Part 133 of CASR Australian air transport operations rotorcraft

Flight operation regulations have changed

The flight operations rules changed on 2 December 2021. See all information about transitioning.

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Flight operation regulations have changed

Rule status

Current

Part 133 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) covers the rules for air transport in rotorcraft.

The term ‘air transport’ replaces both charter, regular public transport (RPT) and air ambulance when conducted for hire or reward. It adds the transport of medical supplies or medical personnel for hire or reward as well.

You should also read Part 119 which deals with the general certification and management for air transport operations.

If you conduct other operations, such as aerial work, you need to comply with other CASR flight operations Parts.

Visit our flight operations transition section to find out more. 

Who it affects

Part 133 applies to air transport operations in:

  • helicopters
  • gyroplanes
  • powered lift aircraft.

All operators and pilots also need to comply with Part 91 of CASR General operating and flight rules. Please note Part 133 may add to or turn off some Part 91 requirements – either completely or partially.

Legislation

Legislative instruments

Legislative instruments apply to a broad range of people. These instruments include Manuals of Standards and exemptions to regulatory requirements.

Instruments related to this part will display in this space or you can view our list of legislative instruments.

4 legislative instruments available

Serviceability of equipment under the Part 91, 121, 133 and 135 Manuals of Standards
Commences:
CASA EX14/25
Use of Certain External Load Equipment in SAR and Medical Transport Operations
Commences:
CASA EX91/24
Transitional training and checking requirements for crew members in Part 133 operations exemption
Commences:
CASA EX77/24
Flight operations regulations - SMS, HFP&NTS and T&C Systems - Supplementary exemptions and directions
Commences:
CASA EX73/24
View all legislative instruments for Part 133 of CASR

Guidance material

Advisory material provides advice and guidance to explain particular regulatory requirements of a CASR Part. Guidance material relating to this part will appear in this space or you can view all our guidance material.

14 guidance material available

Multi-Part AC 91-19, AC 121-04, AC 133-10, AC 135-12 and AC 138-10 - Passenger safety information

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 91-19, AC 121-04, AC 133-10, AC 135-12 and AC 138-10 provides guidance regarding the requirements for safety briefing cards and passenger safety briefings, instructions and demonstrations for operations.

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 91-19, AC 121-04, AC 133-10, AC 135-12 and AC 138-10 Passenger safety information (PDF, 1.91 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.4

AC 1-02 - Guide to the development of expositions and operations manuals

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 1-02 provides information to the aviation industry, detailing the requirements to have and maintain an exposition or operations manual to meet the regulatory requirements of CASR and the MOS.

DOWNLOAD AC 1-02 Guide to the development of expositions and operations manuals (PDF, 1.05 MB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 4.2

Part 133 Australian air transport operations - rotorcraft AMC-GM

Updated:

Acceptable means of compliance and guidance material (AMC-GMs) for part 133 Australian air transport operations - rotorcraft.

DOWNLOAD Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material (AMC-GM) - Part 133 (PDF, 1.87 MB)
Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material, Flight ops - General resource Version: 2.5

Multi-Part AC 91-13, AC 133-09 and AC 138-06 - Night vision imaging - helicopters

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular 91-13, AC 133-09 and AC 138-06 provides guidance on the conduct of helicopter operations using NVIS. This publication supports and expands upon the content of Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) Part 91, Part 133 and Part 138 and relevant Manual of Standards (MOS).

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 91-13, AC 133-09 and AC 138-06 - Night vision imaging - helicopters (PDF, 1.29 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.3

AC 133-01 - Performance class operations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 133-01 provides guidance the requirements for rotorcraft take-off, initial climb, en-route, approach and landing performance, including an Acceptable Means of Compliance with Subpart 133.F of CASR and Manual of Standards.

DOWNLOAD AC 133-01 Performance class operations (PDF, 2.5 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 4.2

Multi-Part AC 121-05, AC 133-04 and AC 135-08 - Passenger, crew and baggage weights

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 121-05, AC 133-04 and AC 135-08 describes acceptable methods for calculating passenger, crew and checked baggage weights for an Australian air transport operator.

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 121-05, AC 133-04 and AC 135-08 Passenger, crew and baggage weights (PDF, 657.93 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.2

AC 1-03 - Transitioning to the flight operations regulations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 1-03 provides advice on CASR regulations pertaining the flight operations. They include Parts 91, 119, 121,133, 135 and 138 of CASR, specifically for those transitioning to these regulations on 2 December 2021.

DOWNLOAD AC 1-03 Transitioning to the flight operations regulations (PDF, 1.48 MB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 5.0

AC 133-02 - Performance Class 2 with exposure operations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 133-02 provides guidance on the Helicopter Performance Class 2 with exposure, including, where relevant, an Acceptable Means of Compliance with Part 133 of CASR and Manual of Standards.

DOWNLOAD AC 133-02 Performance Class 2 with exposure operations (PDF, 1.74 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 2.1

Supporting resources

8 supporting resources available

Self-assessment worksheet - TCS Transitional Operator - Part 133 rotorcraft

Updated:

Use this self-assessment worksheet to confirm your training and checking system complies with the regulations for training and checking systems in accordance with Part 119 and Part 133 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).

Impact of new flight operations regulations on flight crew licencing exams

Updated:

Impact of new flight operations regulations on flight crew licencing exams. The introduction of the new flight operations regulations on 2 December 2021 will mean changes to the various flight crew licensing (FCL) theory exams.

CASR flight operations sample exposition/operations manual

Updated:

This Guide assists operators using the associated CASR Flight Operations Sample Exposition / Operations Manual template in Word format. The contents in this Guide, the associated Word, and MAAT templates has been structured in a logical order and provides clear references to the legislative requirements.

Training and checking determinations plain English

Updated:

The purpose of this document is to present and summarise the key elements of these determinations in plainer English, as the legal instruments themselves are relatively lengthy, repetitive and complex.

Related content

Related rules and publications

Last updated date
Updated:
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//rules/regulatory-framework/casr/part-133-casr-australian-air-transport-operations-rotorcraft
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