Aerial Agriculture Regulations
16 March 2001
The Federal Government
will establish a new part in the civil aviation regulations to deal specifically
with aerial agriculture, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport
and Regional Services, John Anderson, said today.
The decision follows extensive consultation with the aerial agriculture industry by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
"We are steadily rewriting the aviation laws to make them simpler and to bring them into line with international best practice," Mr Anderson said.
"CASA released a discussion paper in January on the proposed Part 137 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. The discussion paper proposed that Part 137 cover all aerial work activities, including agriculture, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and surveying.
"Aerial work is incredibly diverse, and as a result many of the proposed sections would have simply cluttered up the bookshelves of aerial agricultural operators. For example, agricultural operators do not fly in cloud, so they would never need to use the proposed sections relating to instrument flying.
"Accordingly, we will be restructuring the draft aerial work provisions so that Part 137 will deal purely with aerial agriculture. Other aerial work activities will be dealt with separately.
"CASA is starting a series of industry briefings next week to hear the industry's views about the details of the proposed new regulations. I would urge all aerial work operators to become involved in the consultation process. The aerial work regulations are expected to be completed in 2002," Mr Anderson said.
For further information about the industry briefings contact Dean Young on 131 757.
Media contact: Paul Chamberlin
02 62777680 / 0419 233989
Ref: A30/2001