Part 121 of CASR Australian air transport operations - larger aeroplanes

Rule status

Current

Part 121 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) covers the air transport rules for larger aeroplanes.

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 will also need to comply with Part 119. This rule sets out the general certification and management for air transport operations.

If you conduct other air transport operations, such as smaller aeroplane air transport or rotorcraft air transport, you need to comply with other CASR flight operations rules.

Visit our flight operations transition section to find out more.

Who it affects

Part 121 generally applies to air transport operations in aeroplanes with:

  • a maximum operational passenger seating capacity of more than 9 seats
  • a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of more than 8,618 kg. 

Subpart 121.Z applies to air transport operations in single-engine aeroplanes with a seating capacity of:

  • a maximum operational passenger seating capacity of more than 9 seats
  • MTOW of 8,618 kg or less. 

All operators and pilots also need to comply with Part 91 – General operating and flight rules. Please note Part 121 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.

10 legislative instruments available

Part 121 Manual of Standards
Commences:
Cockpit voice recorders - Instrument 2007
Commences:
CAO 103.20
Fatigue management
Commences:
CAO 48.1
Training and Checking (CASR Part 121)
Commences:
CASA 91/21

Non-legislative instruments

Guidance material

Non-legislative instruments apply to a particular person. Some exemptions to regulatory requirements in aviation regulations or a Manual of Standards may be listed here.

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

12 guidance material available

Updated:

Acceptable means of compliance and guidance material (AMC-GMs) for part 121 Australian air transport operations - larger aeroplanes.

Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material, Flight ops - General resource Version: 2.3
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.

Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 4.5
Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 121-03 reflect CASA's pre-determined acceptable means of compliance with requirements within the civil aviation legislation for certain aeroplane operators and training providers to conduct UPRT programs

Advisory Circular Version:
Updated:

Advisory Circular Multi-Part AC 121-08, AC 133-08 and AC 135-06 provides guidance regarding the requirements for carry-on baggage

Advisory Circular Version: 1.1
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.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.1
Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 121-09, AC 133-06 and AC 135-10 provides guidance regarding the requirements for the carriage of special categories of passengers (SCPs) for operations that fall under Parts 91, 133, 135 and 121 of CASR.

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

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 121-10, AC 133-07 and AC 135-11 provides guidance regarding the requirements for assigning passengers to seats in an emergency exit row for operations that fall under Parts 133, 135 and 121 of CASR.

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

CAAP 48-01 provides guidance on meeting the AOC holder and flight crew member (FCM) obligations in relation to fatigue risk management, required under Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 48.1 Instrument 2019.

Civil Aviation Advisory Publication Version: 3.3
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.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.3
Updated:

This AC provides guidance for operators relating to their management of the continuing airworthiness, and maintenance, of aircraft being used for their operations.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.0
Updated:

This AC provides guidance regarding the requirements for registration and use of emergency location transmitters for operations that fall under Parts 91, 121, 133, and 135 of CASR.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.0

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.

5 supporting resources available

This document is intended to assist persons who will conduct air transport operations under Part 121 of CASR to prioritise their actions to transition to the new flight operations regulations.

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.

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.

Use this form to submit, and apply for an approval of, the Training and Checking System section of an exposition or operations manual as part of the transition to Parts 119, 121, 133, 135, and 138 of the CASR.

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 121 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).

Last updated date
Updated:
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//rules/regulatory-framework/casr/part-121-casr-australian-air-transport-operations-larger-aeroplanes
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