Civil Aviation Order 100.23 (Airworthiness Authorities — General) Instrument 2007

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Legislation au F2007L04655 In force Legislative Instrument

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Civil Aviation Order 100.23 (as amended)

Airworthiness authorities — general

made under regulation 33B of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.

This compilation was prepared on 26 March 2026 taking into account amendments up to Civil Aviation Orders 100.23 and 100.24 Amendment Instrument 2026.

Prepared by the Legal Services Branch, Legal Division, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Canberra.

Compilation No. 3

Contents

Page

1A...Name of instrument

1B...Definitions

1....Authority classes and ratings

2....Requirements for issue

3....Examination

4....Period of validity

5....Withdrawal or cancellation of authority

Note to Civil Aviation Order 100.23

 

1A Name of instrument

 1A.1 This instrument is Civil Aviation Order 100.23 (Airworthiness Authorities — General) Instrument 2007.

 1A.2 This instrument may be cited as Civil Aviation Order 100.23.

 1A.3 A reference in a CASA instrument (being an instrument issued by CASA under a statutory power to issue the instrument) to Section 100.23 of the Civil Aviation Orders is a reference to this instrument.

1B Definitions

Note   In this instrument, certain terms and expressions have the same meaning as they have in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the regulations. These include CAR, CASA and Director.

  In this Order:

authority means airworthiness authority.

Note   airworthiness authority is defined in regulation 2 of CAR as meaning an authority under regulation 33B of CAR.

relevant Order, for an application for an airworthiness authority, means the Civil Aviation Order mentioned in subsection 1 for the class of airworthiness authority to be issued.

1 Authority classes and ratings

  Airworthiness authorities will be issued in the following classes and, where applicable, rated in accordance with the appropriate practices or Civil Aviation Orders:

Maintenance Authority Civil Aviation Order 100.24;

Non-Destructive Testing Authority Civil Aviation Order 100.27;

Aircraft Weight Control Authority Civil Aviation Order 100.28.

2 Requirements for issue

 2.1 An applicant for an airworthiness authority must make the application using one of the following application forms, as applicable for the class of the airworthiness authority, and submit the form to CASA:

(a) Application for Initial Issue or Amendment to Scope of a Maintenance Authority;

(b) Application for Initial Issue of, or Additional Method to, a Non-Destructive Testing Authority;

(c) Application for Initial Issue or Amendment of an Aircraft Weight Control Authority.

 2.1A If the relevant Order specifies particular experience or qualifications to be held by the applicant, the applicant must provide full details of such experience or qualifications with the application form.

 2.2 The issue of an authority to an applicant may be refused if the applicant has a disability likely to affect the applicant’s technical skill or judgment.

 2.3 Unless otherwise approved, an applicant for an authority must:

(a) be at least 21 years of age; and

(b) be able to read, write and speak the English language; and

(c) possess such experience as is required by the Director; and

(d) pass such examinations as are required by the Director.

 2.4 An applicant may be required to be interviewed to determine the applicant’s eligibility to complete any written, oral or practical examination relevant to the issue, extension or renewal of an authority.

3 Examination

 3.1 Subject to approval to the contrary, an applicant will be examined in accordance with the requirements detailed in the relevant Order. Where an applicant fails to obtain a pass in an examination, a further attempt may be made at the discretion of the examiner and subject to such conditions as the examiner may specify.

 3.2 Examinations for the issue or extension of authorities will be arranged individually for applicants. Regular periodic examinations for authorities are not provided.

 3.3 The holder of an authority may, at any time, be required to undergo an examination in respect of any rating endorsed on the authority.

4 Period of validity

 4.1 The period for which an authority is valid will depend upon the purpose for which it is issued, and will be specified in the authority. The period will generally not exceed 2 years.

 4.2 Upon application by the holder, an authority may be renewed subject to such of the conditions relating to an original issue as are appropriate.

 4.3 During the period of validity of the authority, the holder must notify CASA, in writing, of any change of address so that CASA may communicate with the holder in relation to the authority if required.

 4.4 The holder of an authority who has a disability, that is likely to affect the holder’s technical skill or judgment, must not exercise the privileges of the authority.

5 Withdrawal or cancellation of authority

  An authority may be withdrawn, or cancelled, in any of the following circumstances:

(a) where the reason for issue of the authority no longer exists; or

(b) where the Director is satisfied that the withdrawal, or cancellation, is in the public interest; or

(c) where the holder of the authority is no longer considered competent by the Director; or

(d) at the request of the holder.

Note to Civil Aviation Order 100.23

The Civil Aviation Order (in force under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988) as shown in this document comprises Civil Aviation Order 100.23 made as indicated in the Table below.

Table of Orders

Year and
number

Date of registration on FRLI

Date of
commencement

Application, saving or
transitional provisions

CAO 100.23 Instrument 2007

17 December 2007
(F2007L04655)

18 December 2007 (see s. 2)

 

CAO 100.23 2009 No. 1

28 May 2009
(F2009L02062)

29 May 2009 (see s. 2)

 

CAO 100.23 2011 No. 1

22 June 2011
(F2011L01186)

27 June 2011 (see s. 2)

 

CAOs 100.23 and 100.24 Amendment Instrument 2026

25 March 2026
(F2026L00317)

26 March 2026 (see s. 2)

 

 

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

s. 100.23

rs. CAO 100.23 Instrument 2007

subs.1A

ad. F2026L00317

subs.1B

ad. F2026L00317

subs.1

am. F2026L00317

subs.2

am. F2026L00317

subs.3

am. F2026L00317

subs.4

am. F2026L00317

subs. 6

ad. CAO 100.23 2009 No. 1

subs. 6

rep. CAO 100.23 2011 No. 1

 

Overview

The Civil Aviation Order 100.23, initially enacted in 2007 as the Airworthiness Authorities — General Instrument, is a legislative instrument that establishes the general requirements for issuing airworthiness authorities within the framework of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. This Order was introduced to streamline and formalise the process of granting and managing airworthiness authorities, ensuring that individuals and entities authorised to perform specific tasks related to aircraft airworthiness meet stringent qualifications and competency standards. Enacted by the Australian Government, the primary objective of this Order is to enhance the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations by ensuring that only qualified personnel are granted the authority to perform critical airworthiness-related tasks. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of this Order, ensuring that the standards set forth are upheld to maintain the highest levels of safety in the aviation industry.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Order 100.23, as amended, pertains to the general procedures and requirements for issuing airworthiness authorities under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. This legislation applies to any individual or entity seeking to be recognised as an airworthiness authority, which includes those responsible for the maintenance, non-destructive testing, and weight control of aircraft in Australia. The Order specifies the classes and ratings of authorities that can be issued and outlines the application process, including necessary qualifications, examinations, and the period of validity of the authorities. The application must be made to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and the authorities can be subject to renewal, withdrawal, or cancellation under certain conditions. The Order has national jurisdiction within Australia and is implemented by subordinate legislation to provide detailed specifications and procedures. Certain exemptions and exclusions may apply as defined in the relevant Civil Aviation Orders or regulations.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Order 100.23, as amended, outlines the requirements and procedures for the issuance, examination, and maintenance of airworthiness authorities. Section 1A provides the name and citation of the instrument, clarifying its status under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. Section 1B defines key terms used within the Order, ensuring a consistent understanding of terms like 'authority' and 'airworthiness authority'. Section 2 details the requirements for the issue of airworthiness authorities, including the application process, eligibility criteria, and specific qualifications needed for different types of authorities. Applicants must meet age, language proficiency, and experience requirements, and may need to pass relevant examinations and interviews. The Order also imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Applicants must submit the correct application form and provide evidence of their qualifications and experience. They must also meet age and language requirements and pass examinations as stipulated by the Director. Section 3 governs the examination process, specifying that applicants will be tested according to the relevant Order, with the possibility of a second attempt if they fail. Section 4 outlines the period of validity for these authorities, typically not exceeding two years, and requires holders to notify CASA of any address changes. Section 5 details the conditions under which an authority may be withdrawn or cancelled, including situations where the reason for issuance no longer exists or where the holder is deemed incompetent. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the Order can result in civil and criminal consequences. For example, Section 2.2 allows for the refusal of an authority if an applicant has a disability that could affect their technical skill or judgment. Section 5 provides for the withdrawal or cancellation of an authority in various circumstances, including where the holder is no longer competent or where the authority is no longer needed. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the Order itself, breaches of related regulations could lead to fines or imprisonment under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. This comprehensive framework ensures that airworthiness authorities are issued to competent individuals, maintaining high safety standards in the aviation industry.

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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.