A number of CASA staff employed from the pre-1988 DCA era told me over a decade ago that CASA's interpretation of CAR206 was an "interpretation of convenience". They knew CAR206 had its roots in the pre 1988 ANRs, as Mr Fice suggests.
The internet provides various definitions of "aerial photography", including:
- Photographs of a part of the earth's surface taken by a camera mounted in an aircraft for mapping purposes. This usually consists of a series of overlapping vertical photos taken in strips which can form the basis for mapping. (Canadian Government definition.)
- A photograph of the Earth's surface taken with a camera that is mounted on the airplane. (US Government definition.)
Not surprising, neither the
Civil Aviation Act 1988 nor the
Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 provide any definition of the term "
aerial photography" used in CAR206(1)(a)(iv).
I suspect an arbiter of Mr Fice's logical and rational reasoning would find "aerial photography" means operating a specially modified aircraft with fixed camera for the purposed of topographical mapping, generally requiring advanced piloting skills.
"Aerial photography" has no relationship to a photographer taking a photograph with a hand held camera out the side window of the aircraft. The difference between whether that photographer is an amateur or professional is irrelevant and is merely economic regulation by CASA,
not safety regulation.