New Exemption Allows Flight Examiners And Instructors To Conduct Tests, Checks And Training From A Non-Control Seat

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia has published a new exemption (CASA EX83/18) which allows flight examiners, approval holders, approved testing officers and instructors to conduct flight tests, proficiency checks and flight training from a non-control seat to a limited extent.

The exemption allows the continued practice of conducting a flight test from a seat other than a flight control seat under certain limited conditions—removing any doubt of its legal validity. Among those conditions is that there is only one control seat in the aircraft or FSTD, or if the nature of the operation means that there are other persons already occupying all the control seats.

Flight examiners, approval holders, approved testing officers and instructors are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the exemption prior to conducting any flight tests from a non-control seat, in particular, the obligation to comply with Schedule 1 and EX83/18 subsections 4(2) and section 5.

The following conditions apply:

• if the flight examiner is the pilot in command, then they must occupy a control seat
• for a proficiency check, the pilot occupying the control seat must be authorised under Part 61 to conduct the operation
• the exemption only applies to instructors when conducting activities in a flight simulation training device
• flight examiner must be able to observe the conduct of the test or check by the pilot in the control seat, be able to communicate effectively and monitor radio calls
• the flight examiner must not manipulate any of the aircraft controls or systems that affects the operation of the aircraft.

(Source: CASA news release)

FMI: Rule document