PPL and controlled airspace
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Can anyone point out to the relevant regulations that a PPL holder is allowed into controlled airspace? I heard a conflicting account this morning that PPLs used to have restrictions but no longer do. I'd like to trace that back to the regs. Thanks!
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61.495 related to the RPL, not to the PPL. There's a controlled airspace endorsement for the RPL.
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Regulations aside, there are no restrictions for a PPL, so nothing to stop you landing your A380 at Tullamarine. If there were restrictions the L39 PPL owners club would be complaining loudly.
Last edited by Squawk7700; 6th Nov 2018 at 22:19.
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Part 61 licencing is easy to understand amongst the numerous fact sheets, pages on CASA's website and the regulations themselves. The only problem here are silly questions being asked...
For a period of time the holder of a PPL was required to be trained and endorsed for various types of airspace (I cannot recall exactly, but certainly 1990s at least early 2000s when I was doing PPL flight tests) Under the ICAO guidelines a PPL holder can fly in controlled airspace, so CASA dropped the airspace limitations to harmonise with ICAO. Under the transitional arrangements from CAR 5 to CASR Part 61 all PPL holders were considered to be trained and competent to operate in controlled airspace. As stated earlier, Part 61 requires training in all types of airspace (may be simulated if not practical to operate in it due to remoteness of training location).
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In conclusion, flying in controlled airspace seems to be one surprising exception in a field where you've come to accept that an activity is forbidden unless you've received a formal authorisation to carry it out (e.g. endorsement X or Y).
yep, don’t try to apply any logic to what the regulator does!
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Thread Starter
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