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.

15 legislative instruments available

Non-legislative instruments

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.

17 non-legislative instruments available

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.

32 guidance material available

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 91-10 provides guidance on procedures that, when followed, will improve situational awareness and safety for all pilots when flying at, or in the vicinity of, non-controlled aerodromes.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.6
Updated:

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: 1.3
Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 91-23 provides advice to aircraft owners and pilots about enhancing their situational awareness during flight through the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) technology.

Advisory Circular Version: 2.0
Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 91-16 provides foundational information on wake vortex behaviour, alert pilots to the hazards of aircraft wake turbulence and to outline recommended operational procedures to avoid or manage wake turbulence encounters.

Advisory Circular Version: 1.2

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:

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

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.

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.

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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