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Latest from Part 61 Tiger Team

11 May 2016


More guidance for on the way for flying training organisations

CASA is currently working to produce a package of guidance material to help Part 142 flying training organisations transition to new rules by August 2018. This follows the recent release of similar guidance for Part 141 operators.

Part 142 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations covers the rules relating to structured flying training activities that lead to the issue of multi-crew pilot, air transport pilot and flight engineer licences. It also provides the regulatory framework for flight training for complex aircraft type ratings and multi-crew cooperation, and for contracted flight crew recurrent training and checking.

Under the regulations, flying training organisations who want to be authorised under Part 142 need to develop and maintain a safety management system, a training management system and an exposition, as well as nominate a safety manager.  To help operators meet these requirements, CASA will be publishing a series of guidance documents and tools including a sample exposition, technical assessor’s handbook and worksheet and information sheets.

The sample exposition will suit organisations that want to address the requirements in a single document, rather than as a suite of documents. It will include a sample training management system, internal training and checking system, safety management system gap analysis template and implementation plan.

The Part 142 sample exposition will be based on a fictitious operator (‘Sample Aviation Pty Ltd’) who already conducts Part 141 activities and has developed an operations manual using the Part 141 Sample Operations Manual as a guide. Sample Aviation has grown and expanded its business, and now needs to develop a Part 142 exposition. Sample Aviation will be operating a number of single engine aircraft and a twin engine aircraft, and staff numbers have increased to approximately 15 employees.  In addition to their Part 141 training, Sample Aviation will be offering full-time integrated training to a commercial pilot licence standard.

The sample exposition will serve as an easy-to-tailor template for operators who are conducting similar activities to the Sample Aviation profile, and will also provide a useful starting point for those who undertake more complex operations. The new material is expected to be available in mid-2016.

Part 141 guidance package nearing completion

CASA is also in the process of wrapping up the suite of materials available for Part 141 operators, with a sample syllabus just released for non-integrated helicopter commercial pilot licence training and a sample syllabus for the helicopter private pilot licence also recently published. These syllabuses may be used by flight training organisations who are transitioning to Part 141, or new entrants who commence training to the Part 61 Manual of Standards. Find out more and access the syllabuses.

The Part 141 guidance package includes a sample operations manual and guide, technical assessor’s handbook and worksheet, instructions for CASA staff on conducting assessments, sample flying training syllabuses and an information sheet. The package will be complete once the sample syllabus for the aeroplane commercial pilot licence has been finalised.

5 May 2016
Part 61 Solutions Taskforce update: Top five

The Part 61 Solutions Taskforce is continuing to address issues associated with the flight crew licensing suite of regulations. While a great deal of work is underway the work listed below represents the more significant updates and activities for the Taskforce this fortnight.

1. New sample syllabus for flying training organisations

A new sample syllabus has been finalised and will be published on the CASA website for use by flying training organisations who conduct non-integrated training for the commercial pilot licence (helicopters).  A sample syllabus for the commercial pilot licence (aeroplanes) is also being developed and will be available in the coming weeks.

2. Flight reviews for aircraft ratings and instrument proficiency checks

The Taskforce is continuing to work on proposed exemptions to reduce the number of flight reviews and instrument proficiency checks that some pilots are required to complete under Part 61. A major part of this work involves preparing and publishing advisory information, with details about how to administer the changed arrangements such as entering details on pilot licences and completing and submitting notification forms. This guidance material is currently being developed.  The draft exemptions will soon be made available to the Industry Advisory Panel and the Flight Crew Licensing Sub-Committee for feedback. 

3. Part 142 guidance package under development

The Taskforce is working to produce a package of guidance material designed to help Part 142 flying training organisations transition to new rules by August 2018. CASA will be communicating with the aviation community to advise that the package is under development, and what sort of operator it will be suitable for.
 
4. Flight crew licence tests

The policy relating to authorisations that require flight tests (and therefore flight examiners) is currently being reviewed. The Taskforce is also reviewing the policy relating to flight crew licence test profiles.

5. Night vision imaging system rating and endorsement exemption

A solution is being prepared that will address an issue with the night vision imaging system (NVIS) experience requirements in Part 61. The solution is dealing with the Part 61 requirement to have 20 hours of flight time at night as pilot in command for the grade 1 and grade 2 NVIS endorsements. Instead of the flight time being pilot in command, credit will be given to dual, pilot in command under supervision (PICUS) and solo night flight time. Provision will also be made for time in approved flight simulators. The consultation proposal document will be circulated shortly for staff and industry feedback

Hitch courtesy Oz Flying..

Cadets in training at RMIT Point Cook. (Steve Hitchen)

New Part 61 due before Year End

A complete amendment to CASR Part 61 - Licencing is currently being re-written as is expected to be issued before the end of 2016.

The amendments will incorporate a large raft of exemptions CASA has developed to get around unworkable parts of the original CASR.

Since being signed into law in late 2014 by former Acting Director of Aviation Safety Terry Farquharson, Part 61 has earned the ire of the training industry because it contained new requirements that were either overly-stringent or simply impossible to comply with.

CASA has dealt with the ongoing problem of Part 61 by issuing exemptions. So far, 18 exemptions are in force, with another six to be released in the coming weeks. Those still in the works are:

• Exemption against requirement to have a valid flight review for each aircraft rating
  
• Exemption against requirement to have a valid Instrument Proficiency Check for aircraft type ratings
  
• Night vision imaging system – exemption against requirement to have 20 hours of flight time at night as pilot in command of a helicopter
  
• Aeronautical knowledge examination for CPL and ATPL – exemption against requirement to pass all subjects within two years
  
• Exemption against requirement for multi-crew training where a helicopter is certified single-pilot but is operated with two pilots for the purposes of CAO 20.18 and CAO 95.7.3
  
• Instructor rating training endorsements – exemption against certain requirements for the grant of endorsements
  

As well as exemptions, CASA has also issued approvals to correct problem with aerial firefighting training, instructor rating training endorsments and aerial application proficiency checks for helicopter pilots.

CASA Chairman Jeff Boyd recently declared CASR Part 61 "a mess" and promised more exemptions to schools and operators that require them.

A complete list of existing exemptions to Part 61 is available on the CASA website.

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...gR5iuFl.99

MTF...P2