CASR 202.263 outlines transitional provisions of Part 61.
Quote:
202.263 Continuation of old authorisations
(1) Despite the amendments, an old authorisation that was in force immediately before 1 September 2014 is continued in force on and after 1 September 2014 according to its terms.
I wonder if that applies to CPL holders who have all the qualifications (Theory passes and flying hour requirement) to obtain an ATPL before 1 September 2014? In other words no specific ATPL flight/simulator test. For example, a recent amendment to the Part 61 stated the requirement to have passed an MCC course before applying for an ATPL flight test, has been delayed until 31 August 2016? Yet when asked, a CASA person at FCL stated on the phone that notwithstanding this change, an applicant for a flight test for the ATPL must still have passed a CASA approved MCC course.
The Catch 22 is there is no CASA approved MCC course and where there are MCC courses such as at FTA (in Adelaide) the MCC course there is not valid for the average ATPL candidate in Australia since the courses are only for overseas airline cadets such as Dragonair and Cathay.
To add salt into the wound JetConnect and some other Australian airlines refuse to interview prospective candidates unless they hold an Australian ATPL. So we now have the ridiculous situation where pilots with well over the minimum hours to qualify for an Australian ATPL and who have 1500 hours plus on aircraft like Airbus and Boeing cannot get an interview with some Australian and New Zealand operators.
At the same time, other pilots who picked up their ATPL before Part 61 came into force last year and may have only flown singles and light twins and no specific flight test are considered OK to get an interview...
In addition, CASA have consistently refused to accept Boeing 737/Airbus experience even of 1500 hours on type plus, as acceptable equivalent for the MCC course if the flying was in a non VH registered 737 or A320. Their reason given is CASA has no regulatory control of overseas operators. But on the other hand CASA do accept flight time logged in foreign AOC operators (but not for MCC purposes) Go figure.