Joy flight operators will no longer need an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) if the Civil Aviation Safety Authority gets its way.
In Notice of Proposed Rulemaking NPRM 1306OS, CASA states its preference is for joy flight operators to be authorised, but not require a full AOC.
Joy flights and local scenic flights are currently regulated as charter flights, which under the new CASR Part 119 would be considered air transport operations.
"This means that operations, such as scenic flights, would (unless CASA provided an alternative) have to meet operator certification standards which are similar to today’s low capacity regular public transport (LCRPT) standards and are more onerous than the charter standards to which they presently operate," CASA states in the NPRM.
"On a risk management basis, CASA considers that some of the requirements included in the proposed Part 119 of CASR 1998 are not necessary for local aircraft operations in small aircraft carrying limited numbers of passengers."
Flights conducted under the new authorisation scheme would have some restrictions applied, being:
- VFR by day in Australian territory only
- Restricted to 50 nm from the take-off aerodrome with no intermediate stops
- Pilots must have a CPL or ATPL
- Person in operational control must be endorsed on the aircraft type and maintain an operations manual
- No more than five aircraft in the fleet
- Aeroplane must be prop-driven with an MTOW of no more than 3500 kg and carry a maximum of five pax
- Helicopters must be single-engined with an MTOW of no more than 3175 kg, carry a maximum of five pax and not be operated from ships or offshore platforms
- Aircraft must be maintained in accordance with CASA-approved systems
Part 141 and 142 flying schools would automatically be granted approval to conduct flights under the new scheme.
"CASA’s preferred option of a simplified authorisation model would provide significant savings for operators entitled to conduct operations under this proposed regulation," the NPRM states. "In the absence of the proposed regulation, a scenic flight operator would be required to obtain an AOC with the associated CASA fees and charges."
Other options put forward in the original discussion paper included:
- Maintain the status quo, meaning operators would need to operate under air transport regulations
- Part 119 AOC with reduced management system requirements
- No AOC and no need to notify or register with CASA
CASA is seeking industry feedback on the NPRM by 19 March 2015. More details and on-line survey are on the CASA website.