Expanded privileges for Grade 1 flying instructors promised in August were implemented this week.
Exemption EX64/22 will permit Grade 1s to conduct a wider range of training and testing, which CASA hopes will encourage Grade 2 instructors to upskill into Grade 1s, and reduce pressure on Flight Examiners.
"Feedback from industry that the privileges of the Grade 1 training endorsement did not reflect the responsibilities that would normally be associated with these instructors," CASA has said.
"This change reduces the burden on flight examiners by introducing a more proportionate approach so more people can assess and grant authorisations."
Under CASR Part 61, Grade 1 instructors needed an endorsement to conduct training for a wide range of ratings and flight activities. Under the exemption, which will eventually be an amendment to Part 61, Grade 1s will no longer need separate training endorsements to train pilots for:
- Grade 2 training endorsement
- design feature training endorsement
- sling operations training endorsement
- winch and rappelling operations training endorsement
- spinning training endorsement
- aerobatics training endorsement
- formation training in aeroplanes, helicopters and aerobatics.
The exemption also permits Grade 1 instructors without a Flight Examiner Rating (FER) to conduct flight tests for:
- aircraft class rating
- aircraft type rating
- design feature training endorsement
- sling operations training endorsement
- winch and rappelling operations training endorsement
- spinning training endorsement
- aerobatics training endorsement
- formation training endorsement in aeroplanes, helicopters and formation aerobatics.
"As there are minimal differences between the Grade 1 and Grade 2 training endorsements–apart from higher experience levels and the additional privilege of supervision–there is diminished incentive for flight instructors to seek a Grade 1 training endorsement," CASA states on the Consultation Hub.
"This is believed to be one of the reasons for the diminishing availability of suitably qualified flight instructors to become the head of operations for Part 141 operators.
"Another disincentive is the additional requirements these instructors need to complete to gain additional training endorsements required to be authorised to conduct a wider scope of training and assessments."
One of the conditions applying to the exemption is that Grade 1 instructors must themselves hold the endorsement they are conducting training for.
A complete list of new privileges and the applicable conditions for the exemption for both instructors and flight training organisations are on the CASA website.