Ibol
A timepiece carried on the pilot is perfectly OK for VFR operations as specified in CAO 20.18 Appendix I. If it is a legal requirement then it is at least partly deductible. Speak with a good Tax Accountant and take in the CAO’s as a backup to your case. I am sure he or she will agree with me. If the ATO doesn’t like it contest their ruling. I have taken them to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in the past and on each occasion beaten them. They aren’t always right. After all their job is to get as much tax out of you as they possibly can. Your job with a good account is to pay as little tax as possible, legally. I’m all for tax minimization as this is perfectly legal as apposed to Tax Avoidance which is illegal and needs to be stamped out, i.e. Bottom of the Harbour Tax Schemes.
APPENDIX I
INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES
(Limited to aircraft specified in subsection 3 paragraph 3.1)
1 The flight and navigational instruments required for flights under the Visual
Flight Rules are:
(a) an airspeed indicating system;
(b) an altimeter, with a readily adjustable pressure datum setting scale
graduated in millibars;
(c) (i) a direct reading magnetic compass; or
(ii) a remote indicating compass and a standby direct reading magnetic compass; and
(d) an accurate timepiece indicating the time in hours, minutes and seconds.
This may be carried on the person of the pilot or navigator.
2 In addition to the instruments required under paragraph 1, aircraft, other than
helicopters, engaged in charter or aerial work operations and operating under
the Visual Flight Rules, shall be equipped with:
(a) a turn and slip indicator; (agricultural aeroplanes may be equipped with a
slip indicator only) and
(b) an outside air temperature indicator when operating from an aerodrome at
which ambient air temperature is not available from ground-based
instruments.
