Explanatory Statement
Civil Aviation Act 1988
Civil Aviation Order 100.5 Amendment Instrument 2011 (No. 1)
Legislation
Section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) empowers the Governor-General to make regulations for the Act and the safety of air navigation.
Under subregulation 38 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988), CASA may issue directions relating to the maintenance of Australian aircraft.
Under regulation 5 of CAR 1988, CASA may, among other things, issue a direction in Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs).
Civil Aviation Order 100.5 (CAO 100.5) contains general directions relating to the maintenance of Australian aircraft.
The amending Order inserts a maintenance direction, as a new subsection 7A, in CAO 100.5. It applies to the holder of a current certificate of approval to carry out maintenance issued under regulation 30 of CAR 1988 (a CAR 30 certificate holder). The subsection contains directions for the maintenance of composite structure aircraft (aircraft containing fibre reinforced plastic composite structures).
The purpose of the direction is to allow maintenance on composite structures in the light aircraft specified in the table to continue to be carried out by previous holders of the Airframe Group 7 rating after 26 June 2011. The holders of this rating are specialists in this type of maintenance and it is considered that they should continue to carry out maintenance in accordance with their qualification although Civil Aviation Order 100.91 and AAC 9-91 that deal with the qualification and the work that they are entitled to perform are both to be revoked on the introduction of the new maintenance suite (Parts 42, 66, 145 and 147 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998) commencing on 27 June 2011.
The direction to CAR 30 certificate holders to only employ specialists for the carrying out of composite maintenance aligns the CAR 30 certificate holder to the way in which such composite structure maintenance will be managed within a Part 145 Approved Maintenance Organisation ( an organisation approved under Part 145 to perform maintenance of aircraft and aircraft components and provide training and assessment of employees of the organisation) at the end of the change-over period from regulation 30 to Part 145.
Legislative Instrument Act
Under subsection 98 (5) of the Act, where the regulations provide for certain instruments to be issued in the form of CAOs, such CAOs are declared to be disallowable instruments. Under subparagraph 6 (d) (i) of the LIA, an instrument is a legislative instrument for section 5 of the LIA if it is declared to be a disallowable instrument under legislation in force before the commencement of the LIA. The amending Order is, therefore, a legislative instrument and it is subject to tabling and disallowance in the Parliament under sections 38 and 42 of the LIA.
Consultation
Consultation under section 17 of LIA has not been undertaken because extensive consultation under section 17 of LIA was undertaken before the introduction of the maintenance suite. The issue of the amending Order is consequential on the introduction of the suite and is intended to facilitate a smooth transition to the standards of Parts 66 and 145.
Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR)
OBPR have assessed that the maintenance suite Regulation Impact Statement meets the Government’s best practice regulation requirements. The same OBPR outcome extends to this instrument which has been made to facilitate the introduction of the suite.
The amending Order has been issued by the Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, in accordance with subsection 73 (2) of the Act.
The instrument commences on 27 June 2011.
[Civil Aviation Order 100.5 Amendment Instrument 2011 (No. 1)]
Overview
The Civil Aviation Order 100.5 Amendment Instrument 2011 (No. 1) was enacted to address a specific issue in the maintenance of composite structure aircraft in light aircraft, ensuring that the transition from existing regulatory frameworks to new maintenance standards would be smooth and manageable. The Civil Aviation Act 1988 empowers the Governor-General to enact regulations concerning aviation safety, including the maintenance of aircraft. The Civil Aviation Order 100.5, which contains general maintenance directions for Australian aircraft, was amended to include a new subsection 7A that provides specific maintenance directions for composite structure aircraft. This amendment was designed to allow specialists, previously qualified under the Airframe Group 7 rating, to continue performing maintenance on composite structures even after the revocation of certain qualifications and orders on 26 June 2011, aligning with the new maintenance suite introduced on 27 June 2011. This legislative instrument was issued by the Director of Aviation Safety on behalf of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is subject to parliamentary scrutiny and disallowance under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Order 100.5 Amendment Instrument 2011 (No. 1) amends the Civil Aviation Order 100.5 by introducing a new maintenance direction for composite structure aircraft, effective from 27 June 2011. This amendment applies to holders of a current certificate of approval to carry out maintenance under regulation 30 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, which allows them to continue employing specialists for the maintenance of composite structures in specified light aircraft. The purpose is to ensure continuity in maintenance practices during the transition from the existing regulations to the new maintenance suite introduced under Parts 42, 66, 145, and 147 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. The amending Order is a legislative instrument, subject to tabling and disallowance in the Parliament under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. It is declared a disallowable instrument, aligning with the requirements of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, and follows the extensive consultation that was conducted prior to the introduction of the new maintenance suite.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Order 100.5 Amendment Instrument 2011 (No. 1) amends the Civil Aviation Order 100.5 (CAO 100.5) by inserting a new subsection 7A (subsections 7A(1) and 7A(2)). This new subsection sets out specific directions for the maintenance of composite structure aircraft, which are aircraft containing fibre reinforced plastic composite structures. These directions are aimed at ensuring that maintenance on such aircraft can continue to be carried out by previous holders of the Airframe Group 7 rating after 26 June 2011, as the existing qualifications and associated orders are set to be revoked with the introduction of a new maintenance suite on 27 June 2011.
The obligations imposed by the amending Order on the parties it governs, particularly CAR 30 certificate holders, are to adhere to the new maintenance directions for composite structures. This means they must only employ specialists who have the necessary qualifications to carry out maintenance on composite structures in line with the new regulatory standards. The direction is designed to align the maintenance practices of CAR 30 certificate holders with those of Part 145 Approved Maintenance Organisations, ensuring a consistent approach to the maintenance of composite aircraft as the industry transitions to the new regulatory framework.
The Civil Aviation Order 100.5 Amendment Instrument 2011 (No. 1) does not directly create new offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, failure to comply with the amended CAO 100.5 could result in regulatory action under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to enforcement actions, including the suspension or revocation of the CAR 30 certificate, fines, or other penalties as deemed appropriate by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The exact penalties for non-compliance would be determined under the relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.