GA Private Ramp Check questions...

[KRviator]

Originally Posted by adza

I admit - I didn't think it would be this difficult or confusing. I shouldn't have to rely on the odds of whether I get ramp checked or not to be OK. It's disappointing that this seems unachievable and there's so many gray areas instead of clean answers to the point where I'm encouraged just to play the odds instead.

Let's look into the actual rules and what they say, and throw *my* take on it, and see what the consensus is.

First off. CAsA appoints "investigators" under Section 32AA of the Civil Aviation Act, or "Authorised Persons" under CAR6, and they must carry their ID card. No card? You don't have to comply. Or even acknowledge them as you turn and walk away.

IF they are appointed under CAR6, the following regulations may be attached to their appointment - ie, if they have "Regulation 50D", they can ask to see aircraft maintenance records...

• subregulation 30(4) - deals with inspecting aircraft, components & materials.
• subregulation 33(2) - deals with inspecting aircraft, components & materials to ascertain competence of maintenance people.
• regulation 43A - Says they can inspect the maintenance release
• regulation 50D - Says they can inspect maintenance records
• regulation 53 - Says they can investigate defects, however, if they want to look at records associated with with the investigation, they must order it in writing.
• regulation 227 -Says they can enter the flight deck, but only if the PIC is satisfied doing so won't endanger the aircraft.
• regulation 290 - Says they can shoot on or over a Federal airport.
• regulation 302 - Says they can look at your logbook, aircraft logbook, passenger manifest, freight manifest "or other documents relating to the aircraft"
• regulation 310B -
• acting under regulation 305. - Says they can enter any premises during working hours, and at "all reasonable times" have access to aircraft for the purposes of inspecting the aircraft
  
  CASA MUST NOT enter a premises without consent, and when asking for consent, MUST tell you that consent may be refused and may be withdrawn at any time. Should it be granted, they can do pretty much whatever they like. Take samples, photos, sketches, interview people, etc. CAA Sect 32ACB. So tell them no, they can't come in! But if they have a Reg305 permission, looks like you're screwed! :P
  
  CAsA gives the following guidance here for ramp checkee's.
  
  
  
  Originally Posted by CAsA

  The inspector will ask you for your CASA pilot licensing documents

Originally Posted by CAsA

• Flight crew licence (FCL) – You must carry your current licence and photographic ID. [Paper or electronic copy of licence acceptable]
• Aviation medical certificate – You must carry your current aviation medical certificate. You must be compliant with any restrictions or endorsements (e.g. the wearing of corrective lenses)[Paper or electronic copy of medical certificate acceptable]

The inspector will then check your preparation for your flight

Flight plan

• Have you maintained a navigation/fuel log?
• Have you made a careful study of forecast weather and applicable NOTAMs?
• Are you compliant with CASA flight time limitations (as applicable)?
• Are you carrying the appropriate, current charts and documents? Are they easily accessible by the crew?
• Are you using an EFB for your charts and documents? There are considerations for commercial versus private operations.
• Have you submitted a flight plan (if required by AIP)?
  Finally, the inspector will check your aircraft
  
  
  The inspector will check:
• Aircraft maintenance release
• Is the daily inspection signed off correctly?
• Are all required airworthiness directives completed and signed off?
• Are there any outstanding aircraft unserviceable items to be signed off?
• Flight manual (if required)– is it up-to-date?
• Checklists (normal and non-normal) — are they up-to-date and accessible to crew. [Paper or electronic copy of checklist acceptable]
• Evidence of pilot and passenger weights (standard weights should not be used in aircraft with fewer than 7 seats) Evidence of cargo weights (if carried) and appropriate securing equipment.
• Load sheets (if required)
• Required emergency equipment on board, serviceable and accessible.

Document references

Flight crew licence & aviation medical certificates

• Carriage of documents – CAR 139
• Flight review – CAR 5.108
• Recent experience – CAR 5.109

Operations

• Navigation logs – CAR 78
• Fuel requirements – CAR 234
• Weather and NOTAM – CAR 233 & AIP ENR 1-10 paragraph 1.
• Flight plan submission AIP ENR 1-10 paragraph 2.
• Flight time limitations – CAO 48.1 and CAAP 48.1
• Charts and documents – CAR 139 and AIP ENR 1.10 paragraph 5.
• EFBs – CAO 82.0, CAR 233 and CAAP 233-1(1)
• 
  Aircraft

• Carriage of maintenance release – CAR 139
• Carriage of flight manual – CAR 139
• Check lists – CAR 232
• Carriage of passengers – CAO 20.16.3 – CAAP 235
• Carriage of cargo – CAO 20.16.2.
• Load sheets and passengers lists – CAO 20.16.1
• Emergency equipment – CAR 252A – CAO 20.11

CAR139 requires you carry the following documents at all times when operating wholly within Australian Territory:

• The Maintenance Release or an approved alternative, unless CAsA has authorised otherwise.
• The licence & medical certificate of the pilot(s).
• The flight manual, if it has one.
• If you're carrying any cargo, the bill of lading & manifest.

Note: You are not required to carry your logbook, however, CASR 61.365 requires you to produce it within 7 days. You can also keep an electronic copy, however, to "produce" this logbook, you must print out and sign each page as true & correct.


CAsA's reference to a Flight Review under CAR 5.108 refers to CPL holders only, not PPL's. However an identical requirement is found in CAR 5.81. You must have had a AFR within the previous two years. But without your logbook on site, how do you prove it? You can't and they can't prove otherwise. So so long as you've done it all's good.

You must also have had 3 takeoff's and 3 landings (off 3 separate approaches, presumably!) within the previous 90 days, in order to carry passengers. IF you're flying at night, these must be at night. CAR 5.82 refers. But as above, no logbook on site, no proof you're not current.

You are not required to keep a navigation log per se'. However, CAR 78 requires you to keep a log of such data "to enable you to fix your position at any time in flight". On a local junket, so long as you don't get lost (and what are the odds of that, really?), you've kept sufficient data to know your position I reckon.

CASR234 requires you to have sufficient fuel to operate the flight safely. This is subjective and will rely on your judgement, but the rules show guidance in relation to delayed landing clearance, depressurisation, engine failures in twins, etc. Most of which you're unlikely to confront on a local junket, but if you take off for a 90 minute junket with minimum fuel and a front forecast to hit 60 mins after takeoff, you could find yourself in the **** if you get ramped. Show you had fuel to hold for an hour, you should be alright. Common sense applies here. Good luck!

Pre-flight prep, weather & Notams. CAR 233 does not require you to check Notams, only that you have sufficient fuel on board & required equipment & instruments are functioning & the weight and balance are within limits.

AIP 1-10 requires you to look over ("must study") all info appropriate to the operation, and for flights away from the vicinity of an aerodrome, you must look at the weather, notams, etc. You do not need printed copies. You do not need notams & weather if you are remaining within the vicinity of your aerodrome. And you do not need to produce these documents to CASA even if you have them.

If you nominate a SARTIME to ATS or plan to operate in CTA other than Class E you must submit a flight plan. If you're staying in E or G, and don't want SAR, then you don't need a flight notification.


CAO 48.1 mainly relates to CPL & AOC holders, however, for PPL's you must not commence a flight if you will go over 30 hours in 7 days, 100 hours in 30 days, or 900 hours in 365 days. If you fly for a living and your employer can't roster you because you'll go over hours, you can't fly for fun either.


CAR 233 requires you to carry current maps & charts applicable for the route to be flown, provided by the AIP or someone approved in writing. OzRunways (and presumably AvPlan too) are approved in writing, so you can use Ozrunways instead of paper charts.


EFB's... CAO 82.0 does not apply to PPL's, only AOC holders operating Charter, AWK and RPT. CAR233 provides for OzRunways as a data source. There is no requirement for a backup for PPL's, either paper or another EFB, however you are required to have access to the relevant charts throughout the flight. "What happens if you drop your ERSA from the front cockpit of a Drifter?" I hear you ask... I dunno.


Personally, I'd have OzRunways on the iPad and a backup on the iPhone. The iPhone screen size is too small, but it's a backup, not primary. That's assuming you even need charts on your local junket...


Checklists. If your aircraft has them, they must be carried. CAR232(3).


You may carry 5 people in a 172, if two children occupy a single seat and don't weigh more than 77Kg combined. You do not require the names of passengers if you're operating a PVT flight.


If your plane has more than 1 seat, you must carry an ELT if beyond 50nm and it must be registered with AMSA! Portable ones must meet AS/NZS 4280.2:2003 or FAA TSO C91a and C126.