Question re MTOW increase

[sfGnome]

Putting aside questions of medical clearance and CASA, etc, does anyone have an answer for Walrus’ request?

[facthunter]

Isn't that more directed to CTA access. I know RAAus linked the two but why? it's not directly an AUW issue and I think THAT was a mistake on their Part. Nev

[Kyle Communications]

There is NO CTA access for RAA except for one case only. That is if you are training in a CTA at a airfield in RAA..thats it.

 

CTA for RAA is still not available for the 760kg groupG. The only time is a RPL or greater then if you have a RPL you would register your aircraft as Experimental VH you would NOT be in RAA..... The only reason to be in RAA with groupG is a medical. If CASA do relax the medical to something more sensible than it is now then I believe RAA would lose quite a lot of members

 

[Kyle Communications]

Remembering of course the maint and record keeping is way different in VH rego...compliance as well. I believe though the Group G will literally be a copy of the Experimental rules

 

Mark

 

[Kyle Communications]

Ongoing work in preparation for the MTOW increase

Members may be aware of recent amendments to some Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs). Some of this work is in preparation for the RAAus MTOW increase. The information below has been provided to RAAus by CASA:

A CAO update instrument has been published on the Federal Register that provides for a number of changes to several of the 95-series CAOs that relate to sport aviation aircraft administered by SABs, the list of CAOs is below:

• Civil Aviation Order 95.8 (Exemptions from CAR and CASR — Hang Gliders and Paragliders) Instrument 2021 (CAO 95.8);
• Civil Aviation Order 95.10 (Exemptions from CAR and CASR— Microlight Aeroplanes) Instrument 2021 (CAO 95.10);
• Civil Aviation Order 95.12 (Exemptions from CAR and CASR — Gyroplanes Not Exceeding 250 kg) Instrument 2021 (CAO 95.12);
• Civil Aviation Order 95.12.1 (Exemptions from CAR and CASR —LSA Gyroplanes and ASRA-compliant Gyroplanes) Instrument 2021 (CAO 95.12.1);
• Civil Aviation Order 95.32 (Exemptions from CAR and CASR — Powered Parachutes and Weight-shift-controlled Aeroplanes) Instrument 2021 (CAO 95.32);
• Civil Aviation Order 95.55 (Exemptions from CAR and CASR — Certain Light Sport Aircraft, Lightweight Aeroplanes and Ultralight Aeroplanes) Instrument 2021 (CAO 95.55).

Why Changes were made;

A number of required updates had been identified in six (6) 95 series CAOs that relate to Sport Aviation aircraft. These updates relate to;

• Inclusion of pilot maintenance for lightweight aeroplanes,
• the operation of certain aircraft for which an experimental certificate is not in force over populous areas;
• the use of weight-shift-controlled aeroplanes for normal private operations,
• incorrect cross-references and redundant definitions, and
• removal of the existing self-repeal (on 1 December 2023) of the provision that deems SAB flight permits to be in force for certain aircraft. 

If these matters were not corrected, lightweight aeroplane pilot maintenance would have to be conducted by a third party, weight-shift-controlled aeroplanes would be unable to conduct private operations for personal purposes, and multiple kinds of sport aviation aircraft would have to be issued additional SAB flight permits or Part 91 approvals to fly over certain kinds of populous areas thus imposing an administrative burden on sport aviation bodies by requiring them to issue numerous permits at precisely the same time as those bodies are finalising their transition to Part 149.

A summary of the changes that the instrument provides is below:

The registered instrument:

1. amends CAO 95.12, CAO 95.12.1, CAO 95.32 and CAO 95.55 to extend by a further year the deeming of SAB flight permits (as defined in the CAOs) being taken to be in force for aircraft listed with SABs before 2 December 2021;

• This permits aircraft that were registered with the relevant SAB prior to the commencement of the specific CAO on 02 December 2021 that do not have a SAB flight permit to continue to be operated under the existing scheme without being required to be issued with a flight permit (until the commencement of the Part 103 MOS)

(b) amends CAO 95.10, CAO 95.12, CAO 95.12.1, CAO 95.32, and CAO 95.55 to provide that approvals under regulation 91.045 or 91.050 of CASR are not required for flights over populous areas that are not built-up areas of cities or towns, or certain flights over public gatherings, in specified aircraft to which the CAOs apply;

• This will ensure that there are no additional requirements for flight over populous areas (that are not cities or towns) and / or public gatherings with respect to approvals issued by CASA or Authorised Persons under either 91.045 or 91.050 until the commencement of Part 103.

(c) amends CAO 95.55 to provide an exemption for the operator and pilot in command of a lightweight aeroplane from subregulation 42ZC (1) of CAR to the extent specified, to allow the holder of a specified pilot authorisation issued by a relevant ASAO (as defined in CAO 95.55) to carry out relevant maintenance (as defined in CAO 95.55) on the aeroplane if specified requirements are met. Relevant maintenance is defined as maintenance mentioned in Part 1 of Schedule 8 of CAR, other than items 19 and 25.

• This update permits persons that hold a pilot authorisation issued by an ASAO to operate a lightweight aeroplane that is listed (registered) with that ASAO to conduct the pilot maintenance specified in Part 1 of Schedule 8 of CAR, other than items 19 and 25 of the schedule, on a lightweight aeroplane. NOTING - The pilot maintenance may only be conducted if the operator of the lightweight aeroplane has given permission for the authorisation holder to conduct the maintenance. These pilot maintenance privileges do not include the conduct of pilot maintenance on lightweight aeroplanes listed with other ASAOs nor aircraft that are VH registered. Since CAR Part 4A applies to lightweight aeroplanes, any other maintenance not provided for by Part 1 of Schedule 8 must performed by an appropriately licensed aircraft engineer or, if applicable, in accordance with instrument CASA 18/22.

(d) The instrument also amends CAO 95.8 to remedy the unintended omission in the exemption in section 8 of that CAO from Parts 4 to 4D of CAR for persons who have obligations under those Parts in relation to aircraft to which CAO 95.8 applies (that is, specified hang gliders, and paragliders, employed in private operations).

• This update reinstates the exemptions from maintenance requirements as contained in Part 4 to 4D of the CAR in relation to CAO 95.8 aircraft.

(e) Also, the instrument amends CAO 95.32 to include further purposes, including the personal carriage of the pilot, for which aircraft to which CAO 95.32 applies may be used. The purposes for which two-place aircraft can be used now include the carriage of a passenger if the pilot holds a specified pilot authorisation. These purposes were inadvertently omitted from CAO 95.32 when it commenced on 2 December 2021.

• This inclusion enables the lawful carriage of a passenger in CAO 95.32 aircraft in line with previous versions of the CAO for private purposes providing the pilot holds appropriate authorisation from the administering SAB.

An Amendment and Repeal instrument, with changes to all relevant CAOs, was registered on Friday 6 January 2023 and as the consolidated changes are made to individual CAOs, the updates will be incorporated into the CAOs available on the Federal Register of Legislation.