Part 119 of CASR Australian air transport operators - certification and management

Flight operation regulations have changed

The flight operations rules changed on 2 December 2021. See all information about transitioning.

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Flight operation regulations have changed

Rule status

Current

Part 119 of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) sets out the certification and management rules for air transport. Many of the rules are scalable for operations of different sizes and complexities.

The term air transport replaces both charter and regular public transport (RPT) and adds medical transport operations such as patient transport.

The Part 119 rules include:

  • qualifications for key personnel
  • requirements for change management for operations
  • scalable training and checking system (T and C)
  • scalable human factors and non-technical training (HF/NTS) 
  • scalable Safety Management Systems (SMS).

There are exemptions from Part 119 requirements, and directions that require additional compliance, in instrument CASA EX82/21. CASA has received multiple queries about the following two exemptions:

  • Section 7AA of CASA EX82/21 changes certain hire or reward flights to private flights. This applies to operators that did not hold a passenger AOC before 2 December 2021 and carried a person without charge. This exemption means the operator does not need to hold an AOC or comply with the air transport CASR Part 121, 133, or 135 for these flights. This exemption lasts until 1 June 2023.
  • Section 7AB of CASA EX82/21 allows non-scheduled air transport or medical transport operators to cross-hire aircraft without pre-approval. The aircraft must not be one that is used for scheduled air transport. Other conditions also apply. Read the exemption for further details. This exemption lasts until 1 December 2024.

Who it affects

Part 119 of CASR applies to all operators conducting, or intending to conduct, Australian air transport operations. These operators are called Australian air transport operators. ‘Australian air transport operations’ has replaced the previous terms ‘charter operations, RPT operations and air ambulance operations’.

While Part 119 deals with general certification and management, additional rules apply depending on your operations. 

You will also need to comply with two or more of the following:

Legislation

Legislative instruments

Legislative instruments include exemptions to regulatory requirements in aviation regulations or a Manual of Standards.

Exemptions may apply to a broad range of people.

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

5 legislative instruments available

Part 119 of CASR Supplementary exemptions and directions instrument 2021
Commences:
CASA EX82/21
Flight operations regulations – SMS, HFP&NTS and T&C Systems – Supplementary exemptions and directions instrument 2021
Commences:
CASA EX87/21
Miscellaneous flight operations exemptions and approvals (transitional) instrument
Commences:
CASA EX161/21
Training and checking (CASR Part 119) Determination 2021
Commences:
CASA 90/21
Fatigue management
Commences:
CAO 48.1
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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.

2 non-legislative instruments available

Competency and Proficiency Checking (Virgin Australia International Airlines - B737)
CASA EX05/23
Competency and Proficiency Checking (Virgin Australia Airlines - B737)
CASA EX06/23
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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.

9 guidance material available

Part 119 Australian air transport operators – certification and management AMC-GM

Updated:

Acceptable means of compliance and guidance material (AMC/GMs) for part 119 Australian air transport operators – certification and management.

DOWNLOAD Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material (AMC-GM) - Part 119 (PDF, 574.97 KB)
Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material, Flight ops - General resource Version: 2.2

Multi-Part AC 119-07 and AC 138-03 - Management of change for aviation organisations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 119-07 and AC 138-03 - This multi-part AC provides guidance to all persons involved in the aviation industry who are seeking an improved understanding of the process of management of change.

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 119-07 and AC 138-03 Management of change for aviation organisations (PDF, 627.67 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - Management of change Version: 2.3

AC 1-02 - Guide to the development of expositions and operations manuals

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 1-02 provides information to the aviation industry, detailing the requirements to have and maintain an exposition or operations manual to meet the regulatory requirements of CASR and the MOS.

DOWNLOAD AC 1-02 Guide to the development of expositions and operations manuals (PDF, 532.18 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 3.2

AC 1-03 - Transitioning to the flight operations regulations

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.

DOWNLOAD AC 1-03 Transitioning to the flight operations regulations (PDF, 743.07 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 4.2

AC 119-01 - Safety management systems for air transport operations

Updated:

Advisory circular AC 119-01 has been written to assist organisations to meet Part 119 of CASR requirements and provides examples of SMS processes suitable for organisations operating under them.

DOWNLOAD AC 119-01 Safety management systems for air transport operations (PDF, 1.39 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 2.1

AC 119-12 - Human factors principles and non-technical skills training and assessment for air transport operations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 119-12 provides information and guidance, and where relevant an acceptable means of compliance for the requirements of human factors and non-technical skills training under CASR Part 119.

DOWNLOAD AC 119-12 Human factors principles and non-technical skills training and assessment for air transport operations (PDF, 536.33 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.0

Multi-Part AC 119-11 and AC 138-02 - Training and checking systems

Updated:

Multi-Part Advisory Circular AC 119-11 and AC 138-02 provides guidance on establishing and managing a training and checking system in accordance with the relevant provisions of CASR Parts 119 and 138.

DOWNLOAD Multi-Part AC 119-11 and AC 138-02 Training and checking systems (PDF, 1.01 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 4.1

AC 119-04 - Flight data analysis programmes for air transport operations

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 119-04 - Guidance on the establishment of a flight data analysis program (FDAP) – safety management systems (SMS)

DOWNLOAD AC 119-04 Flight data analysis programmes for air transport operations (PDF, 392.55 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.1

AC 1-04 - Registered operator responsibilities for continuing airworthiness

Updated:

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

DOWNLOAD AC 1-04 Registered operator responsibilities for continuing airworthiness (PDF, 326.02 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.0
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Supporting resources

8 supporting resources available

Part 119 of CASR Key operational changes

This document is intended to assist future air transport operators to prioritise their actions to transition to the new flight operations regulations.

Air operator's certificate process manual

The Air Operator's Certificate Process Manual sets out a national standard procedure for processing an Air Operator’s Certificate's (AOC).

Training and checking determinations plain English

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.

Flight operations regulations consolidated dictionary

The document supports the commencement of the flight operations regulations and represents the definitions from across the legislative suite as it will appear when those rules commence on 02 December 2021.

Impact of new flight operations regulations on flight crew licencing exams

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.

Guide to CASA flight operations sample exposition / operations manual

This Guide assists operators using the associated CASR Flight Operations Sample Exposition / Operations Manual template in Word format. The contents in this Guide, the associated Word, and MAAT templates has been structured in a logical order and provides clear references to the legislative requirements.

Non-significant changes

Use this non-significant changes form to notify CASA of non-significant changes under Parts 119, 131 and 138 of CASR.

Air operator's certificate and associated approvals

Use this form to apply for an initial air operator's certificate (AOC). Individuals or organisations can apply.

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Manuals and handbooks

Related rules and publications

Date published:
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//search-centre/rules/part-119-casr-australian-air-transport-operators-certification-and-management
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