Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has finalized new crew fatigue rules that apply to holders of commercial air operator certificates (AOCs), including charter, on-demand air taxis, and Part 141 flight schools. The rules go into effect September 2 and provide for up to a one-year phased-in transition period for non-airline AOCs.
The rules require operators to follow prescribed limits within the regulation or develop their own fatigue risk management system (FRMS) that subsequently must be approved by CASA. In either case, operators must submit compliance transition plans. The rules do not apply to non-CASA-certified commercial operators.
Airlines must transition to the new rules no later than July 1, 2020, regardless of whether they select the prescribed limits or apply for FRMS approval. All other AOC holders and Part 141 operators must transition to the regulatory limits by June 30, 2020, or submit an FRMS application no later than that date. Charter, air taxi and Part 141 operators that apply for an FRMS must be operating under a trial FRMS implementation approval (or revert to prescriptive limits) no later than Sept. 30, 2020. The rules will be effective for them starting Oct. 1, 2020.
The new regulation is based on the recommendations of an “expert review panel and extensive industry consultation and involvement, including CASA’s Aviation Safety Advisory Panel and an industry technical working group,” CASA said. “The rules seek to align Australia with international standards, improve aviation safety, address known risks and maintain our reputation for safety in aviation.”