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Under development
CASR Part 121 – Passenger Transport Services and Cargo Operations - Larger Aeroplanes

Parts 121, 133 and 135 of the new Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs) all deal with a range of passenger and/or cargo operations — Part 121 is for larger aeroplanes, 135 for smaller aeroplanes, and 133 for rotorcraft.

The proposed regulations in Part 121 will set the minimum acceptable standards applicable to larger aeroplanes that are:

  • conducting a Passenger Transport Service (PTS), or
  • carrying cargo.

"Larger aeroplanes" in Part 121 means an aeroplane:

  • fitted with more than 9 passenger seats in its approved configuration, or
  • with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of more than 8640 kg.

Part 121 will consolidate into one Part of the new CASRs the regulatory requirements that will apply in addition to, or in substitution for, the general operating and flight rules prescribed in Part 91, when using larger aeroplanes for air transport operations.

It will support the system approach to regulation by requiring, in the case of most rules, operators to establish procedures to ensure compliance and incorporate those procedures into operations manuals.

The Part will replace all affected Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs 1988) and Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) and will integrate with the rules in the other CASRs, principally Parts 91 and 119. It will largely cover the same regulatory areas as now but with a few new rules, mostly to give effect to the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO's) Annex 6 Part 1 SARPS not currently incorporated.

In 1999, CASA was directed to "minimise the distinction between charter and Regular Public Transport (RPT) operators". To address this, Part 121 will set in place a common level of safety for operators who are authorised to provide a 'Passenger Transport Service' (PTS) — an amalgamation of current charter and RPT operations and standards — in order to carry Passengers in larger aeroplanes. The safety level applies irrespective of whether an operation is scheduled or non-scheduled as described by the International Civil Aviation Organization in Part I of Annex 6.

Who Part 121 affects

Personnel involved in the operation and maintenance of larger aeroplanes engaged in air transport operations including:

  • Charter and Regular Public Transport (RPT) operators;
  • Flight and cabin crew; and
  • Ground support personnel.

Key proposals

  • Single standard to be introduced for Passenger Transport Services regardless of whether charter or RPT operations are involved;
  • Flight and cabin crew members to be subject to more comprehensive training and checking requirements, including Crew Resource Management (CRM) training;
  • Restrictions to be placed on the crewing together of inexperienced pilots;
  • Additional requirements for cabin crew recency, pre-flight briefings and triennial recurrent training;
  • Re-introduction of the requirement for first aid kits, and a new requirement for emergency medical kits on specified flights;
  • More comprehensive provisions for:
    • fuel to be carried (based on Civil Aviation Advisory Publication CAAP 234-1 / EU-OPS);
    • alternate aerodrome requirements with respect to operations outside Australia, and operational flight planning;
    • low visibility operations;
    • standard passenger and baggage weights (checked baggage to be weighed, baggage placement limits; operators provided with the means to establish standard weights, or different standard weights, to those legislated).