Consultation Draft Proposed amendment to CAO 82.0 subsection 3A
Nearly fifteen years since the issue was first broached...
R20000040:
SAFETY ACTION
As a result of these occurrences, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has commenced a project to review the fuel requirements for flights to remote islands.
Which in apparently nine years led to OS 09/13...
Project OS 09/13 - Fuel and Alternate requirements - Project approved. 21 Aug 2009
And with the PelAir ditching the project was expanded to include Aerial Work (Aeromedical flights) and then in July 2010 the
NPRM 1003OS was released:
3.3 Reasons for change
3.3.1 The application of the additional remote island fuel requirements in CAO 82.0 which is currently limited to passenger-carrying charter operations was reviewed in the early stage of the project. As the safety of passengers is CASA’s highest priority, it was considered that excluding other passenger-carrying operations in the aerial work and RPT categories from the remote island fuel requirements had no justifiable safety
reasons.
Note: The term “passenger” is defined in CAR 2 as meaning “any person who is on board an aircraft other than a member of the operating crew”. The term “operating crew” is defined in CAR 2 as meaning “any person who is on board an aircraft with the consent of the operator of the aircraft and has duties in relation to the flying or safety of the aircraft”.
Four years since then and all it took was this...
"..3A Conditions on all passenger-carrying aeroplane operations to remote islands
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), each certificate authorising 1 or more of the following operations in an aeroplane:
(a) charter operations for the carriage of passengers;
(b) regular public transport operations for the carriage of passengers;
(c) aerial work operations for ambulance functions or for functions substantially similar to ambulance functions (medical transport operations);
is subject to the condition that a passenger must not be carried under the certificate on a flight to a remote island unless:
(d) the aeroplane has more than 1 engine; and
(e) before the flight commences, the pilot in command has nominated an alternate aerodrome for the flight; and
(f) the nominated alternate aerodrome is not located on a remote island, unless CASA approves otherwise in writing; and
(g) when the flight commences the aeroplane is carrying not less than the minimum safe fuel for the flight; and
(h) during the flight, the pilot in command carries out in-flight fuel management to ensure that the aeroplane is always carrying sufficient fuel to enable it to reach its destination aerodrome as planned, or its nominated alternate aerodrome if necessary, with the required minimum fuel reserves intact.
(2) Paragraph 3A (1) applies to a medical transport operation whether or not a passenger is carried on the flight to a remote island.
(3) An approval under subparagraph (1) (f) may be subject to conditions..."
{Comment: Has to be one of the smallest amendments I've seen in the last 5 years or so..
}
Hmm..it must have been a busy time for FF as July 2010 was also when the infamous CAIR 09/3 & Wodgers Weport were also released (reference my post
#2035). And in fact CAIR 09/3 made mention of OS 09/13 at para 4.4
Strange how the ALIU had a slightly different take on how OS 09/3 was initiated??
Oh well good to see that someone in FF is finally taking the initiative to close the loop..
Wonder when the other part of the FF intended safety actions addressing the ATsB (closed) minor safety issue will eventuate...
:
AO-2009-072-SI-01
Finally, CASA also advised of their intent to regulate Air Ambulance / Patient transfer operators as follows:
- Air Ambulance/Patient transfer operations in the proposed operational Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs) will be regulated to safety standards that are similar to those for passenger operations.
- While CASR Parts 138/136 will be limited to domestic operations and, if CASA decides to retain Air Ambulance/Patient transfer operations in these rule suites, any such operation wishing to operate internationally will also be required to comply with CASR Part 119. If, however, CASA decides to move these operations into CASR Parts 121/135/133 they will already be required to comply with CASR Part 119. Either way, Air Ambulance/Patient transfer operations will be regulated to the same standard as Air Transport Operations (ATO). In relation to Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, all ATO which include Air Ambulance/Patient transfer, will be required to carry mainland alternate fuel.
- CASR Parts 119/121/135/133 are expected to be finalised by the end of 2012 and are currently proposed to commence in June 2014. CASR Parts 138/136 are expected to be made by June 2013 and are proposed to commence in June 2014. Given that the drafting of these CASR Parts are subject to third party arrangements (Attorney-General’s Department) and CASA and the industry’s ability to effectively implement the new rule suite, these timelines are subject to change.
Hopefully we won't have to wait another fifteen years for that to happen..
MTF...
