Changing the rules

Project CS 04/03
Review/Amend CASR Parts 22-35 Airworthiness Standards

Issue

During the recent ICAO audit of Australia in February 2008, ICAO recommended ongoing monitoring of foreign airworthiness design codes adopted by Australia and consequent amendments to CASR Part 22-35 accordingly.

Background

CASR Part 22-35 set out airworthiness standards for type certification of aircraft, aircraft engines and propellers. These CASR Parts require compliance with the appropriate FARs or JARs as in force on 1 October 1998, rather than the FARs and JARs as in force at the time of application for type certification. The FARs have been amended many times since October 1998. Whereas, JARs have now been completely replaced with the Certification Specifications (CS) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). CASA intends to amend CASR Part 22-35 to require compliance with FARs or EASA CSs as in force at the time of commencement of the proposed amendment to CASR Parts 22-35, and as amended from time to time.

The proposed amendments will result in an improved level of aviation safety, as they will require the use of the latest airworthiness standards in new designs of aircraft, aircraft engines and propellers. These amendments are essential for overseas acceptance of Australian designs of aircraft, aircraft engines and propellers approved by CASA.

The SCC Certification Standards Subcommittee supported the proposed changes and CASA created a project CS04/03 in 2004 to fully align with FARs 21-35. However, this project was put on-hold due to other CASA work priorities. Amendments to CASR 21 will be carried out at a later stage.

CASA regards the proposed amendments to CASR Part 22-35 as being minor and machinery in nature. They will only apply to new applicants or new designs and will have no retrospective effect. The Office of Regulatory Review (ORR) have already exempted the proposed amendments from the requirement of Regulatory Impact Statement.

Rules affected

CASR Part 22 - Sailplanes and powered sailplanes

CASR Part 23 - Aeroplanes in the normal, utility, acrobatic or commuter category

CASR Part 25 - Aeroplanes in the transport category

CASR Part 26 - Aircraft in the primary or intermediate category

CASR Part 27 - Rotorcraft in the normal category

CASR Part 29 - Rotorcraft in the transport category

CASR Part 31 - Manned free balloons

CASR Part 32 - Engines for very light aeroplanes

CASR Part 33 - Aircraft engines

CASR Part 35 - Aircraft propellers

Project management

Project Leader: Shamshad Quraishi
Project Sponsor: Mark Sinclair

 
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