New competency standards for the operation of Australian registered gyroplanes - (CD 2001FS)

Overview

With the commencement of Part 61– Flight Crew Licensing, CASA introduced a Manual of Standards (MOS) that outlined the competency standards that must be met prior to the grant of a licence, endorsement or rating.

Part 61 provided the licensing framework for powered-lift, airship, and gyroplane aircraft categories in anticipation of a need to issue flight crew licences and ratings for pilots of such aircraft. Consequently, within the development of the Part 61 MOS there were some sections reserved to allow for the development of the standards applicable to pilots operating the above mentioned aircraft. 

To provide a regulatory mechanism through which the conduct of aerial work operations using gyroplanes can occur, we propose to add the following new standards and sections for gyroplanes to the Part 61 MOS:

The standards that are annotated with *, indicate the changes to the current standard. All text highlighted in yellow has not been amended.

While this consultation is limited to new standards for prospective gyroplane pilots, it does not include the common units of competency applicable to pilots of all categories of aircraft, except where the ‘common’ unit has been amended to provide for gyroplanes training requirements. The common units can be identified in the tables that specify all the units applicable to a licence, rating or endorsement.

CASA is currently conducting a concurrent consultation to amend the term incipient spin to stall with a wing drop. This amendment is highlighted in bold text.

Previous consultation

The current Part 61 MOS includes some limited standards for gyroplane pilots.  There has been no previous consultation on competency standards for flight crew authorisations applicable to the commercial operation of gyroplanes.

Impact on industry

The proposal will further support the aviation sectors seeking to conduct commercial gyroplane operations.

We undertook to implement these changes in 2015. Without the addition of the new standards, significant gaps in the flight crew licensing framework will continue.

Why your views matter

CASA recognises the valuable contribution community and industry consultations make to the policy decision-making process and future regulatory change. We are seeking feedback on CD 2001FS - New competency standards for the operation of Australian registered gyroplanes, to ensure that the proposed new rules are clearly articulated and will work in practice and as they are intended.

Comments are sought from every sector of the community. This includes the general public, government agencies and in particular, all sectors of the aviation industry, whether as an aviator, aviation consumer and/or provider of related products and services.

Documents for review

All documents related to this consultation are attached in the ‘related’ section at the bottom of the page. They are:

• Summary of proposed change on CD 2001FS
• Consultation Draft - Proposed Part 61 Manual of Standards Amendments (Gyroplane Category)
• MS Word copy of online consultation - New competency standards for the operation of Australian registered gyroplanes - (CD 2001FS)

Note: The word document is not to be used as an emailed submission, unless there are extenuating circumstances and this form of submission has been agreed to by the consultation technical lead.

It is important to read the Summary of proposed change on CD 2001FS consultation document before providing your feedback in the online survey.

General comments and file upload option

There is a general comments box at the end of the consultation, into which you can place your comments on matters related to the regulatory amendment, which have not already been addressed in the consultation.

Note: CASA can no longer offer the option to upload files because of the potential risk of malware.

 Using an iPad

If you are using an iPad to complete the survey you will be asked to 'download the relevant PDF'. Depending on the software you have on your iPad you may need to download the free viewer to review the single document PDF files. Where a file is a 'multi-file or portfolio PDF you will need to source the Adobe free view - available from iTunes.

Information about how we consult and how to make a confidential submission is available on the CASA website.

To be notified of any future consultations, you can subscribe to our consultation and rulemaking mailing list.

What happens next

At the end of the response period for public comment we will review each comment and submission received. We will make all submissions publicly available on the CASA website, unless you request your submission remain confidential. We will also publish a Summary of Consultation which summarises the feedback received.

What can you expect once the proposed amendments have been made to the Part 61 MOS?

As the training for the grant of a gyroplane licence is new to Australia many of the requirements will be consolidated into the existing standards within the Part 61 MOS. Once in effect they will form the minimum standards for the training and assessment of competency prior to the issue of a gyroplane pilot licence, rating or endorsement. 

We anticipate these amendments will provide for a training outcome and regulatory mechanism that provides for the conduct of commercial aerial work operations using gyroplanes.

Due to the small number of participants likely to seek training, we expect all gyroplane training activities will be conducted by an operator or person authorised under CASR Part 141.

We have set a tentative date of November 2020 to publish the proposed standards. This will be supported by an Advisory Circular for gyroplane flight training operators.

Operators will be required to develop a syllabus of training for their operations manual which will be subject to approval by CASA.

Post-implementation review

CASA will monitor and review the new rules during the transition phase and will continue to do so on an ongoing basis. In addition, we will continue work on proposed further changes to the Part 61 MOS.