Part 21 of CASR Certification and airworthiness requirements for aircraft and parts

Rule status

Current

Part 21 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CASR) sets out the certification and airworthiness requirements for aircraft and aircraft parts. It includes rules relating to:

  • type certificates
  • type acceptance certificates
  • supplemental type certificates
  • production certificates
  • certificates of airworthiness
  • export airworthiness approvals.

Part 21 also covers the approval of aircraft engines, propellers, and certain materials and parts. It references the airworthiness certification standards mentioned in Parts 22-35. These include:

  • Part 22 - Sailplanes
  • Part 23 - Small Aeroplanes
  • Part 25 - Transport Category Aeroplanes
  • Part 26 - Primary/Intermediate category aeroplanes
  • Part 27 - Rotorcraft
  • Part 29 - Rotorcraft (Transport Category)
  • Part 31 - Manned free balloons
  • Part 32 - Engines for Very Light Aeroplanes
  • Part 33 - Aircraft Engines
  • Part 35 - Aircraft propellers.

Subpart 21.H

Subpart 21.H covers the certification of a new category of aircraft called Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). This includes aircraft used for aviation sport and recreational activities, such as:

  • ultra- light airplanes
  • gliders
  • balloons
  • powered parachutes
  • weight-shift control aircraft
  • gyroplanes.

Subpart 21.J

Subpart 21.J sets out the rules for certification and operations of approved design organisations (ADOs). The ADOs may carry out certain design and technical data approval functions regulated by Part 21, without further reference to CASA or an authorised person.

Who it affects

Part 21 of CASR affects anyone in the Australian aviation community involved in the design, manufacture and airworthiness certification of aircraft, aeronautical products and parts.

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.

8 legislative instruments available

Part 21 Manual of Standards
Commences:
Special certificate of airworthiness under regulation 21.186 of CASR - Instrument 2006
Commences:
CAO 95.56
Administration and procedure - distribution and rejection of aircraft components and aircraft materials - Instrument 2015
Commences:
CAO 100.16
Manufacture of fixed pitch wooden propellers - Instrument 2007
Commences:
CAO 108.28
Weight requirements for balloons - Instrument 2015
Commences:
CAO 100.96
Air operators’ certificates authorising the flying or operation of an aircraft, balloon or glider - Instrument 2014
Commences:
CAO 82.0

Non-legislative instruments

Non-legislative instruments apply to a particular person. There are some exemptions to regulatory requirements in aviation regulations or a Manual of Standards listed here.

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

There are no non-legislative instruments available for this rule.

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.

52 guidance material available

AC 21-36 - Global navigation satellite system equipment: airworthiness guidelines

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-36 provide guidance information on design, development and subsequent airworthiness approval of Global Navigation Satellite Systems GNSS equipment installations.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-36 Global navigation satellite system equipment: airworthiness guidelines (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 2.3

AC 21-33 - Delivery of aircraft to Australia

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-33 provides information and guidance to persons seeking to arrange the delivery of an aircraft to Australia.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-33 Delivery of aircraft to Australia (PDF, 270.16 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.1

AC 21-34 - Aircraft flight manuals

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-34 provides information on Aircraft Flight Manuals (AFM), including approval of AFMs, changes to AFMs and AFM supplements.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-34 Aircraft flight manuals (PDF, 845.63 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.1

AC 21-35 - Calibration of inspection and test equipment

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-35 provides one method of providing control and calibration requirements for tools and test equipment.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-35 Calibration of inspection and test equipment (PDF, 120.27 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.1

AC 21-31 - Type certificates for imported aircraft

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-31 provides guidance to those applying for a Type Certificate for foreign aircraft types in accordance with CASR Subpart 21.29, where the automatic acceptance procedures of the Subpart do not apply.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-31 Type certificates for imported aircraft (PDF, 301.18 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.1

AC 21-38 - Aircraft electrical load analysis and power source capacity

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-38 provides guidance for the preparation or alteration of an electrical load analysis (ELA). It is appropriate in the absence of information from the type certificate or supplemental type certificate holder.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-38 Aircraft electrical load analysis and power source capacity (PDF, 2.38 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 2.1

Related content

Related rules and publications

Last updated date
Updated:
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//rules/regulatory-framework/casr/part-21-casr-certification-and-airworthiness-requirements-aircraft-and-parts
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