CASR Part 138 – Aerial work operations
CASA has requested a speaking opportunity at Rotortech 2016 (27 to 29 May 2016) to discuss the new CASR Part 138 rules. Due to the importance of this topic which at present represents the bulk of our helicopter operations we will make access to the Conference Hall free of charge. Speakers may include Dale South.
As an aside we will be inviting the new Minister of Aviation and CEO/DAS of CASA to speak. Why? The deadline for completion of Part 61 rewrite and CASA restructure is 30 June 2016. If this schedule is still on track, then it will be only 24 work days after Rotortech 2016 finishes.
This legislation covers both aeroplanes and helicopters.
Be there - it is your lively hood for most - and access to this conference is complimentary. No excuses!!!
So what is under development?
Part 138 of CASR will bring together requirements affecting aerial work operations that apply in addition to or in substitution for those required under Part 91 and will also establish the general standards for aerial work for both rotorcraft and aeroplanes. Further, Part 138 will reflect CASA's policy which envisages traditional aerial work operations will be required to be classified, authorised and managed on the basis of the safety risk management of the activity being undertaken.
Who Part 138 affects
Part 138 will affect operators who intend to conduct aerial work in aeroplanes and rotorcraft that involves any or all of the following specialised in-flight purposes:
▸external Load operations, including but not limited to:▸the towing of objects
▸rotorcraft sling load operations
▸winching, rappelling, fast roping and suspended extraction operations from rotorcraft.
▸dispensing operations, including but not limited to:▸discharge of projectiles
▸discharge of objects
▸discharge of material from a rotorcraft that is not an aerial application operation.
▸task-specialised operations, including but not limited to:▸flights that require the carriage of task specialists
▸flights requiring the use of specialised equipment
▸flights requiring close proximity operations
▸flights requiring confined or non-standard departure or landing sites
▸search flights.
▸emergency service operations, being duly authorised flights that involve:▸external load operations
▸dispensing operations
▸task-specialised operations for the purposes of saving and protection of life and property or the enforcement of Federal or State Laws.
▸emergency service operations, including but not limited to:▸rotorcraft emergency medical service operations
▸rotorcraft police operations
▸rotorcraft search and rescue operations
▸rotorcraft firefighting support operations
▸training flights for the above operations where compliance with Division T4 is required to realistically and practically conduct the training.
Key proposals
Aerial work operations will be authorised using an aerial work certificate. The issue or non-issue of an aerial work certificate will be graduated on the basis of the risks associated with each type of activity assessed against criteria outlined in Part 138. This will lead to some operations requiring very robust systems and associated organisations while others, by the nature of their simplicity and low risk status, being able to be conducted without such requirements.
Key proposals include:
▸consolidate all aeroplane and helicopter aerial work operations into a single rule set, with these operations conducted under a Part 138 certificate rather than an air operator’s certificate (noting the rules for aerial application operations are contained in Part 137 and the rules for medical transport operations will be moved to Parts 119, 133 and 135 as applicable)
▸streamline the current 41 aerial work activities into three categories: external load operations, dispensing operations and task-specialist operations
▸apply rotorcraft and aeroplane performance standards to certain aerial work operations as required, based on the assessed risk
▸apply graduated training and checking standards to aerial work operations depending on the complexity of the operation
▸define and specify when aerial work specialists and aerial work passengers can be carried.
Just a heads up for wise heads,
AHIA