Differences between NZ and Aus Laws for Aussie CP interview

[Basefor02]

Hi there.

I am a Commercial pilot who has been working in New Zealand for a number of years but I have recently been offered a CP position in Australia. CASA have told me that I am going to get a lot of questions regarding the differences in the laws of the 2 countries, so if you know of any of the major or important differences, or anything about the CASA CP interview, please let me know.

[Mach E Avelli]

Depends a bit on the level you are aiming for. If it's a small single-engine operator the questions will be quite different to those asked to be CP of a turbine commuter airline.

Generic to all levels:

• The relationship of the Civil Aviation Act, CAR, CAO, CASR, CAAP and AIP (compared with the clarity of the NZ regulations, a right clusterf...k)
• Powers vested in CASA
• Responsibilities and accountability of a Chief Pilot
• Recurrent proficiency checks required
• Flying and instrument recency requirements
• Facilities that the operator must provide
• Maintenance certification allowed by pilots, MEL use etc
• What's in your company suite of manuals (they will grill you on this, so you'd better be able to quote or at least quickly access whatever obscure information they ask for)
• How your SMS functions in practice
• How your fatigue management system functions (if you have one); also wise to know CAO 48 or the 'standard exemption' backwards

Additionally for a bugsmasher operation they should give you a flight planning exercise and a weight and balance to complete. For a larger operation they will want to check that you understand the performance regulations and limitations, EDTO etc. Don't be surprised if they want to run a flight test or simulator check.

At this stage each regional CASA office seems to play it to their own preferences, but I believe that they are making some effort now to standardize.

[mattyj]

Its a whole different animal mate..a nightmare if no one has sat down and spent a couple of days going through it with you!! Its night and day really..if you did cpl law back before the changes in NZ and remember the REGs system you might be ok..PM me I have some notes if you like..that will be a start..hard to believe we're both ICAO..one of the countries has got it wrong.

[solowflyer]

CASA: ugh:

[Old Akro]

I don't understand. Part of the CER agreement is interchangeability between NZ & Aus CPL licences. I didn't go through any of this nonsense when I got a NZ CPL based on my AUS one. The CER relating to pilots licences is quite detailed. I forget where it is, but you should find it readily. I'd be reading it first to make sure they are not making you do more than you need to. My recollection is that it is straightforward to read and quite specific.

Otherwise, a one on one session or two with an Aussie ground school guy should get you there quickly. My recollection of NZ is that the main differences are R/T. Try Lionel Taylor in Melb if that is where you are bound.

[Mach E Avelli]

Akro, holding a mere pilot licence does not gain you entry to secret CP business.

[AerocatS2A]

He's got a job as a chief pilot, it's going to be a bit more involved than if you're just a CPL changing countries.

[Baldnfat]

Good luck bro. Just remember that we are over kiwis that take our CP jobs for less pay over here. Love to know the details of your terms and conditions.

[Basefor02]

Thanks very much for the replies.
The business is all single engine aircraft. I've been having a look through the Australian reg's/rules/orders etc and it is definatly a world more complicated than the New Zealand, ICAO alligned system. I've been able to find a reasonable amount of the stuff that I've been looking for (with much frustration) but I think the hardest is finding the stuff that would be the equivilent of NZ's Part 135.
For example, NZCAR 135.223 states that for commercial operations planned landing distances must not exceed 85% of Landing distance available (my paraphrase). I then found CASA's Divison 3, regulation 235 which seemed to be the equivilent (although it looks as if it would be applied to Operations of any size, not just small A/C) but there are no set figures for anything, and most of the time each point begins with "CASA may..." so it all looks a little uncertain. Is there another supporting document to this which would tell me the figures of what CASA "may" do, or will that change for each operator? If so, how do I know what applies to this one?
Thats not the only point I have a bit of difficulty in locating (if it exists!) but just an example of the kind of things I am having difficulty locating, basically the stuff that says "if your running a commercial operation then these extra tollerances must be applied". The Part 135 stuff.
So if you have any suggestions on that please let me know.

Regards.

[glekichi]

Have a look through all the parts of CAO 20 - Air Service Operations (some parts of which curiously apply to private and other flying also).

Enjoy the clusterfk !

It was interesting coming over as an instructor, because the majority of Australian colleagues had even less of an idea of their own rules than I did, so it was impossible to get any help out of them. Just look at some of the arguments on here about the intent of certain rules!! If you have the time I would highly recommend sitting the CASA ATPL Law exam. Will help with getting to grips with it all.

I imagine coming over as a Chief Pilot will be even more difficult. Good luck!

PS. Also note that the even basics such as the definition of VMC also differs between the countries!!

[notaplanegeek]

Huge difference and to be honest it's a complete mess I understand your frustration. Half is ICAO, half FAA then a mixture of extra rules on top of everything (normally stuff which is just basic common sense) but have been incorporated into the rules.

If I could give any advice I would strongly urge you to get a Bob-Tait law book an start from scratch especially if your operation is IFR. Also the aircraft radio phraseology is much different too. E.g departure call from a class D aerodrome, and the order of content in a radio call.

Again yes you are banging your head against the wall sifting though tonns of irrelevant garbarge with nothing to do with the information you want instead of looking precisely at one rule part and extracting the information easily Again a law book will solve this and help you find where to look for it plus give reference to where you should be looking.

But if you are a CP you should know where to find all this stuff so I guess there is no easy way around it but it learn it of heart. AIP in Australia is pretty good if you have not already found it Airservices Australia -<% = flying_aip_text %>

Best of luck!

[Windshear]

Just get your initial CPL IFR M/E in OZ then it just goes smoothly after that, true

[tinpis]

As I recall the kiwi law :No drinking within thirty feet of an aircraft bros : is somewhat different in OZ

[empacher48]

Originally Posted by tinpis

As I recall the kiwi law :No drinking within thirty feet of an aircraft bros : is somewhat different in OZ

What? You guys use metres?

[flyinkiwi]

No I think the Australian law goes something like: Strewth, be a good cobber and chuck us a cold tinny from the esky in the back.