CASA EX49/11 – Exemption – operating in vicinity of non-controlled aerodrome, VHF radio broadcasts and maintaining a listening watch (Cth)

Instrument number CASA EX49/11

I, JOHN FRANCIS McCORMICK, Director of Aviation Safety on behalf of CASA, make this instrument under subregulation 308 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988).

[Signed John F. McCormick]

John F. McCormick
Director of Aviation Safety

18 April 2011

Exemption — operating in vicinity of non-controlled aerodrome, VHF radio broadcasts and maintaining a listening watch

1          Duration

This instrument:

(a)   commences on 20 April 2011; and

(b)   stops having effect at the end of March 2013.

2          Application

This instrument applies to the Australian Aerobatic Club Limited ACN 001 052 688 (the Club) when organising aerobatic competitions within the vicinity of a non-controlled aerodrome.

3          Exemption

The pilot in command of an aircraft participating in a competition organised by the Club (the competition) is exempt from compliance with regulation 166C and subregulation 243 (1) of CAR 1988.

4          Conditions

The exemption is subject to the conditions mentioned in Schedule 1.

Schedule 1          Conditions

1     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, Aviation Reference Number 572019, or a person approved by CASA (an approved person), must ensure that a ground communications station (the station) is established at the non-controlled aerodrome.

2     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, or an approved person, must ensure that the station:

(a)   operates daily during the competition period in order to advise other aircraft that are operating in the vicinity of the aerodrome of the activities, location and direction of the participants in the competition; and

(b)   has a radio operator to operate any radio communications; and

(c)   is active on the VHF frequency nominated by the Club and the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF); and

(d)   commences operations at least 30 minutes before competition activities begin and continues throughout the duration of the competition activities.

3     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, or an approved person, must ensure that only aircraft carrying serviceable VHF radio transceivers are allowed to participate in the competition and in the competition display.

4     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, or an approved person, must ensure that competition stops 15 minutes before the arrival of any aircraft engaged in regular public transport operations (RPT).

5     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, or an approved person, must ensure that activities relating to the competition are not started or resumed until a period of 15 minutes has elapsed after the departure of any RPT operation or until the RPT aircraft is outside 10 nautical miles of the aerodrome reference point.

6     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, or an approved person, must ensure that radio operation for the competition ceases before the arrival of any RPT operation and must not resume until a period of 15 minutes has elapsed after the departure of any RPT operation or until the RPT aircraft is outside 10 nautical miles of the aerodrome reference point. Radio operation must be returned to CTAF.

7     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, or an approved person, must ensure that the pilot in command of any aircraft taking part in the competition:

(a)   makes all the required broadcasts; and

(b)   monitors the CTAF frequency at times other than when participating in the competition display; and

(c)   returns to the CTAF frequency if advised by the radio operator at the station.

8     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, or an approved person, must ensure that participants in the competition are briefed daily:

(a)   on the display box area of activity in the competition flight zone; and

(b)   on times a frequency change is permitted to an alternative frequency other than the aerodrome CTAF frequency; and

(c)   on information on procedures to comply with this instrument; and

(d)   on any requirements for operating in the areas; and

(e)   on procedures if a radio communication fails.

9     The Club, acting through its Competition Coordinator, Paul Bennet, or an approved person, must arrange with CASA for publication of daily NOTAMS setting out the boundaries of the areas of activity and the applicable procedures.

10     The pilot in command must comply with the procedures published in NOTAMS and any internal documentation or operating procedure published by the Club.

11     Not later than 5 working days before the commencement of a competition, the Club must provide CASA with:

(a)   an intention to conduct operations; and

(b)   details of any operating procedures to be used, including CTAF frequency; and

(c)   updates to the published daily NOTAMS.

12     If Paul Bennet is unable for any reason to perform his duties as Competition Coordinator, a person approved by CASA may take over that role.