Regulation development

This page provides information and advice about some of the changes to the aviation rules. For information about the rules that apply specifically to you, please select from the options in the panel on the right.

Why are the aviation rules changing?

CASA is implementing its aviation regulatory development and reform program and in the process is aligning the new rules with International Civil Aviation organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices.

Our regulatory development and reform objectives broadly aim to:

• maintain and improve aviation safety performance in Australia
• ensure our regulatory actions achieve safety outcomes without impeding industry
• maintain Australia’s  high level of standing with other national aviation authorities
• improve our regulatory and licensing services to the aviation community.

What is changing?

Aviation safety rules are contained in the Civil Aviation Act 1988, Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR), Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) and associated legislative instruments.

CASA is progressively migrating and updating rules from the CARs to CASRs as part of our regulation development and reform. See a diagram that shows the relationships between the different CASR Parts.

While we develop the new CASRs, we also maintain many of the CAR, CASR and associated legislative instruments that continue to exist outside the regulation development and reform program.

Regulatory program progress timeline

CASA publishes and maintains a timeline that helps the aviation industry keep track of the current status of major projects in our regulatory development program.

We regularly review the timeline to show our progress in developing, engaging and implementing new Parts of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), updating recently made CASR Parts and other major regulatory initiatives.

How does CASA change the rules?

CASA consults with industry both formally and informally during the development of new rules. Read our summary of steps in developing a CASR Part for more detail.

From 1 July 2017, the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) became the primary advisory body through which CASA directs its engagement with industry and seeks input on current and future regulatory and associated policy approaches.

The ASAP provides CASA's CEO and Director of Aviation Safety with informed, objective high-level advice from the aviation community on current, emerging and potential issues that have, or may have, significant implications for aviation safety and the way CASA performs its functions.

You can find more detail about the ASAP on our website.

Feedback

CASA is also happy to receive your feedback on  the introduction of new regulations. You can email CASA's Regulatory Program at regulatory-program@casa.gov.au with your comments, suggestions or questions.

Latest news

CASA regularly publishes information on new developments and activities as we progressively make changes to the rules. Find out about our current consultations and the results of previous consultations through our Consultation Hub.

Keep up to date by subscribing to our consultation and rule making mailing list.

Other information

You can find more information about CASA’s aviation safety seminars, licensing and permissions on our website:

• Aviation safety advisors
• Licensing and registration centre
• Permission applications centre