CASA EX42/09 – Exemption – from take-off minima inside and outside Australian territory (Cth)

Instrument number CASA EX42/09

I, michael david quinn, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Operations, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under regulation 308 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988).

[Signed M.D. Quinn]

Mick Quinn
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Operations

29 May 2009

Exemption — from take-off minima inside and outside Australian territory

1          Duration

            This instrument:

(a)   commences on 1 June 2009; and

(b)   stops having effect at the end of May 2011.

2          Revocation

            Instrument CASA EX43/07 is revoked.

3          Application

            This instrument applies to each aeroplane:

(a)   operated by Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Limited, Aviation Reference Number 567591 (the operator); and

(b)   in take-off operations inside and outside Australian territory; and

(c)   at aerodromes where the meteorological minima is runway visibility range (RVR) of at least 300 metres along the runway at the touchdown zone and at the mid-point (or stop-end if mid-point visibility is not available).

4          Exemption

The aeroplane is exempt from compliance with regulation 257 of CAR 1988 in relation to the standard take-off minima determined by CASA under subregulation 257 (1) of CAR 1988 and set out in AIP En Route 1.5, section 4.3.

5          Conditions

             The exemption is subject to the conditions mentioned in Schedule 1 which are necessary in the interests of safety.

Schedule 1          Conditions

      1     If runway edge lighting (with light spacing of not more than 60 metres) is operating, the aeroplane may take off:

(a)   if runway centreline lighting is operating or runway centreline markings are clearly visible — with RVR less than 500 metres but at least 400 metres; or

(b)   if runway centreline lighting is operating — with RVR less than 400 metres but at least 300 metres.

      2     Before conducting a take-off, each pilot must have successfully completed, in an approved flight simulator, a low visibility take-off training program approved by CASA.

      3     The flight crew must have successfully completed, to approved operational and meteorological limits, a simulator competency check including a near V₁ engine failure (RTO) and a V₁ engine failure (continue).

      4     The flight crew must demonstrate competency in low visibility operations:

(a)   if there are 2 or 3 sessions each year — at each recurrent training session; or

(b)   if there are 4 sessions each year — at each alternate recurrent training session.

      5     Each pilot must demonstrate competency to a check pilot at least once a year.

      6       A low visibility take-off may only be conducted:

(a)   in accordance with the operator’s operations manual; and

(b)   when air traffic control low visibility procedures are in place at the aerodrome.

      7       If RVR is less than 500 metres, the aeroplane must not take-off from a runway that requires a turn of more than 15°, at either the runway head or below 200 feet, for all-engine or engine-out take-offs.

      8     In take-off operations outside Australian territory, the aeroplane must conform to the requirements of:

(a)   the State of the aerodrome if they are more restrictive than the requirements of this instrument; or

(b)   this instrument if they are more restrictive than the requirement of the State of the aerodrome.

      9       A copy of this exemption must be kept in the operator’s operations manual.