CASA 67/22 — Dangerous Goods (Carriage of Spare Battery for Mobility Aid) Instrument 2022

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Legislation au F2022N00330 Not in force Notifiable Instrument

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Instrument number CASA 67/22

I, WILLIAM ANDREW TOOTELL, National Manager Regulatory Services, Regulatory Oversight Division, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under section 23 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.

[Signed W. Tootell]

William Tootell
National Manager Regulatory Services
Regulatory Oversight Division

15 December 2022

CASA 67/22 — Dangerous Goods (Carriage of Spare Battery for Mobility Aid) Instrument 2022

1 Name

  This instrument is CASA 67/22 — Dangerous Goods (Carriage of Spare Battery for Mobility Aid) Instrument 2022.

2 Duration

  This instrument:

(a) commences on 1 January 2023; and

(b) is repealed at the end of 31 December 2024.

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, dry battery or nickel-metal hydride battery, that complies with Special Provision A67, A123 or A199, respectively, of the Technical Instructions.

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

CASR means the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.

checked baggage has the meaning given by Part 1 of the CASR Dictionary.

relevant Australian aircraft means an Australian aircraft registered under Part 47 of CASR, 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 meaning given by 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 1   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.

Note 2   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

 1 The 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.

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

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

 4 The 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.

 5 The 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, serves as the primary legislation governing civil aviation in Australia. This Act was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive legal framework that ensures the safety, efficiency, and orderly growth of civil aviation in Australia. The Civil Aviation (Dangerous Goods (Carriage of Spare Battery for Mobility Aid) Instrument 2022, created by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority granted by the Act, aims to facilitate the safe carriage of spare batteries for mobility aids on relevant Australian aircraft within Australian territory. The policy objective is to provide clear guidelines and permissions for the carriage of these batteries, ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations while accommodating the needs of passengers who rely on mobility aids for their mobility.

Scope and Application

The CASA 67/22 — Dangerous Goods (Carriage of Spare Battery for Mobility Aid) Instrument 2022 applies to the carriage of spare batteries for mobility aids by relevant passengers on board relevant Australian aircraft operating within Australian territory. This instrument is specifically tailored for passengers who rely on mobility aids due to disabilities, health conditions, age, or temporary mobility problems, allowing them to carry spare batteries for their mobility aids as checked baggage, provided the number of spare batteries does not exceed the number of batteries fitted to, and powering, the mobility aid. The instrument grants permission to the relevant passengers and aircraft operators to carry these spare batteries under certain conditions, which include a risk assessment by the operator, written approval from the operator, a pre-flight declaration by the passenger, inspection of the battery for visible leaks or damage, and secure placement in the aircraft’s hold. These permissions are subject to the conditions outlined in Schedule 1 and the overarching regulations of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, ensuring the safe carriage of these items. The instrument is effective from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2024, and it does not explicitly mention extensions or restrictions through subordinate instruments, though it references adherence to the Technical Instructions.

Key Provisions

The CASA 67/22 — Dangerous Goods (Carriage of Spare Battery for Mobility Aid) Instrument 2022 outlines specific conditions under which passengers with disabilities or temporary mobility issues can carry spare batteries for their mobility aids on board Australian aircraft. This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 January 2023 and is repealed at the end of 31 December 2024, provides the framework for these passengers to transport spare batteries as checked baggage, provided the number of spare batteries does not exceed the number of batteries powering the mobility aid (section 4). It permits both the passenger and the aircraft operator to carry these spare batteries under certain conditions (sections 5(1) and 5(2)). This legislation imposes several obligations on the relevant parties. The aircraft operator must conduct a risk assessment of the proposed carriage of the spare battery in the aircraft’s hold and submit a copy of this assessment to CASA upon request (Schedule 1, condition 1). The operator must also provide written approval for the carriage of the spare battery (Schedule 1, condition 2). Furthermore, the passenger must declare the spare battery to the check-in staff at the airport before boarding (Schedule 1, condition 3). The battery must be inspected by the operator’s personnel to ensure it is free from visible leaks or damage immediately before being brought onto the aircraft (Schedule 1, condition 4). During the flight, the battery must be securely placed in the aircraft's hold in a manner that prevents any movement that could alter its orientation or cause damage (Schedule 1, condition 5). Failure to comply with the conditions outlined in this instrument may result in civil or criminal penalties. While the instrument does not explicitly state penalties, breaches of related provisions in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 could result in fines and imprisonment. The severity of these penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, with potential maximum penalties as prescribed under the relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.

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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.