Explanatory Statement
Civil Aviation Regulations 1988
Direction — number of cabin attendants
Legislation
Subsection 98 (1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the Act and in the interests of the safety of air navigation.
Under regulation 208 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988), CASA may give directions as to the operating crew required to be carried on an aircraft having regard to the safety of air navigation. Subparagraph 6.1 (b) of Civil Aviation Order 20.16.3 (CAO 20.16.3) was made under regulation 208 of CAR 1988 and provides that aircraft carrying more than 36 but not more than 216 passengers must carry a cabin attendant for each unit of 36 passengers or part of that number.
CAO 20.16.3 has remained in the same form since 1960 and as such represents a 51 year gap since a reassessment of cabin attendant numbers against a criterion of allowable seating rather than passenger numbers. CASA in a report, Review of policies and practices for first-of-type certification of imported aircraft, recommended the recognition of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States of America and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification standards. The recommendation was adopted.
The direction will allow Jetstar Airways Pty Limited (the operator) to operate Airbus A321-200 series aircraft with not less than 5 cabin attendants. CASA considers that the operator has addressed the risks associated with the proposed change to procedures. CASA also considers that the operator has increased the awareness and capability of passengers seated at emergency exit rows in a manner equivalent to, or better than, that achieved when the Airbus A321-200 series satisfied the requirements of EASA. CASA is satisfied the evacuation of a full complement of passengers could be achieved within 90 seconds, within the EASA guidelines for certification demonstrations.
Legislative Instruments Act
Under subparagraph 6 (d) (i) of the Legislative Instrument Act 2003 (the LIA), an instrument is a legislative instrument for section 5 of the LIA if it is declared to be a disallowable instrument under legislation in force before the commencement of the LIA. Under regulation 5A of CAR 1988, if CASA has issued a Civil Aviation Order (CAO) and CASA later issues a direction that affects the operation of the CAO, the later document is declared to be a disallowable instrument. The instrument affects the operation of subparagraph 6.1 (b) of CAO 20.16.3. As a legislative instrument, it is subject to tabling and disallowance in the Parliament under sections 38 and 42 of the LIA.
Consultation
CASA has consulted both internally and with the operator on the proposal. The consultation process was brought to a conclusion with CASA and the operator signing a document outlining agreements and undertakings. The instrument is similar to other instruments issued to other operators. In those instruments, the proposed change was also referred to the Office of Transport Security which has expressed no concerns.
Senate Regulations and Ordinances Committee concerns
This direction provides for the particular operator to meet a new standard for cabin crew numbers. The new standard differs from that currently promulgated in CAO 20.16.3 but it is considered to be a safe standard, consistent with international safety standards and practice.
The direction is 1 of a number of such instruments issued to, or renewed for, several operators pending CASA’s development of considered amendments to bring CAO 20.16.3 into line with new internationally recognised standards for cabin crew ratios (at least 1 cabin crew attendant for every 50 passenger seats, and 1 attendant for any incomplete part of that number).
The development and preparation of suitable CAO amendments is a more intensive and involved process than the evaluation and consideration of directions for a particular named operator. While such evaluation and consideration for an individual operator is itself detailed, and guided by the requirements of safety and prudence, it has not required extensive consultation with the broader industry.
Pending the finalisation of the project team’s work on the CAO, it is essentially unavoidable that CASA will issue or renew individual directions to operators on the same basis as has previously been done. The instrument will only be in force for a limited period pending finalisation of the project team’s work on the CAO.
The instrument commences on 1 June 2011 and stops having effect at the end of August 2011.
The direction has been issued by a delegate of CASA under subregulation 7 (1) of CAR 1988.
[Instrument number CASA 202/11]