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The CASA Briefing – May 2025
Have your say on guidance for radiotelephony procedures
Article supplied by CASA
We’re seeking feedback on our draft advisory circular (AC) on radiotelephony procedures.
Clear, concise and accurate radio communications is an essential component of aviation safety. While it is not practicable to detail phraseology examples suitable for every situation, the use of standard phrases when transmitting a message reduces the possibility of ambiguity.
The purpose of our draft AC is to provide a comprehensive resource of standardised and best practice radiotelephony procedures to help ensure uniformity in radiotelephony communications.
This is the first AC relating to radiotelephony procedures, so we are seeking feedback as to whether the content provides adequate guidance on:
- how to provide clear, concise and accurate radiotelephony communications
- the use of standard phrases in radiotelephony communications.
Consultation closes on 11 February 2025.
October 2024 Regulatory wrap-up
Article supplied by CASA
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Focus on Flight Ops
Article supplied by CASA.
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Preventing VFR into IMC
Article supplied by CASA. We’ve compiled some useful resources to help visual flight rules (VFR) pilots avoid instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Flying VFR into IMC is one of the top causes of aviation accidents around the world. Australia is no exception. The often fatal outcomes of these accidents are even more tragic because they are avoidable.
The key to prevention is thorough pre-flight planning and a personal minimums checklist. This minimises poor or incorrect decision-making caused by the stress of flying into marginal weather.
Common factors
Most inadvertent VFR flights into IMC have common factors:
- > rushed and incomplete pre-flight planning
- > misinterpreting/underestimating of threats associated with weather forecasts
- > overconfidence in adverse conditions
- > overestimating cloud heights and visibility
- > using phrases like “scud running”, “she’ll be right, I’ve done this in worse conditions” and “we’re close to our destination”.
- > pressure from passengers to go
- > pressure from yourself to go.
All the resources listed below are available on the website. You can also visit the weather and forecasting page of the Pilot safety hub.
Resources
Videos
- AvSafety investigation – Deteriorating weather
- 178 seconds to live video – updated (fixed wing)
- 56 seconds to live video (helicopters)
- Explaining the rules video – VMC criteria for fixed wing
- Explaining the rules video – VMC criteria for helicopters
Articles
- VFR into IMC
- I’m good, just ask me: the killer factor in weather crashes
- Caught in the clouds
- I’m good, just ask me: the killer factor in weather crashes
- Change of mind led to deadly flight
Audios
Online store
Maintenance Month takes flight
Get ready for the month of May to turn purple as we’re shining a light on all thing’s maintenance engineering, during our inaugural Maintenance Month.
We’re highlighting the pivotal role of aircraft maintenance engineers while also inspiring individuals to explore career opportunities as aircraft mechanics.
Throughout May, our communication channels will be drenched in purple as we host a series of engaging online webinars featuring our very own engineer experts.
Additionally, we are excited to announce an exclusive social media competition for aircraft maintenance engineers and apprentices, with an opportunity to win one of three $500 Snap-on Tools voucher.
Furthermore, Maintenance Month will serve as a showcase of the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available within the field of aircraft maintenance.
From highlighting the technical prowess required to ensuring aircraft safety to emphasising the meticulous attention to detail inherent in every aspect of maintenance work, this initiative aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the crucial work carried out by aircraft maintenance professionals.
Be sure to check out our communication and social media channels and spread the word the word to you friends, colleagues and stakeholders.
Snap-on Tools social media competition
Calling all aircraft apprentices and aircraft maintenance engineers — we’ve got a competition exclusively for you!
Is your toolbox looking a little bare?
This is your opportunity to give it a boost with top-notch equipment, with the chance to win 1 of 3 $500 Snap-on Tools vouchers!
How to enter
To enter:
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
- Subscribe to our aircraft maintenance engineer mailing list.
- Tag a fellow engineer who should also participate!
Entries close 4pm Friday 24 May.Terms and conditions
Winners will be randomly selected.
One entry per person.
You must have completed all 3 items under ‘How to enter’. You must also provide proof of your occupation as either one of the following:
- an aircraft apprentice
- an aircraft trade assistant
- unlicensed aircraft maintenance engineer.
Open to Australian residents only.
This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.
We’ll notify the winners via email and how to claim their voucher.
Plan to improve colour vision deficiency policy for pilots
Article supplied by CASA Work is underway to settle and formalise colour vision testing options for pilots who are not able to pass clinical colour vision tests.
Our aim is to have new testing options available for pilots by the end of April that are formally prescribed through a legislative instrument. The tests will recognise that many pilots with a colour vision deficiency can demonstrate they are able to operate safely and competently without any medical or operational restrictions.
Consultation is currently underway through our Aviation Safety Advisory Panel, and public consultation on the proposed testing options is expected before the end of March.
The options will include an operational test designed to demonstrate a pilot’s ability to fly an aircraft safely through a robust and standardised operational test.
Interim measures
Pilots who are unable to pass the prescribed Ishihara or Farnsworth colour vision clinical tests and are seeking to renew their medical certificate are encouraged to call our Aviation Medicine team on 131 757 to discuss their individual circumstances.
We will work hard to ensure this interim period is as least disruptive as possible, whilst satisfying current safety and regulatory requirements.
Improvements to Ballina airspace to come into effect in 2025
Article supplied by CASA
Airspace around Ballina Airport will be controlled by air traffic controllers from 2025 as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices Australia move to develop services to accommodate the airport’s growth.
The announcement follows an airspace review conducted in 2022 by CASA which included extensive feedback from industry and subsequent discussions with Airservices on timing for the establishment of controlled airspace and air traffic services.
CASA has issued a direction to establish controlled airspace from 2025 and will work closely with Airservices to support airspace design.
The first phase will see the airspace reclassified and an approach control service provided by Airservices by 12 June 2025.
The second phase will see the establishment of a new aerodrome control service by Airservices no later than 27 November 2025.
The establishment of enhanced air traffic services comes on the back of sustained growth in air traffic in the region and is part of a graduated approach to safely accommodate further growth.
‘When we review airspace it’s important that we look not only at what is happening today, but also to look at growth trends in recent years and what operators are predicting into the future,’ CASA Branch Manager Air Navigation, Airspace and Aerodromes Adrian Slootjes said.
‘We consider a range of data and information, look at incidents and occurrences and take a risk-based approach to our recommendations.
‘While there have been a range of incremental changes and enhancements in aviation safety in the region, we consider that these additional changes are required to ensure the safety of passenger transport operations and all airspace users in and around Ballina.’
Improvements already made around Ballina include changes to radio frequencies used by pilots to reduce congestion, provision of a Surveillance Flight Information Service (SFIS) to provide pilots with information about other aircraft in the area, and the introduction of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast ground station to allow appropriately equipped aircraft to be more easily detected by air traffic control.
Work on an Airspace Change Proposal outlining details of the new service and aimed at ensuring it meets necessary requirements will continue throughout 2024.
The timing also allows CASA and Airservices to engage with aviation and community stakeholders, including the sports and recreational aviation community, about safely accessing controlled airspace.
Maintenance Matters
| Article supplied by CASA Welcome to the October edition of Maintenance matters – a newsletter to keep you up-to-date with the rules and safety topics for your sector. The consultation period on our proposed modular licensing structure is now closed. We look at what’s next. We have made things easier for maintenance organinsations to renew their certificates online. We provide you with an update on the progress made with the proposed maintenance rules for general aviation. | In this issue Industry feedback will help fine tune amendments to the MOS How to interpret your LAME licence – Category C Renew your Part 145 certificate faster online General aviation maintenance rules – we are making progress Safety Management Systems Link your ARN to your organisation |
| Industry feedback will help fine tune amendments to the MOS. Thank you for taking the time to submit feedback on our proposed modular licensing structure. It will help us make any final changes to the Part 66 Manual of Standards and the associated implementation arrangements. Read more |
| How to interpret your LAME licence – Category CY ou are now the holder of a Category C licence. This licence category can only be used for the issue of certificate of release of service (CRS) for large aircraft. As the holder of this Category C licence, you can issue a CRS following base maintenance on aircraft carried out by a Part 145 approved maintenance organisation. This privilege applies to the aircraft in its entirety. A Category C licence can be endorsed with specific aircraft type ratings. Read Part 2 (3.6) of AC 66-08 |
| Renew your Part 145 certificate faster online. Did you know you can renew your Part 145 maintenance organisation certificate, without any changes, using myCASA instead of downloading and completing a manual form? We have moved renewals for more certificates into myCASA to make it easier for you to interact with us online. If you are an accountable manager and your individual ARN is linked to your organisation’s ARN, you will now see a Certificates section containing any certificates you are authorised to manage when you login into myCASA. You can renew these certificates online when they are due in just a few clicks. If you need to make any changes to your Part 145 certificate, you’ll need to complete and submit the traditional form. Sign in to myCASA |
| General aviation maintenance rules – we are making progressAs part of our General Aviation Workplan, we committed to establish new Part 43 maintenance regulations specifically for general aviation. We’ve consulted extensively and have taken industry feedback, including feedback received through the Technical Working Group and Aviation Safety Advisory Panel on board. Read more |
 Safety Management SystemsSafety management is vital to keeping our skies safe. It involves managing your business activities and preventing accidents.Need to set one up or just reinforce that you are doing the right thing? We have the information you need on:what you should includehow to set it upwhat you need to educate your staff. Find out more | Link your ARN to your organisationHaving an organisational ARN means more than one person can interact with us on behalf of your company. Read more about organisational ARNs. To link your individual ARN to your organisational ARN, login to myCASA, click Organisation Aviation Reference Number and follow the prompts. You will need to enter a code that is emailed to the organisation. You must be an accountable manager to interact with us on behalf of an organisation. Read more about linking your ARN  |
| And the answer is!In the September edition we asked which Part 66 licence can certify an avionics system requiring only a simple test to prove its serviceability? While 66% of our readers told us the answer was a Category B1 licence holder, it was brought to our attention that our question may not have been clear enough for some. We acknowledge the question was a little ambiguous. Read more |
| Test your knowledge! |
Pilot Safety Hub
Article supplied by CASA
Welcome to the September edition of the Pilot safety hub newsletter focusing on non-controlled aerodromes.In this edition:watch a close call brought to life in our first animated crash comicsee how the right-of-way rules worklearn how to avoid loss of control accidentsdiscover the benefits of ADS-Bexplore new resources from around the worldfind out about a proposed new medical for private pilots.And don’t miss next month’s newsletter, when we turn our attention to weather and forecasting. Crash comic close call. Like your safety messages with a bit of colour and movement? Try our crash comic animation. Crash comics are a popular part of our Flight Safety Australia magazine – taking your stories of near disaster and revealing the safety lessons in a new way. Now, we’ve animated one of those comics. It’s a timely lesson on the importance of good radio call procedures. WATCH Explaining the right-of-way rulesAre you sure you know the right-of-way rules of the air?Get a fresh refresher with our animated explanation – straight out of the Visual Flight Rules Guide or VFRG.WATCH  Loss of control lessonsLoss of control is the most significant cause of serious accidents for sports and recreational pilots.Watch a 3-part video series from Recreational Aviation Australia exploring the primary causes, contributing factors and how to avoid these types of accidents.WATCH New resources from around the worldListen and watch the latest additons to the international section of the pilot safety hub:US video examining a fatal crash in high-density altitude conditionsNew Zealand podcast about poor radio callsCanadian video series on winter flying.EXPLORE |
| ADS-B benefitsWe’ve updated our information about automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) – to help you better understand the benefits and how it works. And don’t forget the government is providing a 50% rebate of the costs of purchase, and if needed, installation of eligible devices. FIND OUT MORE  New aviation medical certificateCASA Avmed is planning a Class 5 medical certificate for private operations. Eligible pilots will have the freedom to go flying without needing to be signed off by a doctor or go through the CASA Avmed process.For higher risk flying or people with more complicated diseases there will still be an extra layer of expert checks.We’ll soon be consulting on the proposed policy. Subscribe to our Consultation and rule making mailing list to have your say on how the Class 5 self-declaration will look. |