CASA is seeking comment on a package of proposed changes to the rules covering fatigue management for Australian flight crew and air operators.
The proposed rules would introduce a graduated approach to fatigue regulation, which is intended to enable air operators to use the most appropriate set of standards for their type of operations.
Air operators can elect to operate under a basic set of flight and duty time limitations, which would limit flight crew to no more than seven hours flight and eight hours duty in a day.
Companies engaged in more complex operations will have the ability to choose to work under a set of detailed flight and duty time limits that take into account factors such as acclimatisation to time zones, split duty, augmented crew and late night operations. The new rules are expected to give operators the flexibility needed for the demands of daily operations, such as charter, while safely managing fatigue.
Other operators such as large airlines would be required to implement an approved fatigue risk management system instead of meeting prescriptive requirements.
CASA believes the proposed rules provide a careful balance between the demands of the Australian aviation industry and the need to avoid flight crew fatigue.
CASA is urging people in the aviation industry to comment on the fatigue proposals, which have been released in NPRM 1202OS, by 12 June 2102.
Read the NPRM and annexes on the CASA website.