CASA 07/19 — Dangerous Goods (Mobility Aid Spare Non-spillable Wet Battery) Instrument 2019

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2019N00010 Not in force Notifiable Instrument

Legislation content

Instrument number CASA 07/19

I, PETER MICHAEL WHITE, Executive Manager, Regulatory Services & Surveillance, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under section 23 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.

[Signed P. White]

Peter White
Executive Manager, Regulatory Services & Surveillance

30 January 2019

CASA 07/19 Dangerous Goods (Mobility Aid Spare Non-spillable Wet Battery) Instrument 2019

1 Name

  This instrument is CASA 07/19 Dangerous Goods (Mobility Aid Spare Nonspillable Wet Battery) Instrument 2019.

2 Duration

 This instrument:

(a) commences on 1 February 2019; and

(b) is repealed at the end of 31 December 2020.

3 Definitions

Note   In this instrument, certain terms and expressions have the same meaning as they have in the Civil Aviation Act 1988. These include: AOC and Australian territory.

 In this instrument:

 Act means the Civil Aviation Act 1988.

 battery means a non-spillable wet battery that complies with Special Provision A67 of the Technical Instructions.

 Note   The type of battery mentioned in this definition is specified in the Dangerous Goods List contained in the Technical Instructions.

 CASR means the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.

 checked baggage has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the CASR Dictionary.

 relevant Australian aircraft means an Australian aircraft registered under the Act, which is operated by the holder of an AOC.

  relevant passenger, for a flight of a relevant Australian aircraft within Australian territory, means a passenger for the flight who, because of a disability, the passenger’s health or age, or a temporary mobility problem, relies on a mobility aid for mobility.

Example   A wheelchair is a type of mobility aid.

 spare battery, for a mobility aid, means a battery that can be used to replace a battery fitted to, and powering, the mobility aid.

 Technical Instructions has the same meaning as in subregulation 92.010 (1) of CASR.

4 Application

 This instrument applies if:

(a) a relevant passenger, for a flight of a relevant Australian aircraft within Australian territory, wishes to carry a spare battery, for the passenger’s mobility aid, on board the aircraft as checked baggage for the flight; and

(b) the total number of spare batteries, for the mobility aid, the passenger wishes to carry on board the aircraft as checked baggage for the flight is not more than the number of batteries fitted to, and powering, the mobility aid.

5 Permissions

 (1)For paragraphs 23 (2) (b) and (2A) (b) of the Act, the relevant passenger is permitted to carry the spare battery on board the aircraft as checked baggage for the flight.

 (2)For paragraphs 23 (1) (b), (2) (b) and (2A) (b) of the Act, the aircraft and aircraft’s operator are permitted to carry the spare battery in the aircraft’s hold during the flight.

 (3)The permissions are subject to the conditions stated in Schedule 1.

Note   Under subregulation 92.025 (2) of CASR, it is a condition of the carriage of dangerous goods on an aircraft that the operator of the aircraft complies with the requirements of the Technical Instructions stated in that subregulation.

Also, under subregulation 92.030 (2) of CASR, subject to subregulation 92.030 (3) of CASR, it is a condition of the carriage of dangerous goods on an aircraft by a passenger that the passenger complies with the requirements of the Technical Instructions stated in subregulation (2).

Schedule 1 Conditions

 1The operator must conduct a risk assessment in relation to the proposed carriage of the battery in the aircraft’s hold during the flight, and provide a copy of the risk assessment document to CASA on request.

 2The operator must have given its written approval for the battery to be carried on board the aircraft as checked baggage for the flight.

 3The relevant passenger must declare the battery to the operator’s check-in staff at the airport before the flight.

 4The battery must, immediately before being brought onto the aircraft, be inspected by the operator’s personnel, and found to be free from visible leaks or damage.

 5The battery must be secured in the aircraft’s hold, during the flight, in a way that prevents any movement in-flight that would change the battery’s orientation or cause damage to the battery.

 

Overview

The Civil Aviation Act 1988, enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, governs the regulation of civil aviation in Australia. Among its many purposes, it provides a framework for the safe operation of aircraft. In 2019, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced CASA 07/19 — Dangerous Goods (Mobility Aid Spare Non-spillable Wet Battery) Instrument 2019 to address the need for specific regulations concerning the carriage of spare non-spillable wet batteries for mobility aids on Australian aircraft. This instrument was made by Peter Michael White, Executive Manager, Regulatory Services & Surveillance, a delegate of CASA, under section 23 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, with the aim of ensuring the safe transportation of these batteries. The instrument outlines the permissions and conditions for the carriage of such batteries by relevant passengers and aircraft operators within Australian territory, subject to compliance with the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions.

Scope and Application

The CASA 07/19 - Dangerous Goods (Mobility Aid Spare Non-spillable Wet Battery) Instrument 2019 applies to relevant passengers who wish to carry spare batteries for their mobility aids on flights of relevant Australian aircraft within Australian territory. This includes Australian aircraft registered under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which are operated by holders of an Australian Operator Certificate (AOC). The instrument permits a relevant passenger to carry a spare battery, compliant with Special Provision A67 of the Technical Instructions, on board an aircraft as checked baggage, provided that the number of spare batteries does not exceed the number of batteries fitted to and powering the mobility aid. The permissions granted are subject to specific conditions, including a requirement for the aircraft operator to conduct a risk assessment, obtain written approval for the battery to be carried, and ensure that the passenger declares the battery to check-in staff and that the battery is inspected and secured in the aircraft’s hold. The instrument also mandates compliance with the conditions of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, particularly those related to the carriage of dangerous goods. The instrument is in effect from 1 February 2019 and will be repealed by the end of 31 December 2020.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the CASA 07/19 — Dangerous Goods (Mobility Aid Spare Non-spillable Wet Battery) Instrument 2019 include the definitions, application, and permissions. The definitions (section 3) clarify the terms used in the instrument, such as "battery," "CASR," and "Technical Instructions." The application (section 4) specifies the circumstances under which the instrument applies, i.e., when a relevant passenger wishes to carry a spare battery for their mobility aid as checked baggage on a flight of a relevant Australian aircraft within Australian territory, and the total number of spare batteries does not exceed the number of batteries fitted to, and powering, the mobility aid. The permissions (section 5) allow the relevant passenger to carry the spare battery on board the aircraft as checked baggage, and the aircraft and its operator to carry the battery in the aircraft’s hold during the flight, subject to the conditions stated in Schedule 1. The obligations and requirements imposed by the Act on the parties and entities it governs include conducting a risk assessment (Schedule 1, condition 1), obtaining written approval for the carriage of the battery (Schedule 1, condition 2), and declaring the battery to the operator’s check-in staff at the airport before the flight (Schedule 1, condition 3). The operator must also inspect the battery for visible leaks or damage before it is brought onto the aircraft (Schedule 1, condition 4) and secure the battery in the aircraft’s hold during the flight to prevent movement that would change its orientation or cause damage (Schedule 1, condition 5). There are no offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences explicitly stated for breach of the provisions in this instrument. However, the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 provide for offences and penalties for breaches of aviation safety and security regulations. For example, section 228 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 imposes a maximum penalty of $27,500 for an individual who contravenes a civil aviation safety regulation, and section 229 imposes a maximum penalty of $275,000 for a body corporate. It is therefore important for operators and passengers to comply with the conditions and requirements set out in this instrument and other relevant legislation to avoid potential penalties and ensure the safety and security of air travel.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.