The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has today amended the contentious regulations covering community service flights (CSF).
The restrictions contained in the original instrument have been the subject of ongoing legal action between CSF organiser Angel Flight and CASA.
Crucially, the new instrument contains scope for pilots to be exempt from the regulations provided they comply with a requirement regime set down by the CSF organisation, a provision that has yet to be finalised.
CASA released the modified rules after a community survey and consultations with Angel Flight and Little Wings. Key changes to the requirements for pilots and aircraft conducting CSFs are:
- removal of an additional 100-hourly maintenance requirement for aircraft conducting CSF flights above that required for private flights
- the requirement for a pilot to have completed a landing within the previous 30 days in an aircraft of the type being used for the CSF has been clarified. The original intent that a landing can be done on the same day as the CSF has been incorporated
- pilots that hold a medical exemption for a Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate are now able to conduct CSFs
- CPL holders who are not also ATPL holders now need 150 hours as pilot-in-command of an aeroplane or helicopter
- flight notifications need to be in a "written" form such as via the internet or an electronic form to ensure all CSF data is captured.
The amended instrument now permits CSFs to also carry other passengers that are needed to communicate with the patient, pilot mentors and other pilots observing the flight before conducting their own CSF.
Angel Flight CEO Marjorie Pagani told Australian Flying that the organisation felt the new rules were an improvement over the original, but work still needed to be done.
"We have had extensive negotiations with CASA in respect of the new instrument," she said. "We're not satisfied with all of its terms; however, we are heartened by their acceptance of their being no need for aerial-work category maintenance on private flights, and the somewhat expanded definition of passengers that can be carried."
Pagani said that talks with CASA regarding the exemption had been ongoing over the past few months, but were now nearing fruition.
"Angel Flight continues to negotiate with CASA for an exemption to the instrument and a lot of progress has been made. We expect that to be finalised within the next few days.
"In the interim, pilots flying for Angel Flight should apply the new instrument until the exemption agreement has been finalised."
The full set of amendments is on the CASA website.