Draft AC 139.F-01 v1.0 - Design and operation of Australian water aerodromes

Closed 28 Jul 2020

Opened 30 Jun 2020

Contact

Air Traffic Management Systems Standards

131 757

regulatoryconsultation@casa.gov.au

Feedback updated 6 Nov 2020

We asked

Between 30 June 2020 and 28 July 2020 aerodrome operators, aircraft operators, pilots and internal CASA personnel were invited to review and provide feedback on the suitability of guidance material developed to communicate CASA's recommendations for the design and operation of water aerodromes that facilitate air transport operations.

You said

We received a total of 21 responses. Fourteen respondents consented to having their comments published, 4 did not give their consent and 3 respondents were CASA officers.

Summary of feedback

Respondents raised several important issues and concerns which required further consideration. Much of the feedback was from seaplane pilots and seaplane base operators who were concerned that the proposed guidelines were unrealistic, overly prescriptive and would be unachievable for the Australian seaplane industry.

The common issues, questions or suggestions encompassed:

  • existing seaplane pilot landing procedures
  • the viability of the proposed guidelines in application to current seaplane operations
  • what defines a water aerodrome
  • effects on recreational and private seaplane operations.

We did

Due to the issues raised during consultation, CASA has amended the Advisory Circular (AC) to take into account current seaplane operations and provide outcome-based guidance.

The AC 139.F-01 v1.0 - Design and operation of Australian water aerodromes for air transport operations will be available soon on the advisory circular page of the CASA website.

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

The purpose of this Advisory Circular (AC), is to provide guidance and advice about CASA's requirements for the design and operation of water aerodromes.

The guidance provided in this AC covers the recommended specifications for:

  • physical characteristics
  • obstacle limitation surfaces 
  • visual aids
  • services
  • operating procedures

This AC will be of interest to:

  • persons involved in the design, construction and operation of water aerodromes
  • proponents of water aerodromes
  • planning authorities
  • aerodrome and aircraft landing area operators
  • the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Why your views matter

CASA recognises the valuable contribution that community and industry consultation makes to the regulatory development process.

This is the initial AC for the design and operation of Australian water aerodromes. We are seeking feedback on whether it provides adequate guidance on the requirements for water aerodromes and is fit for purpose.

A copy of the draft AC is provided below. Please read the document before providing your feedback in the online survey.

File upload option no longer available

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. 

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, outlines any intended changes and details our plans for the AC.

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.

Audiences

  • Aerodrome owner/operators
  • CASA aerodrome inspector
  • Floatplane operators

Interests

  • Airspace and infrastructure
  • Operational standards