Navigating the new rules

January 31, 2022

Article supplied by CASA Can’t locate that Civil Aviation Advisory Publication (CAAP) you always refer to? Don’t know where to find the form to apply for something? It may no longer exist.

When the new flight operations rules began on 2 December, the guidance material and forms also needed to change. Some documents have been updated; others are no longer needed.

Guidance material

We have compiled a list of CAAPs and ACs that have been removed from our website. You’ll find it below.

It’s easy to find current guidance material. Simply click on the type of guidance material you are after and then narrow your search. And don’t forget to click on any Associated Documents, where you may find useful Annexes.

Forms

There are two new forms for regulatory service applications – one for Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) holders and Part 138 Aerial Work Certificate holders, the other is for Aerial Work Certificate holders only. (There is also a form for Balloon AOC holders.) In nearly all cases, if you’re applying for an air transport or aerial work activity, you only need to use these forms. This includes:

making an initial application
requesting a renewal or removal of aircraft or activities
applying for a significant change or to make notification to CASA of a non-significant change.

There are some application forms that you no longer need to complete. This is because the outcomes-based nature of the rules means that certain activities may have already been approved in your Exposition/Operations Manual and variations to these approvals are now assessed via a significant change application.

All the current forms related to the new flight operations rules. You’ll also find guidance material on management of change including significant and non-significant change.

General tips

CASA is experiencing a significant increase in the number of regulatory services applications, and we currently have a backlog. When contacting us:

Check whether you still need to seek approval for that activity in the new regulations.
Remember that we only need to be notified of non-significant change, while permission needs to be sought for significant change.
If your application has a time critical component please identify this in your email so we can triage appropriately.
If your application is not time critical you may not hear from us with a job number for a period of time. We will get to your job as quickly as possible.

You may also wish to consider using an industry delegate.

Once your job has been allocated to a team manager you will contacted by email and given advice about when the job will be completed.

More information

Visit the flight operations rules.

Ask a question through our online form.

Guidance material that has been removed

CAAP SMS-01 – Safety Management Systems for Regular Public Transport Operations
CAAP SMS-2 – Integration of Human Factors (HF) into Safety Management Systems (SMS)
CAAP SMS-3 – Non-Technical Skills Training and Assessment for Regular Public Transport Operations
Appendix A to CAAP SMS-3 – Developing a Non‐Technical Skills Training Program: A Case Study Approach
Appendix B to CAAP SMS-3 – Enhancing Performance in High Risk Environments – Recommendations for the use of Behavioural Markers
Appendix C to CAAP SMS-3 – Example of a high capacity airline’s non‐technical skills assessment
CAAP SMS-4 – Guidance on the establishment of a Flight Data Analysis Program (FDAP) – Safety Management Systems (SMS)
CAAP 20.4-01 – Supplemental Oxygen Requirements for Cabin Crew Members in Pressurised Aircraft Above Flight Level 250
CAAP 89W-1 – Guidelines on provision of obstacle information for take-off flight planning purposes
AC 91U-02 – Required Navigation Performance 10 (RNP 10) – Operational Certificate
AC 91U-03 – Required Navigation Performance 4 (RNP 4) – Operational Certificate
CAAP 92A-1 – Guidelines on aerodromes intended for small aeroplanes conducting RPT operations
CAAP 92-1 – Guidelines for aeroplane landing area
CAAP 92-3 – Guidelines for manned balloon launching and landing areas
CAAP 155-1 – Aerobatics
CAAP 157-1 – Balloon flight over populous areas
CAAP 166-01 – Operations in the vicinity of non-controlled aerodromes
CAAP 166-02 – Pilots’ responsibility for collision avoidance in the vicinity of non-controlled aerodromes using ‘see-and-avoid’
CAAP 174-01 – Night vision imaging – helicopters
CAAP 178-1 – Non-precision Approaches (NPA) & Approaches with Vertical Guidance (APV)
CAAP 179A-1 – Guidelines for navigation using GNSS
CAAP 215-1 – Guide to the preparation of operations manuals
Annex A to CAAP 215-1 – Policy Procedures
Annex B to CAAP 215-1 – Aircraft Operations
Annex C to CAAP 215-1 – Aerodromes and Routes
Annex D to CAAP 215-1 – Training and Checking
Annex E to CAAP 215-1(3.2) – List of Headings
CAAP 217-1 – CAR 217 Flight Crew-Training and checking organisations
CAAP 233-1 – Electronic Flight Bags
CAAP 234-1 – Guidelines for aircraft fuel requirements
Annex A to CAAP 234-1 – Sample fuel calculations – Single-engine piston aeroplane (Cessna 210)
Annex B to CAAP 234-1 – Sample fuel calculations – Multi-engine turboprop aeroplane (Beechcraft B200)
Annex C to CAAP 234-1 – Sample fuel calculations – Multi-engine turbojet aeroplane (Learjet 60)
CAAP 235A-1 – Minimum Runway Width – for aeroplanes engaged in RPT and Charter operations with a maximum take-off weight greater than 5700 kg
CAAP 235-1 – Standard passenger and baggage weights
CAAP 235-2(2) – Carriage and restraint of small children in aircraft
CAAP 235-3 – RPT operations in multiengine aeroplanes with MTOW not above 5700kg – aeroplane weight and performance limitations
CAAP 235-4 – Guidelines for the Consideration and Design of: Engine Out SID (EOSID) and Engine Out Missed Approach Procedures
CAAP 235-05 – New performance provisions for CAO 20.7.1B and CAO 20.7.4
CAAP 253-1 – Ditching
CAAP 253-02 – Passenger safety information: Guidelines on content and standard of safety information to be provided to passengers by aircraft operators
CAAP 257-EX-02 – Conduct of practice autoland operations

No sign of 5G interference in Australia

January 25, 2022

Article supplied by CASA

There’s good news for those worried about the fierce debate in the United States about the impact of 5G signals on aircraft safety systems: there are no indications of similar problems in Australia.

Picture of a telecommunications tower at sunset

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has been closely monitoring the issue and so far we’ve seen no evidence 5G transmissions are currently affecting aircraft in this country.

U.S. airlines and aircraft manufacturers raised concerns some time ago that a segment of the airwaves to be used by American telecommunications companies for 5G is too close to that utilised by radio altimeters that measure an aircraft’s clearance height over terrain.

Measurements by the altimeters are used by other aircraft safety systems and there are concerns the rollout of 5G near U.S. airports would affect aircraft systems such as those used for automatic landings, wind shear prediction and terrain warnings.

While CASA and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have urged pilots to report any anomalies with radio altimeters near 5G towers, they have yet to see any.

In fact, the ATSB says there have been no reports of radio altimeter incidents linked to 5G since the telecommunications technology rolled out 2 years ago.

One reason for this is that Australian 5G transmissions currently do not extend into the part of the spectrum worrying the U.S. aviation industry.

Radio altimeters operate in 4.2-4.4Ghz range and the 5G transmissions subject to the interference debate are in the adjacent 3.7-4.2GHz spectrum. Australian 5G transmissions currently top out at 3.7GHz, well below the radio altimeter frequencies.

CASA issued its latest airworthiness bulletin on the 5G issue on 17 January 2022.

Both agencies are keen to hear from pilots who notice any spurious radio altimeter incidents occurring at altitudes below 2500ft above ground level. You can report any issues via our online form and at the ATSB here

Reg Wrap-up

January 25, 2022January 25, 2022

Article supplied by CASA.

Announcements
Flight operations rules. The new flight operations rules commenced on 2 December.

Regular editions were sent of an e-newsletter What can I do now? with news and updates to help industry transition to the new rules.
14 December – revised pilot guides, our clarification of the cockpit recorder rules and how the rules have come together.
9 December – thanking everyone who has worked through the transition steps, next steps, tips and tricks on using our new website, and newly published material.
29 November – recap of what happens if you don’t submit and last-minute clarifications on instruments, chemical spraying and affected delegates and authorised persons.
22 November – what happens if you don’t submit any documentation and making it easier to do so, what’s happening to some of the rules you may be familiar with and new training modules.
15 November – how we’re making it easier to find the rules, minor MOS changes, sending your instruments and changes for sport and recreational aviation.
8 November – your letter from the Director of Aviation Safety, the recordings of our live question and answer sessions and what’s new in guidance materials.We also made, updated or repealed a series of instruments and Civil Aviation Orders to support the commencement of flight operations rules.
See our website for the full list.
Guides for pilots now available
We have updated and refreshed our guides designed to help pilots and operators understand the rules of the air:
Visual Flight Rules Guide (VFRG)
Part 91 Plain English Guide (Part 91 PEG) updatedDeferral for new sport and recreational aviation rules, balloon rules
We have deferred making of the Part 103, Part 105 and Part 131 Manuals of Standards (MOSs) following industry feedback. Relevant CASA instruments and Civil Aviation Orders have been re-issued for an interim period to maintain existing requirements while we work with industry to finalise each MOS.
Sport and recreational aircraft
Part 103 of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) and its associated MOS applies to the operation of certain sport and recreational aircraft administered by Sport Aviation Bodies. While the Part 103 MOS is being finalised, these operations will be subject to amended Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) to ensure continued operation of sport and recreational aircraft from 2 December 2021. The amended CAOs include exemption from Part 103 and relevant provisions in Part 91. The amended CAOs include an updated CAO 95.55 which now permits an ASAO to administer operation of aircraft with a higher maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 760 Kg once updated manuals are approved by CASA. This change reflects previously supported consultation.
The updated CAOs are: CAO 95.4, CAO 95.8, CAO 95.10, CAO 95.12, CAO 95.12.1, CAO 95.32, CAO 95.55.
Parachuting from aircraft
Part 105 of CASR and its associated MOS prescribe operating rules and details standards for conducting parachuting from aircraft. Relevant CASA instruments have been re-issued for an interim period to maintain current requirements. The re-issued/new instruments are: Instrument 263/02 – CAR 152 approval (ASA) Instrument 11/17 – Direction (ASA) Instrument 36/19 – CAR 152 approval (APF) Instrument 84/18 – Direction (APF) Instrument EX153/21 – Trainee parachutists exemption (new instrument)Balloons and hot air airships
Part 131 of CASR and its associated MOS work together with Part 91 of CASR to describe all the general operating and flight rules for manned free balloons and hot air airships. While the Part 131 MOS is being finalised, relevant Civil Aviation Orders (CAO) have been updated to ensure a continued effective regulatory scheme for Part 131 aircraft operations from 2 December 2021.

The updated CAOs are: CAO 95.53 (Commercial Balloon Flying Training and Balloon Transport Operations) Instrument 2021, CAO 95.54 (Part 131 Recreational Activity and Specialised Balloon Operations) Instrument 2021.
CAO 82.0 and CAO 82.7 have been updated for operators conducting commercial balloon flying training under an AOC.
Extra time to complete certain pilot examsWe have published a new exemption (CASA EX138/20) to assist individuals who may be having difficulty completing their Commercial Pilot Licence and Air Transport Pilot Licence examination program due to border closures and social distancing rules affecting their ability to attend exam venues.

ConsultationsSouth-west capes, Western Australia, broadcast areaThe Office of Airspace Regulation is proposing a broadcast area in the vicinity of the south-west capes, Western Australia, following issues raised by local stakeholders. Provide your feedback by 10 January.
Automated airspace authorisation trialWe’re seeking industry feedback on our automated airspace trial which allows operators who hold a remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate, or those who operate under one with a remote pilot licence, to apply to fly an RPA within 5.5 km of a controlled airport. Visit our Consultation Hub today. The survey closes on Friday 28 January 2022.
Proposed changes to regulations for remotely piloted aircraftThe proposed amendments will benefit industry, reducing complexities and regulatory burden. To have your say, visit the CASA Consultation Hub. Submissions close on Monday 7 February 2022.
We have published the summary of consultation for the following:Proposed relocation of NVIS legislation into Parts 91, 133 and 138 Manuals of Standards Proposed new Part 131 manual of standards – balloons and hot airships

Guidance materialsAdvisory circularThe following advisory circulars were published during November/December:AC 131-04 v1.0 – Management of change for balloon transport AOC holdersAC 91-09 v1.0 – Ditching AC 91-25 v1.0 – Fuel and oil safetyAC 91-22 v2.0 – Aircraft checklist AC 91-10 v1.1 – Operations in the vicinity of non-controlled aerodromes AC 91-02 v1.1 – Guidelines for aeroplanes not exceeding 5 700 kg – suitable places to take-off and land AC 91-18 v1.1 – Restraints of infants and children AC 135-13 v1.0 – Prescribed single-engine aeroplanes. Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance MaterialThe following Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material were published during November:AMC/GM Part 131 v1.1 – Balloons and hot air airships AMC/GM Part 119 v2.1 – Australian air transport operators – certification and management AMC/GM Part 91 v2.1 – General operating and flight rules.

Inspiring walk raises funds for Wellbeing Place

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021

Article supplied by RFDS. After walking a gruelling 330 kilometres from one outback town to another, Margaret Symes raised much needed funds for the RFDS Wellbeing Place in Broken Hill, and more awareness of rural mental health.

Margaret began her Step into Spring fundraising walk in Tibooburra on October 25th and 12 days later finished in Broken Hill where she was greeted by locals at a community barbecue.

Raising awareness and reducing the stigma of mental health in the bush is something very close to Margaret’s heart.

“I’ve lost close friends over the years from depression, it’s just very sad and I wanted people to be more aware of the services available in Broken Hill,” she explained.

“Not many people I know knew about the Wellbeing Place so that inspired me to be like ‘right this service needs more awareness.’”

Margaret said everyone at the Wellbeing Place has been so supportive of her journey and gave a special mention to her husband, Ross, who drove the support car while she trekked.

“He was absolutely fantastic, bandaging my blisters and looking after my mental health,” Margaret added.

Each night the husband and wife stayed on properties or at roadhouses, which gave them the opportunity to meet with locals and raise awareness of mental health.

Margaret said walking an average of 25 to 30 kilometres per day across such a vast area gave her a better understanding of its remoteness.

“It puts it into perspective that these people out here are really isolated,” she said.

Margaret set out to raise $5000 for the RFDS Wellbeing Place in Broken Hill, but thanks to communities’ support, smashed that goal raising more than $17,000 and became “quite emotional” when she finally arrived in Broken Hill.

“I think because I knew it was nearing the end, but also just to have people there to say congratulations. It was a lovely day,” she explained.

“The generosity has been overwhelming.”

RFDSSE Wellbeing, Engagement, and Health Promotion, Eliza Emmlin, was there on the day Margaret arrived in Broken Hill and was so appreciative of her efforts.

“One of the best things about it is that Margaret wasn’t just raising money, she was raising awareness and through her walk she was talking to people about mental health and helping remove the stigma,” Eliza explained.

“She really admires the work we do at the Wellbeing Place and understands how important it is for the community to know about our services.”

Eliza said locals were right behind Margaret, donating several items for the community barbecue, including bread and sauce from Coles, cupcakes from Chalkie’s, and 150 sausages by Top End Meats.

“As well as the businesses who assisted Marg on her walk with free accommodation, we’re just so thankful,” she said

Focus on mental health as pandemic drags on

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021

Article supplied by RFDS: One of the most widespread challenges of the pandemic has been how to deal with lockdowns, changes to employment and financial circumstances, and not being able to see friends and family.

One of the most widespread challenges of the pandemic has been how to deal with lockdowns, changes to employment and financial circumstances, and not being able to see friends and family.

This has put a bigger focus on mental health than ever before. The sudden and abrupt change to the way of life has seen more people needing help and reaching out for it.

The RFDSSE Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAoD) team have been working in our communities to ensure continued access to help is available. As well as continuing to offer services such as virtual consultations and telehealth, the team has looked at other ways to support communities, families and individuals.

This has included the COVID-19 In-Reach Older Persons Program, funded by Western Primary Health Network, which provides practical support to Older Persons across the whole of Western and Far Western LHD.

RFDSSE Mental Health Manager Vanessa Latham and members of her team located at Broken Hill participated in the COVID testing clinic and used the opportunity to check on the mental health of the community, as well as registering people for testing.

“It was lovely to be able to introduce myself and explain the sequence of what was going to happen, and say ‘my background is mental health nursing, so, how is your mental health going at this time?’,” Ms Latham said. “During high demand times when cars needed to queue, it was a great opportunity to have a little chat.”

Like so many divisions of the RFDSSE, the MHAoD team has looked for ways to assist with the unprecedented workload of running vaccination clinics across the service’s territory. Ken Pascoe is an AoD Clinician with the Flying Doctor and in addition to his regular duties, he has been travelling across NSW to conduct vaccinations, and has been tying in his mental health training.

“We are finding a lot of children and even adults have a fear of needles so being able to calm them down, get them to conduct some breathing exercises and relax makes the process easier for them. I am finding that when we go back to administer second doses, people look for me because their first dose went so well,” Mr Pascoe said.

Thanks to your support, we are able to keep these vital services going and ensure the mental health needs of people in regional and remote Australia are well looked after.

Fatigue Management

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021

Article supplied by CASA

Latest updates

CAO 48.1 will remain in force after the 2 December 2021 introduction of the flying operations CASRs (Parts 119, 121, 133, 135). Once transitioned to CAO 48.1 by 1 July 2021 operators will not be required to make a further amendment the fatigue sections of their operations manuals to comply with the new CASRs.
CASR 91.520 establishes obligations on all flight crew to be fit for duty including with respect to fatigue.

CASA’s Plain English Guide for fatigue management has been developed to make it easy for operators to understand the regulation, requirements and their obligations. This guide provides regulatory information in a simple, easy-to-read and understandable language.

Fatigue risk management involves operators and pilots taking steps to manage increasing levels of fatigue so that it does not result in a safety risk.

On this page

New fatigue rules

Most operators need to comply with new fatigue rules from 1 July 2021. There are three routes for transition:

Resources are available to assist operators transition to the new fatigue rules, including our Plain English Guide for fatigue management and our Fatigue transition policy (PDF 350.91 KB) that provides information for operators on how to meet transition timeframes and comply with the new rules.

Fatigue panel

To support industry with the implementation of the new fatigue rules, CASA has established a fatigue panel. The panel is made up of regulatory services staff experienced in fatigue policy and operationalising regulatory requirements and human performance specialists, providing a high level of advice relating to regulatory services and surveillance standards for CAO 48.1 Instrument 2019.

The fatigue panel is responsible for supporting efficient and consistent decision-making under the new fatigue rules. Ensuring consistency in regulatory services and surveillance activities, the panel provides specialist technical advice, assesses and evaluates:

transition plans for operators transitioning to the prescriptive rules (Appendices 1 to 6)
applications for minor variations to the prescriptive rules (Appendices 2 to 6)
fatigue risk management systems (FRMS) applications (Appendix 7).

Fatigue enquiries

CASA has changed how it manages enquiries and correspondence relating to the fatigue rules.

Please choose one of the options below that is relevant to your enquiry:

If you are seeking regulatory clarification, guidance, advice or support regarding the fatigue regulations submit an enquiry using the Regulatory guidance enquiry webform
If you are wanting to make an application to CASA or submit documents to support an existing application email regservices@casa.gov.au
If neither of the criteria above applies to you, or you are uncertain of how to proceed, submit an enquiry using the Regulatory guidance enquiry webform.

Avalon Airport wins at 2021 Geelong Business Excellence Awards

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021

Article supplied by: Avalon Airport

Avalon Airport is thrilled to take out the Safe & Healthy Business Award in the prestigious 2021 Geelong Business Excellence Awards.

The awards ceremony was delivered online for the second year running due to Covid-19 restrictions, and a small number of the team gathered in the Avalon Airport cafe to celebrate being shortlisted for four awards: Medium to Large Business (sponsor: EML); Innovation, Research and Development (sponsor: VIVA Energy Australia); Corporate Social Responsibility (sponsor: genU) and Safe & Healthy Business (sponsor: WorkSafe).

The team was thrilled to win the WorkSafe sponsored Safe & Healthy Business Award. The airport has always made safety a priority, and completed major upgrades across 2020 that furthered their commitment to creating a safe and healthy space for staff and passengers.

During the 2020 lockdowns Avalon Management also prioritised the protection of jobs as much as possible, creating pathways for staff to learn and take on new roles or to work for other companies.

The awards period, which ended in May this year, covered a very difficult period in the airport’s history. Covid-19 had stopped flights in their tracks mere weeks after the launch of Citilink flights to Bali last year. Twice daily AirAsia flights to Kuala Lumpur as well as domestic Jetstar flights were all performing strongly before the pandemic disrupted the world. As borders between countries and states shut down one by one, the airport was left with some truly challenging decisions to make.

Avalon backed itself, choosing to continue with planned upgrades to the check in and domestic security areas, installing state of the art check in kiosks, auto bag drops and CT scanner. The technology was designed to create a more seamless journey through the airport for passengers, as well as increased safety.

The airport also opened its taxiways and aprons to Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin, parking around forty aircraft and housing large
engineering teams.

Avalon also planned and developed a new nursery, which now boasts 2,600 young trees, that will eventually be dispersed around the airport’s entry and exit roads. In the future the airport hopes to use the nursery as an outdoor wellness area for staff and to wholesale plants.

The airport prides itself on its comprehensive program of training in areas as diverse as IT best practice to drug and alcohol awareness to aircraft refuelling.

Avalon Airport has made significant contributions to the community through sponsorships of local sporting clubs, and the CEO Justin Giddings is an Active Geelong ambassador and a Community Hero for Barwon Health in its initiative to encourage Covid-19 vaccinations.

Justin Giddings said, “It’s been probably the toughest year you could ever go through being an airport, and to have an award recognising that you’ve done your best for your staff is just fantastic.”

The team at Avalon Airport would like to express their gratitude to the Geelong Chamber of Commerce and to WorkSafe.

Get your FREE First Aid infopack now

October 7, 2021October 7, 2021

Article supplied by RFDS. Every day, lives are lost when people are injured and no one with them knows first aid.
Knowing what to do in an emergency could save a loved one’s life.

We hope you’re never in a situation where you need it – but knowing even basic first aid
could help give you the confidence you need to act appropriately when an accident
occurs.

The Flying Doctor First Aid Guide will show you how to respond to common first aid
situations for adults.

Our Infant First Aid Pocket Guide will advise you what to do if a child is choking, has a
febrile convulsion (seizure), or minor head injury.

The personal Medical Emergency Card will ensure you always feel safe.

Full article: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/nswact/news/first-aid-pack/

No increase in threshold monetary value for major development plans at privatised airports

October 7, 2021October 7, 2021

Article supplied by AOPA Australia. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Communications has announced that it has scrapped its plan to increase the threshold monetary value for Major Development Plans from $25 to $35million at privatised airports, following strong objections from AOPA Australia and other industry bodies.

Under the Airports Act 1996, all leased federal airports, excluding Mount Isa and Tennant Creek, are required to develop and submit Major Development Plans (MDP) for airport developments if they exceed the monetary threshold of $25million. An increase to $35million would enable airport property developers to undertake larger non-aviation projects without Ministerial or Departmental oversight.

“AOPA Australia would like to sincerely thank the Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, and the Department of Infrastructure, on this important announcement, it is an important win for common-sense and for aviation, “ Benjamin Morgan, Chief Executive AOPA Australia.

“The proposal to increase the monetary value from $25 to $35million, would have served to lower essential oversight, opening up the system to further gaming by privatised airport leaseholder operators,

“It’s a fact that privatised airports are being run by insatiable property developers who are prioritising non-aviation expansion, at the expense and to the detriment of the aviation infrastructure and stakeholder access,

“Small, medium and large aviation businesses alike, including the airlines themselves, have been thrust into a situation where they are being priced out of airports, and forced to accept aviation property leases and access/user charges that are unsustainable.

“National superannuation funds and billion-dollar property development corporations do not invest in small to medium sized general aviation. They invest in property development, and the recent sale of Jandakot Airport for $1billion underscores, that our national aviation industry is under attack,

“Without question, privatised airport leaseholders hold unique unregulated monopoly powers, that deny the aviation industry it’s right of access and threaten our nations aviation infrastructure.” he said.

Media contact:

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Chief Executive AOPA Australia
Mobile: 0415 577 724
Email: ben.morgan@aopa.com.au

STATEMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, 29^TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Good afternoon,

We write further to our email of 30 August 2021 about the monetary threshold amount (the threshold) for airport major development plans (MDPs).

Under the subsection 89(10) of the Airports Act 1996 (the Act), there is an opportunity to increase the threshold for MDPs before each third anniversary of the subsection commencing. The subsection commenced on 28 September 2018.

Recent economic analysis conducted by the Department, and consultation with airports and the aviation sector, indicated greater interest in broader reform to the MDP process and associated triggers due to complexities that warrant further consideration. These include:

reviewing the development ‘triggers’ that require a MDP, to ensure the triggers are pragmatic, appropriate and fit-for-purpose;
improving consultation arrangements, to better align with state and territory planning frameworks; and
streamlining Commonwealth consideration and approval processes, particularly for low-impact developments.

Taking all stakeholder feedback into consideration, the threshold will remain at $25 million in line with subsection 89(9) of the Act while the Department investigates opportunities to reform and streamline overarching MDP arrangements. This may include moving towards a performance-based approach, where the assessment and approval process is more directly linked to the expected impacts of particular developments.

The Department is currently reviewing the Airports Act 1996 and regulations, to cut red tape, streamline Commonwealth processes and modernise airport planning regulations. The Department looks forward to working closely with airports and the aviation sector in progressing these important reforms, and support the sector as Australia recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kind regards,

Aviation Reform section
aviationreform@infrastructure.gov.au
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601

Full article: https://aopa.com.au/plans-scrapped-no-increase-in-threshold-monetary-value-for-major-development-plans-at-privatised-airports/

Avalon Airport’s new onsite nursery

October 7, 2021October 7, 2021

Article supplied by Avalon Airport is developing an onsite nursery, with 4,500sqm now teeming with young trees.

Much has been made of the new check in space and processes that Avalon Airport has been innovating and upgrading across the Covid-19 period. New technology such as touchless kiosks, new auto bag drops and a state of the art CT scanner have been installed, creating a larger, safer space and a simpler, more seamless passenger experience.

What’s less known is that the airport has also been using the time to plan and now implement a new nursery in order to address both aesthetic and environmental needs.

The extensive airport entry and exit roads require trees. As well as beautification, lining the roads with trees provides a wind buffer for passengers, protects against soil erosion, and creates a clear way-finding system.

Installing fully grown trees can be a risky and costly exercise, particularly if the trees don’t take once they’ve been planted.

Creating a nursery addresses both issues simultaneously.

Saplings are of course far cheaper than full grown trees, an important consideration when requiring over 2,000 of them.

They are also more likely to thrive if established within their final environment, becoming accustomed to the exposure instead of being shocked by it if imported fully grown.

And if one or more of the trees doesn’t survive as a young plant then replacement is more cost effective.

Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings says, “We’re pleased to be establishing such a large area for Avalon Airport Nursery. We have a history of planting trees onsite, having planted around 200,000 in and around the airport since 2000 as part of Avalon Landcare. It’s great to be doing so again in such a prominent spot with the purpose of using the trees. We can’t wait for them to develop and be replanted in their final positions around the airport.”

Avalon Airport Nursery covers some 4,500sqm and contains around 2,600 plants. The bare rooted pot stock is a mix of native and international trees that thrive in the climate, and includes wattles, kurrajong trees, tea trees and banksias as well as the brilliant maidenhair and the beloved blue jacaranda.

Once the trees are more established the airport plans to convert space in the vicinity into a staff garden and picnic area, and eventually hopes to wholesale.