CASA 29/17 - Approval – approved persons under Civil Aviation Orders 29.6, 29.10 and 29.11 – flight tests and grant – low-level endorsements – helicopter

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Legislation au F2017N00021 Not in force Notifiable Instrument

Legislation content

Instrument number CASA 29/17

I, GRAEME MILLS CRAWFORD, Aviation Group Manager, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under regulations 11.056 and 61.040 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) for subregulations 61.150 (7) and 61.245 (3) of CASR.

[Signed G.M. Crawford]

Graeme M. Crawford
Aviation Group Manager

16 March 2017

Approval  approved persons under Civil Aviation Orders 29.6, 29.10 and 29.11  flight tests and grant  low-level endorsements – helicopter

1 Duration

 This instrument:

(a) commences on 20 March 2017; and

(b) is repealed at the end of 31 August 2018.

2 Definitions

 In this instrument:

aerial application rating flight test endorsement has the same meaning as in regulation 61.1310 of CASR, as in force from time to time.

aerial mustering  helicopter endorsement has the same meaning as in regulation 61.1075 of CASR, as in force from time to time.

approved helicopter testing pilot means a person approved by section 3 of this instrument.

FTNS means the CASA Flight Test Notification System.

low-level rating flight test endorsement has the same meaning as in regulation 61.1310 of CASR, as in force from time to time.

mustering operation checker means a person who:

(a) on 31 August 2014, was approved under subsection 12 of Civil Aviation Order 29.10, as in force at the time of approval, to act as an approved pilot in a helicopter; and

(b) has never been granted a low-level rating flight test endorsement (helicopter) or an aerial application rating flight test endorsement (helicopter).

sling load operation checker means a person who:

(a) on 31 August 2014, was an approved person within the meaning of paragraph 3.2 of Civil Aviation Order 29.6, as in force on 31 August 2014; and

(b) has never been granted a low-level rating flight test endorsement (helicopter) or an aerial application rating flight test endorsement (helicopter).

sling operations endorsement has the same meaning as in regulation 61.1075 of CASR, as in force from time to time.

winch and rappelling operations endorsement has the same meaning as in regulation 61.1075 of CASR, as in force from time to time.

winching/rappelling operation checker means a person who:

(a) on 31 August 2014, was an approved person within the meaning of paragraph 9.2 of Civil Aviation Order 29.11, as in force on 31 August 2014; and

(b) has never been granted a low-level rating flight test endorsement (helicopter) or an aerial application rating flight test endorsement (helicopter).

Note   Civil Aviation Orders 29.6, 29.10 and 29.11 have been amended and no longer provide for approved persons for pilot qualifications. Instead, Part 61 of CASR authorises the holder of a low-level rating flight test endorsement or an aerial application rating flight test endorsement to conduct a flight test for a low-level endorsement mentioned in regulation 61.1075 of CASR.

3 Approvals

 (1)I approve a sling load operation checker:

(a) to conduct a flight test for a sling operations endorsement; and

(b) to grant a sling operations endorsement.

 (2)I approve a mustering operation checker:

(a) to conduct a flight test for an aerial mustering – helicopter endorsement; and

(b) to grant an aerial mustering – helicopter endorsement.

 (3)I approve a winching/rappelling operation checker:

(a) to conduct a flight test for a winch and rappelling operations endorsement; and

(b) to grant a winch and rappelling operations endorsement.

 (4)An approval is subject to the conditions mentioned in section 4.

4 Conditions

 (1) An approved helicopter testing pilot must be registered with FTNS and must use FTNS as the method of flight test notification.

 (2) Before FTNS registration, the approved helicopter testing pilot must have provided evidence to the Flight Standards Branch of CASA that the pilot was a sling load operation checker, a mustering operation checker or a winching/rappelling operation checker on 31 August 2014.

 (3) An approved helicopter testing pilot must comply with the limitations and obligations of the holder of a flight examiner rating under Subpart 61.U of CASR, as in force from time to time, other than subregulation 61.1265 (1) and regulations 61.1270 and 61.1285 of CASR.

 

Overview

This notifiable instrument, F2017N00021, was enacted in 2017 by Graeme Mills Crawford, the Aviation Group Manager, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR). It aims to address the transition in the approval process for certain helicopter operations as outlined in Civil Aviation Orders 29.6, 29.10, and 29.11, which have been amended to no longer provide for approved persons for pilot qualifications. Instead, the regulation empowers individuals holding specific flight test endorsements to conduct flight tests and grant endorsements for certain helicopter operations. This instrument was approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is intended to ensure that helicopter operations maintain high safety standards by allowing only qualified individuals to conduct flight tests and grant endorsements for specific helicopter operations. The instrument is set to commence on 20 March 2017 and will be repealed at the end of 31 August 2018.

Scope and Application

The notifiable instrument F2017N00021, made under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), applies to specific individuals who were approved under certain Civil Aviation Orders on 31 August 2014, and who have not been granted specific flight test endorsements by that date. These individuals, referred to as sling load operation checkers, mustering operation checkers, and winching/rappelling operation checkers, are approved to conduct flight tests and grant specific endorsements for helicopter operations, such as sling operations, aerial mustering, and winch and rappelling operations. The instrument grants these approvals subject to conditions, including the requirement to be registered with the CASA Flight Test Notification System (FTNS) and to use FTNS as the method for flight test notification. The instrument is effective from 20 March 2017 until 31 August 2018. The approval of helicopter testing pilots is also contingent on providing evidence of their previous status to the Flight Standards Branch of CASA before registering with FTNS. Approved helicopter testing pilots must comply with the conditions applicable to holders of a flight examiner rating, with certain exceptions specified in the regulations.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of this instrument (sections 3 and 4) deal with the approval of certain individuals to conduct flight tests and grant specific endorsements for helicopter operations. Section 3 outlines the approval of sling load operation checkers, mustering operation checkers, and winching/rappelling operation checkers to conduct flight tests and grant endorsements for sling operations, aerial mustering, and winch and rappelling operations, respectively. Section 4 further details the conditions that must be met by approved helicopter testing pilots, such as registering with the CASA Flight Test Notification System (FTNS) and providing evidence of their prior approval status as of 31 August 2014. This legislation imposes specific obligations on the parties it governs. Approved helicopter testing pilots must comply with the conditions set out in section 4. They must register with FTNS and use it as the method for flight test notification. Before registering with FTNS, these pilots must provide evidence to the Flight Standards Branch of CASA that they were approved as a sling load operation checker, a mustering operation checker, or a winching/rappelling operation checker as of 31 August 2014. Additionally, approved helicopter testing pilots must adhere to the limitations and obligations of a flight examiner rating holder under Subpart 61.U of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, excluding specific subregulations. Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this instrument may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in this instrument, breaches of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 can lead to substantial penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The exact penalties depend on the nature and severity of the breach and are determined under the relevant provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and other applicable laws. It is important for individuals and entities governed by this legislation to adhere strictly to the outlined requirements to avoid any potential legal repercussions.

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Aviation Law
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Notifiable instrument
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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.