Part 66 Manual of Standards Amendment Instrument 2012 (No. 2)

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

Legislation au F2012L01328 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Explanatory Statement

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

Part 66 Manual of Standards Amendment Instrument 2012 (No. 2)

 

Purpose

The Part 66 Manual of Standards (the MOS) provides for adoption of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) licence ratings for Australia.

 

Background

The specifications set out in the MOS have been developed to be closely aligned with EASA Part 66.

 

Legislation — the Act

Under subsection 98 (1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations for the Act and in the interests of the safety of air navigation.

 

Under subsection 98 (5A) of the Act, the regulations may empower CASA to issue instruments in relation to the maintenance or airworthiness of aircraft.

 

Legislation — CASR Part 66

Part 66 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Continuing airworthiness – aircraft engineer licences and ratings (CASR Part 66), deals with licences and ratings for the performance of maintenance certifications and issuing certificates of release to service for aircraft.

 

Under regulation 66.015 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), CASA is empowered to issue a MOS for CASR Part 66, setting out matters affecting the maintenance of aircraft. Under subregulation 66.015 (2) of CASR 1998, the MOS may specify a number of matters.

 

The MOS makes provision for those matters specified in subregulation 66.015 (2) of CASR 1998. In particular, it sets out requirements for the issue of aircraft engineer licences and other requirements or privileges associated with the licences. It includes the use of EASA categories of maintenance authorities, namely, category B1, B2 and C aircraft engineer licences and related aircraft type ratings. These are awarded on the basis of compliance with detailed knowledge and training and assessment in accordance with the Appendixes to the MOS.

 

EASA recently reissued Parts 66 and 145 to grant category A licence privileges to category B2 licence holders on the basis that specific type and task training requirements were satisfied by the Part 145 approved maintenance organisation (AMO) training and authorisation functions.

 

This instrument amends the MOS on the basis of that reissue. It amends Appendix I which deals with the CASA knowledge syllabus and knowledge levels for basic subjects. It also amends Appendix III, which deals with type training and assessment standards for licences. The amendment of section 66.A.50 and replacement of clauses 1 - 4 in Part 3 of Appendix III, in respect of the various sorts of practical aircraft training, emphasise the similarities, differences and crossovers in respect of practical consolidation training, on course training and on the job training. These amendments provide clarifications sought by industry in relation to the different forms of practical training.

 

This instrument also amends the MOS to correct minor errors, clarify the meaning of certain provisions and update some of the requirements relating to training.

 

Consultation

Consultation under section 17 of the LIA was undertaken as follows. CASA published details of the MOS amendment on its website and invited comments from the public and aviation industry.

 

Comments were received with many individuals and organisations welcoming the proposal to extend the grant of category A licence privileges. There was some disagreement. CASA reviewed these objections but decided to proceed on the basis that the privilege will only be available:

  • if the B2 licence holders have received aircraft type training leading to an aircraft type rating.
  • following the satisfactory completion of the relevant category A aircraft task training on a specific aircraft type carried out by a Part 145 organisation or Part 147 organisation.
  • following satisfactory completion of 6 months of documented practical experience covering the aircraft type and the scope of the tasks for which the authorisation is to be issued.
  • relevant category A aircraft task training includes practical hands on training, and theoretical training, as appropriate for each task authorised. Satisfactory completion of training must be demonstrated by an examination or by workplace assessment carried out by the organisation. Task training and the examination or assessment must be carried out by the maintenance organisation issuing the certifying staff authorisation.

The amendments are considered desirable for continued harmonisation with EASA and also on the basis of facilitating the performance and certification of maintenance and subsequent release to service.

 

CASA intends to issue a Notice of Final Change to signal an end of the consultation process and provide its disposition in relation to comment received.

 

Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR)

A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared for CASR Part 66 and assessed by OBPR as meeting the Australian Government’s Best Practice Regulation requirements. Having been made under CASR Part 66, the same OBPR outcome extends to the MOS and this amending instrument. As mentioned above, many of the changes are of a minor or machinery nature.

 

Human Rights Compatibility Statement

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. It is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

Making and commencement

The amending instrument commences on the day after registration. It has been made by the Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, in accordance with subsection 73 (2) of the Act.

 

[Part 66 Manual of Standards Amendment Instrument 2012 (No.2)]

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 Part 66 Manual of Standards Amendment Instrument 2012 (No. 2) was enacted to address the need for alignment between Australian and European aviation safety standards, specifically relating to aircraft engineer licences and maintenance certifications. The instrument was introduced under subsection 98(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which empowers the Governor-General to make regulations for the safety of air navigation. This amendment instrument is an extension of regulation 66.015 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, which empowers the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue a Manual of Standards (MOS) for aircraft engineer licences. The policy objective of the amendments is to harmonise Australian aviation safety standards with those of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) by aligning the MOS more closely with EASA's Part 66 standards. This includes adopting EASA categories of maintenance authorities and addressing industry concerns regarding practical training and assessment standards. The instrument also includes minor corrections and clarifications to existing provisions. The amendments were developed following consultation with the public and aviation industry, with CASA taking into account objections and deciding to proceed with certain conditions for the grant of category A licence privileges. The Regulation Impact Statement prepared by the Office of Best Practice Regulation assessed the changes as meeting the Australian Government’s best practice regulation requirements.

Scope and Application

The Part 66 Manual of Standards Amendment Instrument 2012 (No. 2) pertains to the amendment of the Part 66 Manual of Standards (MOS) under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. The MOS, in turn, is aligned with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) licence ratings, governing the requirements for issuing aircraft engineer licences and related privileges in Australia. This regulatory framework applies to individuals and entities involved in the maintenance and certification of aircraft, including aircraft engineers and maintenance organisations. It aims to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft through the implementation of standardised licensing and training requirements. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, aligning Australian standards with international practices to facilitate harmonisation and mutual recognition agreements. The instrument includes minor amendments to correct errors, clarify provisions, and update training requirements, ensuring that the MOS remains effective and relevant. The amendments do not introduce any exclusions or exemptions but rather refine the existing standards to better align with EASA practices and industry feedback. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) retains the authority to issue subordinate instruments to further refine or expand upon the regulations set out in the MOS.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Part 66 Manual of Standards Amendment Instrument 2012 (No. 2) involve amendments to the Part 66 Manual of Standards (MOS) concerning aircraft engineer licences and ratings, which are closely aligned with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards. The instrument specifically amends the MOS to address the grant of category A licence privileges to category B2 licence holders under certain conditions (Section 66.A.50). It also corrects minor errors, clarifies certain provisions, and updates training requirements related to practical aircraft training (Appendices I and III). The purpose of these amendments is to facilitate continued harmonisation with EASA standards and to ensure the safe and effective certification of aircraft maintenance. The obligations and requirements imposed by this amending instrument include ensuring that category B2 licence holders receive the necessary aircraft type training, complete relevant category A aircraft task training at a Part 145 or Part 147 organisation, and gain six months of documented practical experience on the specific aircraft type and tasks for which they seek authorisation. This training must include both practical and theoretical components, and satisfactory completion must be demonstrated through an examination or workplace assessment conducted by the issuing organisation. Furthermore, the amendments require that all changes be reflected in the MOS, ensuring that the standards for aircraft engineer licences and ratings remain current and aligned with international safety standards. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this amending instrument may result in civil or criminal penalties, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. For instance, operating an aircraft without the proper licences or certifications, or without meeting the necessary training requirements, could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). In cases where the breach involves wilful misconduct or negligence, CASA may impose fines or other penalties as stipulated under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The maximum penalties for such offences can include substantial fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. Additionally, any organisation or individual found in breach of the regulations may face operational restrictions or revocation of their certifications, further underscoring the importance of compliance with these standards.

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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.