CASA 36/19 — Making of Parachute Descents (Australian Parachute Federation Ltd) Authorisation 2019

Overview

CASA 36/19 — Making of Parachute Descents (Australian Parachute Federation Ltd) Authorisation 2019 was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under paragraphs 152(1)(a) and (b) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 and regulation 11.056 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. The authorisation came into effect on 1 July 2019 and was initially set to expire on 30 June 2022, but was subsequently extended to expire at the end of 1 December 2023. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a clear regulatory framework governing parachute descents in Australia, ensuring safety and compliance with aviation standards. The policy objective of this authorisation is to allow members of the Australian Parachute Federation Ltd to conduct parachute descents under specified conditions, while prohibiting descents through cloud unless authorised under specific regulatory schedules. The authorisation is subject to the conditions set out in the Australian Parachute Federation Operational Regulations and requires all personnel involved in the descent to be members of the Federation or to agree to be bound by these regulations.

Scope and Application

The CASA 36/19 — Making of Parachute Descents (Australian Parachute Federation Ltd) Authorisation 2019 applies to members of the Australian Parachute Federation Ltd (APF), allowing them to make parachute descents in accordance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. This authorisation, effective from 1 July 2019 until its repeal on 31 December 2023, permits APF members to conduct parachute descents, except those through cloud, which may be separately authorised under the APF Regulatory Schedules. Compliance with the APF Operational Regulations is mandatory for all individuals performing functions related to the descent. The authorisation is subject to conditions outlined in section 6 and can be amended through subordinate instruments, such as the CASA 63/20 Amendment Authorisation 2020 and the CASA 99/21 Amendment Instrument 2021, which provide for application, saving, or transitional provisions as necessary.

Key Provisions

The CASA 36/19 — Making of Parachute Descents (Australian Parachute Federation Ltd) Authorisation 2019 sets out the conditions under which members of the Australian Parachute Federation Ltd (APF) can conduct parachute descents. Section 4 of the authorisation states that APF members are permitted to make parachute descents, with the exception of descents through cloud. Section 5 further specifies that these descents must be conducted in accordance with the APF Operational Regulations. The authorisation outlines specific conditions under which parachute descents can be performed, as per section 6, stipulating that only APF members or those who have agreed in writing to be bound by the APF Operational Regulations can perform functions incidental or preparatory to the descent. All individuals involved must comply with the APF Operational Regulations. Under the authorisation, the APF and its members are required to adhere to the stipulations set forth in the APF Operational Regulations and the APF Regulatory Schedules. These regulations and schedules, which are approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), must be strictly followed during all parachute descent activities. Members must ensure that every person performing a function incidental or preparatory to the descent is either an APF member or has agreed in writing to comply with the APF Operational Regulations. This ensures that all activities are conducted in a manner consistent with safety standards and regulatory requirements. The authorisation also establishes potential consequences for non-compliance. While specific penalties are not detailed in the authorisation itself, violations of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 or the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. These actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of authorisations, and other regulatory sanctions. It is important for APF members and related entities to comply with all regulatory requirements to avoid these potential consequences. The authorisation is in force from 1 July 2019 until it is repealed at the end of 1 December 2023, highlighting the temporary nature of this regulatory framework.