Fatigue management
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on many sectors within the aviation industry, in April 2020 CASA extended the transition to the fatigue rules by 12 months. Most operators will now need to comply with the new rules from 1 July 2021.
Guidance material will be updated progressively to reflect the extended transition dates.
Fatigue risk management involves operators and pilots taking steps to manage increasing levels of fatigue so that it does not result in a safety risk.
Modernising Australia's fatigue rules
CASA has finalised the fatigue rules in CAO 48.1 Instrument 2019 (the 2019 rules) in response to the independent review and industry consultation. The instrument commenced in 2019 and provided for a staged commencement over 2019 and 2020. In April 2020, in response to the effect of the COVID-19 virus on the aviation industry, CASA agreed to extend transition dates by a full 12 months.
Transition to the new fatigue rules
There are three routes for transition to the new fatigue rules:
- Transition to the prescriptive rules in Appendices 1-6 of the 2019 rules without modification
- Transition to the prescriptive rules in Appendices 1-6 of the 2019 rules with some minor variation
- Transition to a trial fatigue risk management system (FRMS).
Resources are available to assist operators transition to the new fatigue rules, including our 
Fatigue transition policy (pdf 350.91 KB) that provides information for operators on how to meet transition timeframes and comply with the new rules.
Fatigue panel
To support industry with the implementation of the new fatigue rules, CASA has established a fatigue panel. The panel is made up of regulatory services staff experienced in fatigue policy and operationalising regulatory requirements and human performance specialists, providing a high level of advice relating to regulatory services and surveillance standards for CAO 48.1 Instrument 2019.
The fatigue panel is responsible for supporting efficient and consistent decision-making under the new fatigue rules. Ensuring consistency in regulatory services and surveillance activities, the panel provides specialist technical advice, assesses and evaluates:
- transition plans for operators transitioning to the prescriptive rules (Appendices 1 to 6)
- applications for minor variations to the prescriptive rules (Appendices 2 to 6)
- fatigue risk management systems (FRMS) applications (Appendix 7).
To contact the fatigue panel, email fatigue.management@casa.gov.au