Aerial mustering operators can now train their own pilots under a new instrument released this month that enables them to bypass CASR Part 141 training schools.
Prior to this instrument, only flying schools could issue mustering endorsements, but this new instrument permits CASR Part 138 operators to do their own training, provided the candidate already has a low-level endorsement obtained with a flying school.
"We recognise the Part 141 flight training scheme is not working as intended for training pilots for aerial mustering endorsements," CASA states.
"Pilots and operators need an alternative pathway to better facilitate training and assessment for aerial mustering endorsements. We plan to make changes to CASR, but this will take some time.
"We created an approval instrument to allow pilots and Part 138 operators to take immediate advantage of the planned change.
"This pathway is an alternative to the existing Part 141 flight training pathway for aerial mustering endorsements."
To gain a mustering endorsement with a Part 138 operator, the pilot must already have a low-level endorsement and 100 hours in-command time in the same category of aircraft to be used in mustering, then complete 20 hours of dual training and a flight test.
When it became apparent earlier this year that CASA would issue the new instrument, Ray Cronin, president of the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) said: "this is a positive start to the new year with another important milestone for AHIA following strong collaboration with our regulator, CASA.
"The strengthening of respect between the association and CASA is encouraging and I’m grateful to CASA for their efforts to assist industry and improve safety outcomes while enabling improvement in the provision of mustering endorsements in a practical and workable framework."
More information on the new mustering instrument is on the CASA website.