A proposal to simplify and clarify the way aircraft operations are classified in Australia has been published by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The Classification of Operations proposal features three classes of aircraft operations – air transport, aerial work and general aviation.
The new classifications are put forward in a notice of proposed rule making issued by CASA this month. Comments on the proposal close on 12 May 2003.

Everyone involved in Australian aviation is being urged to study the new classification of operations policy as it proposes a different way of classifying how aircraft are used in the future. Key changes are the abolition of the charter category, the listing of aerial work activities and the classification of all operations that are not air transport or aerial work as general aviation.

CASA’s executive manager Standards, Bill McIntyre, says the proposals clear up a lot of the uncertainties in the current classification of operations. “At the moment the definition of aerial work is unclear and subject to interpretation,” Mr McIntyre says.

“Under the proposed new rules aerial work operations would be clearly set out and formally listed. If a flying activity is not on the aerial work list, then it would not be classified as aerial work.

“CASA is also proposing to ease the regulatory burden on aerial work operators by replacing many air operators certificates with a less onerous and more relevant operating certificate.”

The new air transport category would include all fare-paying passenger-carrying operations, abolishing the separate classifications for regular public transport and charter flights. For some charter flights this would mean a lift in some safety standards – although small operators will naturally not be expected to meet the same standards as large air transport carriers.

“CASA believes fare paying passengers have the right to appropriate safety standards, whether the flight is a scheduled airline service or not. This means some smaller charter operators would be required to meet higher standards,” Mr McIntyre says.

FMI: www.casa.gov.au/avreg/newrules/arc/nprm0304.htm