Part 91 of CASR General operating and flight rules

Rule status

Current

New basic operating rules for all pilots commenced on 2 December 2021. 

Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) – General operating and flight rules, sets out the general operating rules for all pilots and operators. It consolidates all of the general operating and flight rules for Australian aircraft.

The rules cover:

  • documentation
  • flight crew and operator obligations
  • training
  • crew member obligations
  • safety of persons and cargo
  • classifications of operation
  • rules to prevent collision
  • communication
  • fuel
  • pre-flight planning and preparation
  • ground operations
  • aircraft performance and weight and balance
  • take-off and landing
  • low visibility operations
  • cruising levels and minimum heights
  • navigation
  • non-controlled aerodromes
  • icing
  • special flight operations
  • aircraft equipment
  • special certificates and permits
  • foreign aircraft
  • minimum equipment list
  • equipment.

Transition to new regulations

We have compiled information and resources about transitioning to the new regulations. Visit our Flight operations transition section to find out more. 

Who it affects

Part 91 applies to all aviation operations except drones. 

There are additional rules for pilots operating under an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) or other certificate, or those conducting defined activities such as aerial work, aerial application and some recreational aviation activities. These rules are in other CASR Parts and may add to or turn off some Part 91 requirements – either completely or partially. 

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.

17 legislative instruments available

Crew Life Jackets (SMA-2160 Series)
Commences:
CASA EX89/23
Fatigue management
Commences:
CAO 48.1
Cockpit voice recorders - Instrument 2007
Commences:
CAO 103.20

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.

30 guidance material available

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 91-05 v1.0 - Performance-based navigation provides information on the concept of performance-based navigation and guidance on navigation specifications used in Australia.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.0
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Advisory circular AC 91-14 provides advice for pilots on collision avoidance through the 'see and avoid' principle. It also covers the use of radio to maintain separation in the air through ‘alerted see-and-avoid’.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.1
Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 91-29 - This AC provides guidance to assist pilots in assessing the suitability of a place for a helicopter to safely take off and land.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.3
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Advisory Circular AC 91-06 explains the basic principles of PBCS and the way it relates to the flight planning and operations.

Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 1.1
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The purpose of Advisory Circular AC 91-18 is to provide information on the use of child restraint systems by infants, children, and special categories of passengers.

Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 1.1
Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 91-17 provides information and guidance in the use of Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) as a replacement for paper in the aircraft.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.4

Supporting resources

Supporting resources related to this part will appear in this space. These are used in conjunction to support the formal guidance material listed above.

9 supporting resources available

Updated:

This document is intended to assist operators and persons who will conduct operations under Part 91 of CASR to prioritise their actions to transition to the new flight operations regulations.

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Use this form to provide your Post Display Report and advise of any safety occurrences or details that relate to the oversight and running of the event.

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Use this form to apply to conduct an air display which includes a single ship display, fly-in competition, cross country event or fly-past with an open invitation to the general public to attend.

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Use this form to apply for an initial issue, renewal of, or changes to general approvals issued under Part 91 of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).

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Use this form to provide details for the initial issue, renewal or variation of the North Atlantic high-level airspace (NATHLA) approval.

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Use this form to apply for approvals under Part 91 for a minimum equipment list (MEL) for a particular type and model of aircraft. You can also request extensions of rectification intervals for existing MEL items.

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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.

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Use the Part 91 approval low visibility form if you intend to apply for an initial issue, renewal of, or changes to a low visibility approval issued under CASR Parts 91.

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Use the navigation authorisation - RNP AR and RVSM form if you intend to apply for an initial issue, renewal of, or changes to general approvals issued under CASR Part 91.

Last updated date
Updated:
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//rules/regulatory-framework/casr/part-91-casr-general-operating-and-flight-rules
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