EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
CIVIL AVIATION ACT 1988
CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS 1988
DIRECTION UNDER SUBREGULATION 99AA (5) RELATING TO PARALLEL RUNWAY OPERATIONS AT SYDNEY (KINGSFORD SMITH) AIRPORT
Section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) empowers the Governor-General to make regulations.
Under subregulation 99AA (5) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, CASA may, among other things, give directions about the use of a controlled aerodrome. Under subregulation 99AA (6A), such a direction is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
Parallel runway operations at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (KSA) (which is a controlled aerodrome), using the Precision Runway Monitor (PRM), allow for a significant increase in runway capacity in poor weather conditions. The PRM is very accurate and allows aircraft to fly side by side down the instrument approaches to the parallel runways separated by a no-transgression zone of 2,000 feet. Special procedures apply when these operations are in progress and pilots are required to satisfactorily complete additional training for safety purposes.
The direction revokes an earlier, less comprehensive, direction in order to include reference to foreign operators and improve safety requirements for Australian operators. The direction requires that pilots in command of Australian registered aircraft must complete ILS PRM approach procedures training either in a CASA approved flight simulator or synthetic trainer, or on a training course approved by CASA. The requirements of the course and examination are set out in the direction.
Pilots in command of foreign registered aircraft must complete ILS PRM approach procedures training either in the flight simulator or synthetic trainer that supports the foreign operator’s operations, or on a training course conducted by the training facility approved by the authority (the issuing authority) which issued the foreign operator’s Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). CASA must receive and accept in writing a range of corroborative documentation from the foreign operator and the issuing authority.
Pilots in command who have not successfully completed the required training must report this fact to Air Traffic Control (ATC) so that alternative landing arrangements can be made. Previously, such reports were required prior to top of descent or when first making contact with ATC in controlled airspace within 100 nautical miles of KSA. To ensure that ATC has adequate time in which to assess the impact of non-participation in the parallel runway operations, the requirement to report to ATC has been extended to controlled airspace and aerodromes within 120 nautical miles of KSA. A notice to aviators (NOTAMS), coinciding with gazettal, will inform pilots of this change.
The direction comes into effect on gazettal and remains in force until the end of March 2009.
The instrument has been signed by the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer, a delegate of CASA.
[Instrument Number: CASA 218/04]
Overview
The Civil Aviation Act 1988, enacted by the Australian Parliament, aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation in Australia. The Act empowers the Governor-General to create regulations, ensuring that the aviation industry operates within a safe, efficient, and orderly manner. One such regulation is the Direction under Subregulation 99AA(5) relating to Parallel Runway Operations at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, which was introduced to enhance safety and operational efficiency by allowing parallel runway operations using the Precision Runway Monitor (PRM). This direction, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 99AA(5) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, mandates that pilots in command of both Australian and foreign registered aircraft must complete specific training for Instrument Landing System (ILS) PRM approach procedures. The policy objective of this direction is to ensure that pilots are adequately trained to safely operate under the PRM system, thereby increasing runway capacity during poor weather conditions while maintaining high safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, as amended by the Direction under Subregulation 99AA(5) relating to Parallel Runway Operations at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, applies to all pilots in command of aircraft, both Australian and foreign registered, operating within the specified airspace and aerodromes within 120 nautical miles of Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport. This includes those using the Precision Runway Monitor (PRM) for parallel runway operations, which are intended to enhance runway capacity during adverse weather conditions. The regulation mandates that pilots must complete specific training for Instrument Landing System (ILS) PRM approach procedures, with the training options delineated for both Australian and foreign operators. Additionally, the direction requires foreign operators to furnish CASA with corroborative documentation from the authority that issued their Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). The regulation remains in force until the end of March 2009 and extends its application through the requirement for pilots who have not completed the requisite training to report this to Air Traffic Control (ATC) to facilitate alternative landing arrangements.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of this legislation (as per Section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988) empower the Governor-General to enact regulations, with subregulation 99AA(5) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 allowing the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to give directions regarding the use of controlled aerodromes. This particular direction, which is a disallowable instrument under section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, specifically pertains to parallel runway operations at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (KSA) using the Precision Runway Monitor (PRM). This technology enables a significant increase in runway capacity during poor weather conditions by allowing aircraft to fly side by side down the instrument approaches to the parallel runways, separated by a 2,000-foot no-transgression zone. Special procedures apply during these operations, and pilots must complete additional training for safety purposes.
The direction outlines specific obligations and requirements for both Australian and foreign operators. For Australian registered aircraft, pilots in command must complete ILS PRM approach procedures training in a CASA-approved flight simulator or synthetic trainer, or on a training course approved by CASA. The direction sets out the requirements of the course and examination. For foreign registered aircraft, pilots in command must complete similar training in the flight simulator or synthetic trainer that supports the foreign operator's operations, or on a training course conducted by a training facility approved by the authority that issued the foreign operator's Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). CASA must receive and accept written corroborative documentation from the foreign operator and the issuing authority.
Failure to comply with these requirements can result in civil and criminal consequences. Pilots in command who have not successfully completed the required training must report this fact to Air Traffic Control (ATC) to ensure alternative landing arrangements can be made. The direction extends the requirement to report to ATC to controlled airspace and aerodromes within 120 nautical miles of KSA. Non-compliance with these training and reporting requirements may result in penalties, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the direction. The direction comes into effect upon gazettal and remains in force until the end of March 2009.