Project OS 13/30 - Post-implementation review of CASR 137 - Aerial Application Operations - Amendment by the inclusion of Rotorcraft

Issue

Part 137 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (1988) prescribes the rules that relate to flying and operating aeroplanes, and the maintenance of role equipment, in aerial application operations. Currently CASR Part 137 applies to aeroplanes engaged in aerial application operations and not rotorcraft. Rotorcraft operations are not included in the current Part 137 and continue to be governed by the existing Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CARs).

CASR Part 137 replaced the provisions within CARs and Civil Aviation Orders that applied to fixed wing aerial agricultural operations. It also includes aerial application procedures such as firefighting and application of dispersants.

CASR Part 137 took effect on 26 May 2007. There was a one year transition period ending on 25 May 2008. The current Part 137 is due for a post implementation review and it is considered that the current Part 137 will require changes to be made to the style and content of the existing provisions to ensure consistency with the other operational parts.

There is significant commonality between aeroplane and rotorcraft aerial agricultural operations. Consequently there is great drafting efficiency to be gained by incorporating rotorcraft aerial application operations into Part 137 rather than duplicating the provisions in Part 138. Also Part 61 will be enacted in September 2014. Incorporating rotorcraft into Part 137 at this time will have the added advantage of standardising the terminology with that used in Part 61.

Further Part 138 Aerial Work Operations - Rotorcraft, is nearing a point where it can be publicly consulted. It is considered that it is logical to incorporate rotorcraft into Part 137 at this time to take advantage of the Part 138 consultation process and meetings as contact points with the aerial agricultural industry. It is therefore considered that there is considerable advantage and efficiency to be gained by incorporating rotorcraft into the current part 137 at this time.

Objective

The project will conduct a post implementation review of Part 137 and amend the current Part 137 by including rotorcraft aerial application operations within the part.

Rules affected

CASR 137

Status

This project was approved by: Peter Boyd on 25 November 2013.

Project management

Project Leader/s: damien.fing@casa.gov.au, Standards Officer - Rotorcraft

Project Sponsor/s: Peter Boyd, CASA Operations

Standards Officer/s: damien.fing@casa.gov.au, Standards Officer - Rotorcraft

Priority

High

History