CASA EX28/13 - Exemption - use of radiocommunication systems in firefighting operations (New South Wales Rural Fire Service)

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2013L00560 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Explanatory Statement

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

Exemption — use of radiocommunication systems in firefighting operations (New South Wales Rural Fire Service)

 

Legislation

Section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) empowers the Governor-General to make regulations for the Act and in the interests of the safety of air navigation.

 

Subregulation 11.160 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) provides that, for subsection 98 (5A) of the Act, CASA may grant an exemption from a provision of the regulations, including the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988), or a provision of the Civil Aviation Orders (the CAOs), in relation to a matter mentioned in that subsection. Under subregulation 11.160 (2), an exemption may be granted to a person, or to a class of persons, and may specify the class by reference to membership of a specified body or any other characteristic.

 

Under subregulation 11.205 (1) of CASR 1998, CASA may impose conditions on an exemption if this is necessary in the interests of the safety of air navigation. Under regulation 11.225 of CASR 1998, an exemption must be published on the Internet. Under subregulation 11.230 (1), an exemption ceases on the day specified within it (but no longer than 3 years after its commencement) or, if no day is specified, 3 years after commencement.

 

 

Paragraph 83 (1) (c) of CAR 1988 requires that the pilot in command of an Australian aircraft must not permit the operation of the radiocommunication system during flight time in the aircraft except by a person who holds a flight radiotelephone operator licence or a student pilot licence.

 

Paragraph 83 (1) (e) of CAR 1988 requires that the pilot in command of an Australian aircraft must not permit the operation of the radiocommunication system while the aircraft is on the ground except by a person who holds a licence or certificate mentioned in paragraph 83 (1) (d).

 

Paragraph 83 (2) (b) of CAR 1988 requires that the owner of a radiocommunication system not installed in an aircraft but used to ensure the safety of air navigation must not permit persons to operate that system unless they hold such a licence or certificate.

 

Under subregulation 83 (3) of CAR 1988, a person must not operate a radiocommunication system that is:

(a) not installed in, or carried on, an aircraft; or

(b) installed in, or carried on, an aircraft that is on the ground;

if the person does not hold one of the specified licences or certificates.

 

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) has been allocated certain aviation bandwidth VHF AM frequencies by Airservices Australia and the Australian Communications and Media Authority for use during bush firefighting activities.

 

During the conduct of those operations, NSW RFS personnel have a need to use radiocommunication systems for tactical aircraft-to-aircraft and air-to-ground communications. Although trained in the use of radiocommunication systems for use in firefighting operations, those personnel do not usually hold licences or certificates of the kind referred to in subregulation 83 (1) or (3) of CAR 1988.

 

The effect of this exemption is to exempt a pilot in command of an Australian aircraft engaged in firefighting or training for firefighting, in which a radiocommunication system approved under subregulation 82 (1) of CAR 1988 is installed, from compliance with the requirements of paragraphs 83 (1) (c) and (e).

 

In addition, members and staff of the NSW RFS are exempted from compliance with paragraph 83 (2) (b) of CAR 1988. This exemption will enable the NSW RFS, as the owner of a radiocommunication system not installed in, or carried on, an aircraft, to permit the operation of that system by a person who is not the holder of a certificate or licence of a kind that they would otherwise be required to have completed. The NSW RFS run a training course for the use of aviation radiocommunication systems.

 

This exemption also exempts radio operators who are members or staff of the NSW RFS from compliance with subregulation 83 (3) of CAR 1988. The exemption applies when they are communicating with an Australian aircraft that is engaged in fire suppression and prevention operations or training for such operations. The operators must only use the allocated aviation bandwidth VHF FM frequencies.

 

Legislative Instruments Act

For subsection 98 (5A) of the Act, CASA may, by instrument, grant an exemption from compliance with a provision of the Regulations or the CAOs. An instrument issued under paragraph 98 (5A) (a) of the Act is a legislative instrument if the instrument is expressed to apply to a class of persons or aircraft. The exemption applies to classes of persons engaged in firefighting operations. The exemption is, therefore, a legislative instrument subject to tabling and disallowance in the Parliament under sections 38 and 42 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (the LIA).

 

Compatibility with human rights and freedoms

A statement of compatibility with human rights is at Attachment 1.

 

Consultation

Consultation under section 17 of the LIA has been undertaken with the NSW RFS. The instrument is required to enable firefighting operations to take place using staff that have been given appropriate training. It renews instrument CASA EX05/11, issued to pilots in command of firefighting aircraft and the NSW RFS, which expired at the end of January 2013. It is in the same terms and is consistent with other instruments issued to firefighting services.

 

Commencement and making

The instrument commences on the day of registration. It stops having effect at the end of February 2016 as if it had been repealed by another instrument.

 

The exemption has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR 1998.

 

[Instrument number CASA EX28/13]

Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

Exemption — use of radiocommunication systems in firefighting operations
(New South Wales Rural Fire Service)

This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the legislative instrument

The legislative instrument permits firefighting aircraft and members of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service on the ground to communicate by radio although not holding licences issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. The systems operators must only use the allocated aviation bandwidth VHF FM frequencies and must undergo specialist training.

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were enacted to ensure the safety of air navigation, and empower the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to grant exemptions from certain provisions where necessary. The 1998 Regulations were amended in 2013 by F2013L00560 to provide an exemption for the use of radiocommunication systems by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) during firefighting operations. This exemption was introduced to address the problem of trained NSW RFS personnel needing to use radiocommunication systems during bush firefighting activities, without holding the necessary aviation licences or certificates. The exemption was made under the authority of Section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and is subject to the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. The policy objective is to enable effective communication during firefighting operations while ensuring that the necessary safety standards are maintained. The exemption requires that NSW RFS personnel use only the allocated aviation bandwidth VHF FM frequencies and have completed the relevant training course.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) provide that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may grant an exemption from compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988) or Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) in specific circumstances. In this case, CASA has issued an exemption for the use of radiocommunication systems in firefighting operations by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS). The exemption applies to pilots in command of Australian aircraft engaged in firefighting or training for firefighting, allowing them to permit the operation of radiocommunication systems by trained NSW RFS personnel, who may not hold the necessary licences or certificates. Additionally, the exemption allows members and staff of the NSW RFS to operate radiocommunication systems not installed in, or carried on, an aircraft, provided they are communicating with an Australian aircraft engaged in fire suppression and prevention operations or training for such operations, and using the allocated aviation bandwidth VHF FM frequencies. The exemption is subject to conditions and is published on the internet, ceasing three years after its commencement unless specified otherwise. The exemption is a legislative instrument subject to tabling and disallowance in the Parliament under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. This exemption does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms, as detailed in the statement of compatibility with human rights prepared in accordance with the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011. The exemption has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260(1) of CASR 1998. The exemption is compatible with human rights, as it does not raise any human rights issues and is in the interests of the safety of air navigation. The exemption is required to enable firefighting operations to take place using staff that have been given appropriate training and is consistent with other instruments issued to firefighting services.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) include provisions that require the pilot in command of an Australian aircraft to ensure that radiocommunication systems are operated only by licensed individuals. Specifically, under paragraphs 83(1)(c) and (e) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988), the pilot in command must not permit the operation of the radiocommunication system during flight or on the ground unless the person operating the system holds the appropriate licence. Similarly, under paragraph 83(2)(b) of CAR 1988, the owner of a radiocommunication system must not allow its operation by individuals without the necessary licence or certificate. This requirement extends to radiocommunication systems not installed in an aircraft but used to ensure the safety of air navigation, as stated in subregulation 83(3) of CAR 1988. This legislative instrument imposes specific obligations on the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) and pilots in command of Australian aircraft engaged in firefighting operations. The exemption allows pilots in command of aircraft used in firefighting or training for such operations to permit the operation of radiocommunication systems by NSW RFS personnel, even if those personnel do not hold the necessary licences. This exemption also applies to members and staff of the NSW RFS operating radiocommunication systems not installed in aircraft. However, these exemptions are subject to conditions, including the use of allocated aviation bandwidth VHF FM frequencies and completion of a training course provided by the NSW RFS. Furthermore, CASA can impose additional conditions on the exemption if necessary for the safety of air navigation. The Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of the exemption. However, any breach of the conditions under which the exemption is granted could potentially lead to enforcement actions by CASA. Given the context of the exemption and its focus on ensuring safety during firefighting operations, any significant non-compliance could result in the suspension or revocation of the exemption. Additionally, any actions that compromise the safety of air navigation could lead to further regulatory scrutiny or enforcement actions, although specific penalties are not detailed within this legislative instrument.

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Area of Law
Aviation Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Exemptions & Exclusions
Regulatory Standards
Enforcement Powers
Catchwords
Compatibility with Human Rights

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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.