Location:

Under development
CASR Part 91 – General operating and flight rules

Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs) was initially made on 15 December 2005 to create Subparts 91.A, 91.D and 91.U, those rules taking effect on 20 December 2005.

The remainder of CASR Part 91, when implemented, will replace the various 1988 Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) and Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) that relate to general operating and flight rules and will be supported by a number of Advisory Circulars (ACs). It will form a complete set of operating rules for current 'private' operations, and will supplement the operating rules applicable to corporate/business, air experience, aerial work, and air transport operations.

The Part will primarily consolidate and retain most of the existing rules with little change. However, a small number of new rules have been included to further ICAO compliance and enhance aviation safety.

Who Part 91 affects

  • Private and professional pilots;
  • Private and professional aircraft operators;
  • Aircraft owners;
  • Those who maintain, fuel and handle aircraft;
  • Cabin crew;
  • Loading personnel;
  • Air display organisers; and
  • Air traffic services.

Subpart 91.U affects:

  • Air transport operators;
  • Regional airlines;
  • Corporate and private jet operators;
  • Flight crew; and
  • Airservices Australia.

Key proposals

  • Strict control of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs);
  • Requirement for the pilot to plan to arrive with a specified minimum amount of fuel;
  • Restrictions on the simulation of certain emergencies in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) or at night;
  • Altered requirement for the carriage of Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs);
  • Requirement for cabin crew members for all flights carrying more than 19 passengers;
  • Recurrent training and checking requirements for pilots for all operations of aeroplanes certified in the Transport category with an MTOW above 8640kg;
  • Changes to minimum operating heights to allow flight below 500ft.

For Subpart 91.U

  • New regulations governing RNP operations will be created within CASR Part 91 - General operating and flight rules;
  • A new Subpart 91.U governing the RNP approval process will be created within CASR Part 91 - General operating and flight rules;
  • A MOS, containing mandatory airworthiness and operational standards applicable to RNP operational approvals, will be created; and
  • Advisory Circulars, explaining the administrative process for gaining RNP 4 and RNP 10 operational approval, will be published. Existing standards for RNP 10 approvals will be incorporated in the proposed legislation and new standards will be established for RNP 4 approvals.