)     The operator of a registered aerodrome is exempt from compliance with Subpart 139.C of CASR 1998 to the extent that the Subpart requires the operator to ensure that there is a wind direction indicator near the end or ends of a runway at which instrument non-precision approach operations can be conducted.

        (3)     The exemptions are subject to the conditions mentioned in section 4.

4          Conditions

        (1)     The operator must ensure that an automatic weather observing system (AWOS) is installed at the aerodrome that:

(a)   is compatible with the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather observing system; and

(b)   provides surface wind information through an aerodrome weather information broadcast unit.

        (2)     The operator must ensure that:

(a)   the AWOS operates in broadcast mode; and

(b)   the AWOS is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; and

(c)   the serviceability of the AWOS is monitored during each aerodrome serviceability inspection conducted by the aerodrome reporting officer; and

(d)   the aerodrome manual for the aerodrome includes procedures to ensure compliance with subsection (3).

        (3)     If the AWOS or the aerodrome weather information broadcast unit is unserviceable, the operator must ensure that either:

(a)   a NOTAM is issued that includes the following information:

             (i)  the straight-in instrument approach procedure minima are not available;

            (ii)  a circling approach is only available if the pilot is able to observe the aerodrome’s wind direction indicator before the final approach leg; or

(b)   surface wind information is passed to pilots of aircraft approaching the runway by a person approved under regulation 120 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 to make weather observations at an aerodrome, using a communication link with pilots through which clear and timely information about surface wind can be passed to pilots.

        (4)     An AWOS or aerodrome weather information broadcast unit that is unserviceable must be repaired as soon as possible.

        (5)     If the AWOS or aerodrome weather information broadcast unit remains continuously unserviceable for 28 days, the operator must not permit instrument non-precision approach operations at the aerodrome until the AWOS and aerodrome weather information broadcast unit are serviceable.