Notices for Flying Training & ATOs

24 November 2008

General Flying Progress Test (Helicopter) Application

The new GFPT(H) Form 731 has been issued. The form can be viewed on the CASA website at www.casa.gov.au/manuals/regulate/fcl/form731.pdf.

21 November 2008

Flight Crew Licence Forms

Could all Flying Training Organisations please be careful to use current forms when submitting Flight Crew Licensing applications. All CASA forms have the month and year of publication located on the lower left hand corner of the form, next to the form number. Old forms may not carry the necessary information for licence issue, and missing information will necessitate the return of an application pending the submission of missing data. Organisations wishing to check whether the Flight Crew Licensing forms they are using are current, can check the date of their forms against the current forms.

13 November 2008

Threat and Error Management

Inclusion of Threat and Error Management training into the Australian flight crew aeronautical knowledge syllabus. Read the details on additions to the syllabus.

27 October 2008

Bureau of Meteorology adopting the new ICAO-specified format for Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) with effect from 05 November 2008

View changes to CASA's flight crew examinations regarding TAF.

21 October 2008

Release of CAAP 5.59-1(0), Teaching and Assessing Single Pilot Human Factors and Threat and Error Management

A CAAP which is designed to provide guidance to flying instructors and ATOs about teaching and assessing single pilot human factors and threat and error management was placed on the CASA website on 21 October 2008. The document can be used to develop training and assessment strategies for human factors and threat and error management, which will become a requirement on all GFPT and licence flight tests from 1 July 2009.

The CAAP should provoke some thought by flight instructors and flight training organisations on the best ways of teaching and assessing these skills, particularly as the training will need to commence by the beginning of April 2009 to ensure a student's competency with the human factors and threat and error management before undertaking any flight test after 1 July 2009.

14 October 2008

Flying School Applications to be clearly marked as such

Could all flying schools please clearly mark the applications they submit as being from their organisation so as to streamline communication between CASA and flight training organisations.

13 October 2008

Non-compliant Applications to be Returned from 20 October 2008

From Monday October 20 2008, flight crew licence applications that are non-compliant through not being filled out correctly or because of missing documentation will be, without exception, returned to the applicant as not complete. This is being implemented as part of end-to-end processing that will see CASA’s service delivery timeframes significantly reduced for flight crew licence applications. All flight training organisations are reminded to take care when vetting applications for submission to CASA so as to minimise applications being returned.

3 October 2008

New Part 99 Regulations governing Alcohol and Drug use in aviation have now come into effect

The new regulations give aviation organisations, such as flying training providers, airlines and maintenance companies, six months to put in place detailed drug and alcohol management plans.

Further information on the new regulations.

1 October 2008

Day VFR Syllabus update

Issue 4.1 of the Day VFR Syllabus (Aeroplanes) and Issue 3.1 of the Day VFR Syllabus (Helicopters) become effective on 1 October 2008.

Minor changes and corrections have been incorporated into the documents and replace Issue 4 of the Day VFR Syllabus (Aeroplanes) and Issue 3 of the Day VFR Syllabus (Helicopters).

View the updated Day VFR Syllabuses.

Cyberexams maintenance notice

Cyberexams will NOT be available on the afternoon of Sunday 5 October 2008 starting from 1pm AEST for the whole afternoon due to system maintenance. Morning exam sessions must be completed by 12:59pm AEST. Normal services will resume on Monday 6 October 2008.

23 September 2008

Form 1162 has been updated

The Aviation Reference Number (ARN) Application (Form 1162) has been updated. Find the updated form here.

11 September 2008

Block Booking of Exams now Available with ASL

CASA and ASL have been working to further improve the system for booking flight crew licensing examinations.

ASL can now accept forward block reservations from you to ensure you can reserve exam seats up to 52 weeks in advance.

For more information, read the letter to Flying Training Organisations.

English Language Proficiency for Student Pilot Licence (SPL) from 01 January 2009

English language proficiency assessment for student pilot licence holders comes into effect on 01 January 2009. Until then, student pilot licence applicants will continue to be assessed against the current language standard for the issue of an SPL. From 01 January 2009, all students’ applying for a flight crew licence shall be assessed by the school's Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) as having at least the minimum proficiency to communicate orally in the English language to enable the SPL holder to safely conduct flying operations. Additionally, the CFI of the flying school will need to be satisfied that the applicant pilot meets one of the specified criteria listed below. The applicant will need to show the CFI a suitable document that gives evidence that one of the following requirements has been met:

The applicant has undertaken or completed his/her secondary education in an Australian or New Zealand educational institution, or the equivalent of an Australian secondary education in a country where one of the principal mediums of instruction has been in English.
The applicant is still receiving secondary education in Australia or New Zealand where the language of instruction at the school is English.
The applicant has spent at least three of the preceding five years of employment in Australia, New Zealand or a specified country (e.g. UK, USA, Republic of Ireland, Canada*); or
* For Canada, proof of English language proficiency may still be required
The applicant meets or exceeds one of the General English Test criteria specified in Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 40.0, Appendix 3.

28 July 2008

Postal addresses for international students

To ensure all documents from CASA are received by international students, would all Flight Training Organisations please use the schools postal address as the postal address for all international students.

8 July 2008

Proof of Identity Requirements for SPL/ASIC and SPL/AVID Applications

All Flight Training Organisations should be advised that Proof of Identity requirements for Student Pilots Licence applications are 1 Primary POI Document and either 1 Secondary or 2 Tertiary POI Documents. See the Proof of Identity documents acceptable to CASA.

Applications received that are incomplete may be returned to the applicant as per CASA's policy on incomplete applications.

4 July 2008

Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act (TTMRA)

For NZ pilots seeking Australian equivalent FCL

A new updated information package is now online at http://www.casa.gov.au/fcl/overbr.htm#ttmra.
Please inform all your likely applicants to read before applying.

Overseas applicants applying for an ATPLA

Applicants who want their overseas licence recognised for the purpose of gaining an Australian ATP(A)L must meet all the requirements for the grant of an ATP(A)L which includes holding or having held a command (multi-engine aeroplane) instrument rating.

If the applicant does not hold or has never held an Australian command (multi-engine aeroplane) instrument rating, they must pass the IREX examination and pass a flight test. To be entitled to sit the flight test, the candidate must hold an Australian PP(A)L which is unrestricted, a CP(A)L and at least a class 2 medical certificate or a certificate of validation (COV) that is equivalent to a PP(A)L, CP(A)L or ATP(A)L and an appropriate overseas current medical.

Before issuing the ATP(A)L, the applicant will need to have passed the CP(A)L and ATP(A)L law examinations and have passed a background security check.

18 June 2008

English Language Proficiency Standards for Student Pilots

New English language proficiency standards for the issue of a Student Pilot Licence (SPL) are currently due to commence on 5 September 2008. CASA is proposing to move the commencement date to 1 January 2009 to allow flying schools more time to implement the new standard. An amendment to Civil Aviation Order 40.0 is underway to change the commencement date.

Until 5 September 2008 or 1 January 2009 if CAO 40.0 is amended as proposed

SPL applicants will continue to be assessed by CFIs or ATOs against the current language standard for the issue of an SPL.

Further information about English Language Proficiency

17 June 2008

Initial phase of the new English Language proficency standards now ended.

New English language proficiency standards were implemented on 5 March 2008. The initial phase of implementation has now ended. From 1 June 2008, pilots wanting an updated copy of their flight crew licence including their language proficiency assessment will need to pay the standard fee of $25.00. Use form 1137 if making a payment.

12 May 2008

Updated Form 078 - Authority to Release

CASA’s Authority to Release Form 078 has been updated to allow students to nominate multiple training organisations on the one form. Please be aware that if your organisation is going to request student details from CASA the Authority to Release form is required prior to the information being released to the nominated organisation.

7 May 2008

International Student applications

In order to facilitate the smooth processing of international student's Licence and ASIC/ AVID applications CASA asks that flying schools submit applications for their international students not more than 35 days prior to the student’s arrival in Australia.

10 April 2008

Industry Liaison Officer

Stuart Cameron has taken over the role of Industry Liaison Officer, Stuart can be contacted on 02 6217 1494 or stuart.cameron@casa.gov.au.

29 February 2008

Day VFR Syllabus (Aeroplanes) Issue 4.0 and Day VFR Syllabus (Helicopters) Issue 3.0

Flight Crew Licensing would like to advise that the Day VFR Syllabus (Aeroplanes) Issue 4.0 and Day VFR Syllabus (Helicopters) Issue 3.0 will become effective on the 1st March 2008.

Day VFR Syllabus page

If you have any inquiries, please contact Phil Astley.

25 February 2008

English language proficiency

New English Language proficiency requirements for flight crew start on 5 March 2008. Full details can be found through the Licences and Registrations page.

21 February 2008

Aircraft Radiotelephone Operator Certificate of Proficiency (AROCP)

Before a Aircraft Radiotelephone Operator Certificate of Proficiency (AROCP) can be issued applicants are required to have an Aviation Reference Number (ARN).

To assist us with prompt processing of AROCP applications (Form 638) please submit Form 1162 - Aviation Reference Number (ARN) Application with one form of identification that clearly shows the applicants full name and date of birth for example Passport identification page, drivers licence or birth certificate with AROCP applications.

Applications that are received without the necessary ARN application form will be returned to the individual for correction.

When forwarding to CASA ensure all documents (AROCP Application, ARN Application & Proof of identity) are kept together.

11 January 2008

Applications for Licences

Before CASA can issue a flight crew licence the applicant must have a current security clearance (applicants under 18 are only required to prove their identity and pass an immigration check).

We are receiving an increased number of licence applications where the applicant holds an ASIC that was NOT issued by CASA. These applications are being returned because we do not have a record of the valid security check , which means the application cannot be processed.

If an applicant is applying for a flight crew licence and holds a non-CASA issued ASIC please submit a copy of the ASIC with the application.

Fees for Issuing FROLs

This notice is intended to clarify the fees that apply to obtaining a Flight Radiotelephony Operator Licence (FROL).

The published fee for issuing a FROL is $50.00.

If your application is attached to an application for a PPL, CPL or ATPL, the FROL is issued at no additional cost to the fee for the issue of the licence. The reference for this is in the fees regulations - see item 5.1 (link to fees list).

FROLs are not issued for free if the application is submitted with a GFPT notification. If CASA receives an application for a FROL with a GFPT notice (ie a Form 214 from an approved testing officer (ATO) to update a pilot's licence details with the GFPT privileges on the student pilot licence), and there is no $50 fee, the application will be returned to the applicant.

Your help to make sure your application is complete will help us complete the process as quickly as possible.

October 2007

Airspace endorsements

CAO 40.0 Para 3 states the holder of a private pilot licence must not fly an aircraft in controlled airspace unless they have received training to operate in that airspace and an authorised instructor or CASA has made an entry into the holders log book to that effect.

More information.

17 September 2007

Improvements to CASA Application Form 639: ASIC/AVID/SPL Application Form

CASA has made several changes to its Application Form 639, included in these changes is additional information required for security checks and also new fees, effective 1st July 2007.

Please use the new application form when applying for an Student Pilots Licence, ASIC or AVID.

Application Form 639: ASIC/AVID/SPL Application Form

Electronic Reports from CASA

CASA is able to issue electronic reports. Examples include licence verification reports, examination history reports.

The reports are sent in either PDF or TIF format.

Some people have experienced problems opening these documents on the computers. The most common cause is their applications do not support these file formats.

If you want to receive electronic reports please make sure your computer can open documents in these formats.

10 September 2007

Industry Liaison Officer

Adam Campbell will be taking over the role of Industry Liaison Officer from Kylie Grieves as of Monday 10 September 2007. Adam can be contacted on 6217 1405 or adam.campbell@casa.gov.au.

18 July 2007

CAAP 5.23-2(0) - Multi-engine Aeroplane Operations and Training

CAAP 5.23-2(0) is written for pilots and instructors and provides advice about how to conduct safe multi-engine operations and training and manage the associated threats and errors. The document also contains standards for multi-engine aeroplane operations, training syllabi for multi-engine endorsement training and flight instructor training and two questionnaires.

Flying schools are asked to direct multi-engine pilots or pilots about to undertake such training to the CASA website.

Read CAAP 5.23-2(0).

Calculating the validity dates of instrument ratings

There is some confusion over the calculation of expiry dates of instrument ratings. These notes will hopefully help to prevent the common errors we see.

29 June 2007

Changes have been made to the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005

These changes come into effect on 1 July 2007.

A pilot seeking an ASIC will be able to provide a passport and a photo flight crew licence issued by an ICAO contracting State or a passport and two tertiary documents - a foreign photo drivers licence is a new tertiary document.

Information for foreign ASIC applicants

Cost recovery for services: Reminder of fee charges from 1 July 2007

In line with Australian Government policy, CASA is required to recover costs for providing regulatory services to the aviation industry.

CASA began charging for a wider range of regulatory services from 1 January 2006 and must charge fees that reflect the real cost of providing those services.

View CASA's Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) - Phase 2.

Fees currently apply to more than 180 regulatory services including licences and ratings, examinations, medicals, aircraft registration, certificates, permits, exemptions, approvals and authorities.

Fees are currently charged at hourly rates of $130 and $150 per hour or as fixed fees starting from $65.

From 1 July 2007 fees will apply to 231 services and will be charged at hourly rates of $100, $130, $160 and $190 per hour or as fixed fees starting from $25.

A fee of $102 will also apply to under 18 year olds applying for an ASIC from 1 July 2007.

CASA fees from 1 July 2007
Civil Aviation (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2007 (No. 1)1
Fee changes to common flying training services from 1 July 2007

20 June 2007

Improvements to FORM 214: Ease of use for Certification of Aircraft Endorsement, Approval and Rating

CASA has made a number of changes to its Form 214 (Certification of Aircraft Endorsement, Approval and Rating) to reduce the errors that sometimes occur in completing it, and to accommodate the new fee structure, effective from 1 July 2007.

ATOs are reminded to send completed forms to CLARC as soon as possible after the rating or endorsement is issued so that the pilot's licence details can be updated without delay to ensure their licence is printed with the new details included.

12 June 2007

Regulation 6.45 of the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005

A reminder to holders of ASICs issued by CASA about their responsibility under certain circumstances to return the ASIC.

Regulation 6.45 of the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 states
"The holder of an ASIC is responsible for returning it to the issuing body within 1 month if:

The ASIC has expired; or
The holder has been notified that it has been cancelled; or
The ASIC has been damaged, altered or defaced (permanently or temporarily); or
The holder no longer needs to enter the relevant secure area for an operational requirement."

If you hold an ASIC that was issued by CASA and it has expired, you must return it to CASA within 1 month of it expiring. If you are renewing your ASIC, you must return your card when you receive your new card. Contravention of this regulation is an offence of strict liability and caries a penalty of 10 penalty units.

Please send your expired card or the old card which has been renewed to:
CLARC - CASA
GPO Box 2005
Canberra ACT 2601

Improvements to FORM 214: Ease of use for Certification of Aircraft Endorsement, Approval and Rating

12 April 2007

Renewing your CASA ASIC/AVID

Detailed information has been provided to assist with the renewal of your ASIC or AVID.

Submission of licence applications

Please submit your applications directly to CLARC addressed:

Attention: Flight Training Industry Liaison Officer
CASA Licencing & Registration Centre
GPO Box 2005
CANBERRA ACT 2601

To ensure priority service please mark your incoming application attention to the 'Flight Training Industry Liaison Officer'.

If an incomplete application is received the Liaison Officer will arrange with you via phone/ email to supply the missing information with limited delay. This will save processing and postage time in the cases where applications would normally be returned.

10 April 2007

Authority to release information

CASA regularly receives requests from flying schools and operators for a copy of a pilot's Flight Crew Licence, Aviation Reference Number and/or Current Aviation Medical Certificate.

The pilot is required to provide your organisation with the authority to release this information using Form 078 - Authority to release information. A copy of the current signed authority is then included when a request for information is made to CASA.

CASA will not release these documents without sighting an Authority to release information form signed and dated by the pilot concerned. The Authority must include the name of your organisation and indicate clearly which documents CASA is authorised to release.

The signed authority is valid for a maximum of twelve months. It is advisable to keep the signed authority on file for use when a request for pilot information is required.

Requests to CASA for a pilot's licence, medical certificate or ARN should be made by email or fax to 1300 737 187 and marked attention to the Flying Training Industry Liaison Officer.

Fees for medical certificates

Applications for medical certificates are being received by CASA without the fee being paid and this causes processing delays.

Flying training organisations are asked to encourage their pilots to make sure the fee is paid either direct to the DAME or to CASA soon as possible after the examination is completed.

How to pay the medical certificate fee

Proof of identity for overseas students

Adequate proof of identity documents must be supplied with all applications for licences and security checks. A letter stating a student is enrolled at a flying training organisation is not an acceptable form of identification. What is required for Proof of Identity

Completing a licensing or registration form correctly

To enable faster processing of licensing and registration forms, tips have been provided below to assist applicants to complete these forms correctly. This will help avoid situations where the application is rejected and returned to the applicant due to incorrect completion.

Form 639 - ASIC/AVID/SPL application form

When completing Form 639 please ensure the following information has been included and is correct:

The full name as printed on Form 639 must match the full name as it appears on all proof of identification documents;
Full residential addresses and dates must be provided for the previous 10 years whether they are in Australia or overseas;
Question 5, page 1 - if the applicant has never visited Australia or is yet to arrive, please state this underneath question 5;
When applying for an ASIC or AVID ensure the corresponding consent form is signed;
Proof of identification must be provided with all applications as detailed in the Form 639 Information Sheet;
Question 10, page 2 - Student Pilot Licence Declaration must be signed by a Chief Flying instructor (CFI), Approved Testing Officer (ATO) or a CASA Flight Operations Inspector (FOI);
Question 13, page 3 - Applicant’s authorisation and declaration must be signed by applicant;
Passport photos must meet the standard as detailed in the Form 639 Information Sheet.

Other helpful hints about Form 639:

The checklist on page 4 of Form 639 can be used as a final check before submitting the application;
Payment in full must be included on submission of all applications;
Any correspondence sent from CASA to an applicant will be sent to the address provided on the application form.

English language competency for student pilots

Approved Testing Officers, Chief Flying Instructors and Flight Instructors are reminded of their responsibilities with regard to English language proficiency standards.

January 2007

Endorsements

The CLARC flight crew licensing team has been receiving endorsement notifications from delegates which do not have the correct aircraft type code. Tips on correct entry of the aircraft type code are now available.

Expiry dates of instructor and instrument ratings

CLARC flight crew licensing has noticed a number of expiry date errors in the flight test notifications for instructor and instrument ratings. Some examples have been provided to help reduce these errors.

Flow on endorsements

Tips on flow on endorsements including special design feature endorsements and the extended effect of certain endorsements.

November 2006

Endorsements

A recent letter to all ATOs covered Recording in logbooks, flight test reports, impact on validity period