{"id":"C1922L00160","name":"Air Force Regulations 1922","slug":"air-force-regulations-1922","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"160 of 1922","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":20947,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1922L00160-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Air Force Regulations 1922","content":"STATUTORY RULES.\n\n1922\\. No. 160.\n\nREGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918 AND THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910-1918.\n\nI, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, in pursuance of the powers conferred on me by the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918 and all other powers me thereunto enabling, hereby make the following Regulations which shall be deemed to have come into force on the 31st March, 1921, with the exception of regulation 4 which shall be deemed to have come into force on the 12th November, 1920.\n\nDated this eighteenth day of October, 1922.\n\nFORSTER,\n\nGovernor-General.\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command,\n\nW. MASSY GREENE,\n\nMinister of State for Defence.\n\nAir Force Regulations.\n\nShort title.\n\n1. These Regulations may be cited as the Air Force Regulations 1922.\n\nDefinition.\n\n2\\. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention, appears—\n\n“Airman” includes a non-commissioned officer but does not include an officer;\n\n“Australian Military Regulations 1916” means the Regulations made by Statutory Rules 1916, No. 166, as amended from time to time;\n\n“The Air Board” means the Air Board constituted under the Air Board Regulations (Statutory Rules 1920, No. 223) and any regulations amending or in substitution for them and for the time being in force.\n\n“The Air Force” means the Royal Australian Air Force constituted under the Defence Act 1903-1918 by Orders of the Governor-General dated the twenty-fourth day of March, 1921, and the thirteenth day of August, 1921, and published in the Gazette on the thirty-first day of March, 1921, and the eighteenth day of August, 1921, respectively.\n\nApplication of Australian Military Regs. to Air Force.\n\n3\\. Subject to these Regulations, the Australian Military Regulations 1916 shall apply to the Air Force.\n\nExercise of powers.\n\n4\\. In the application of the Australian Military Regulations 1916 to the Air Force all powers, except those relating to courts martial, which may be exercised by the Military Board, may be exercised by the Air Board, and all powers, except those relating to courts martial, which may be exercised by a member of the Military Board or by a District Commandant or a Commander of a formation, may be exercised by the member of the Air Board to whom those powers are delegated by the Air Board.\n\n \n\nMeaning of terms in Australian Military Regulations when applied to Air Force.\n\n5\\. In the application of the Australian Military Regulations to the Air Force the ranks, terms and expressions set out in the First Column hereunder shall be deemed to include respectively the ranks, terms and expressions set out opposite them in the Second Column hereunder.\n\n```html\n

First Column.

Second Column.

Soldier......................................

..

Airman

Regiment or Corps..............................

..

Unit

Head-Quarters.................................

\"\"

Air Force Head-Quarters

Central Administration...........................

Permanent Forces...............................

..

Permanent Air Force

Military.....................................

..

Air Force

\"\"

Air Board Weekly Orders

Military Orders................................

Air Force Head-Quarters

Routine Orders

Field Officer..................................

..

Group Captain, Wing

Commander and Squadron

Leader

Subaltern....................................

..

Flying Officer and Pilot Officer

Medical Officer in charge of troops...................

\"\"

Principal Medical Officer..........................

Senior Medical Officer

Deputy Director of Medical services...................

Royal Australian Air Force

\n```\n\nCertain portions of Australian Military Regulations not to apply to Air Force.\n\n6\\. The following Regulations and Divisions of the Australian Military Regulations 1916 shall not apply to the Air Force:—\n\n(a) Regulations 31, 152, 162, 195 and 196.\n\n(b) Divisions 1 to 4 inclusive and Division 6a of Part X., with the exception of regulations 310, 317, 319, 320, 321, 329, 330, 331, 332, 335, 336, 338 (i), 340, 352, 353, 357, 358, 361, 362 and 363; and\n\n(c) Regulations 398, 399, 400, 408, 415.\n\nRanks in Air Force\n\nCf. A. M. R 31\n\n7. The ranks of officers in the Royal Australian Air Force shall be as set out in the first column of the table hereunder and in the application of the Australian Military Regulations 1916 to the Air Force the ranks set forth in the second column of the following table shall be deemed to include respectively the ranks set forth opposite them in the first column of the table:\n\nProvided that nothing in this regulation shall confer on any officer of the Military Forces who is not attached or lent to or seconded for service with the Air Force any power of command in the Royal Australian Air Force or on any officer of the Air Force when not attached or lent to or seconded for service with the Military Forces any power of command in the Military Forces:—\n\n| First Column. | Second Column. |\n| ------------------ | ------------------ |\n| Marshal of the Air | Field Marshal |\n| Air Chief Marshal | General |\n| Air Marshal | Lieutenant-General |\n| Air Vice Marshal | Major-General |\n| Air Commander | Brigadier-General |\n| Group Captain | Colonel |\n| Wing Commander | Lieutenant-Colonel |\n| Squadron Leader | Major |\n| Flight Lieutenant | Captain |\n| Flying Officer | Lieutenant |\n| Pilot Officer | Second Lieutenant |\n\n \n\nAge for retirement\n\nCf. A.M.R. 152.\n\n8. (1) Officers and airmen of the Air Force shall be retired at the ages set forth opposite the respective ranks in the following tables, but in special cases of an exceptional nature the Governor-General may extend the prescribed age for retirement:—\n\n(a) Officers—\n\n```html\n

Substantive Ranks.

General List.

Quartermaster’s List.

Group Captain.........................

56 years

Wing Commander.......................

48

,,

56 years

Squadron Leader........................

45

,,

55

,,

Flight Lieutenant.......................

40

,,

50

,,

Flying Officer.........................

40

,,

48

,,

Pilot Officer...........................

40

,,

48

,,

\n```\n\n(b) Airmen—\n\n```html\n

Rank.

Age for Retirement.

Warrant Officer........................

60 years

Non-commissioned Officer.................

60 „

Other Airmen.........................

55 „

\n```\n\n(2) In time of war the ages for retirement may be extended for an additional period not exceeding the duration of the war and a period of three months thereafter.\n\nIn time of war officers of Reserve and Retired Lists may be transferred to Active List.\n\nCf. A.M.R. 153.\n\n9\\. In time of war officers of the Reserve and Retired Lists may be transferred or appointed to the Active List notwithstanding that their ages exceed those prescribed in the last preceding regulation, and such officers may continue to serve on the Active List for the duration of the war and a period not exceeding three months thereafter.\n\nRanks and precedence.\n\n10. The ranks and order of precedence of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Air Force shall be as follows:—\n\nWarrant Officer, Class 1.\n\nSergeant Major, Class I.\n\nWarrant Officer, Class 2.\n\nSergeant Major, Class 2.\n\nNon-Commissioned Officers.\n\nFlight Sergeant.\n\nSergeant.\n\nCorporal.\n\nAirmen in the Ranks.\n\nLeading Aircraftman.\n\nAircraftman, 1st Class.\n\nAircraftman, 2nd Class.\n\n(2) Classification for the purposes of pay shall not affect the above classification for purposes of command and precedence.\n\nPeriod of service.\n\n11. Men approved for voluntary enlistment shall engage to serve—\n\n(a) In the Permanent Air Force—\n\nFor a period of six years, and subject to the prescribed conditions with regard to forfeiture of service.\n\n(b) In the Citizen Air Force—\n\nFor a period of four years.\n\nb) In the Air Force Reserve—\n\nFor a period of four years.\n\nRe-engagement.\n\nCf. A.M.R. 325.\n\n12\\. Any voluntarily enlisted airman of the Permanent Air Force may, within three months of the completion of the period of service for which he was enlisted and subject to the approval of the Commanding Officer, be re-engaged for a further period of six years provided that he is medically fit.\n\nDischarge.\n\nPermanent Air Force.\n\nCf. A.M.R. 327.\n\n13. (1) No airmen in the Permanent Air Force shall be entitled to be discharged until the expiration of his term of service, but at any time within three months after enlistment he may, subject to the approval of the Air Board and his Commanding Officer, obtain his discharge “Free”; and at subsequent periods after the expiration of one month’s notice in writing to his Commanding Officer he may, subject to the approval of the Air Board and of his Commanding Officer, purchase his discharge at the rate set forth below:—\n\nUnder one year’s service .. .. £30\n\nOver one year and under two years’ service £24\n\nOver two years and under three years’ service £18\n\nOver three years and under four years’ service £12\n\nOver four years and under five years’ service £6\n\nOver five years and under six years’ service £4\n\nProvided that the amount of purchase money (but not including the unexpired value of the free issue of uniform and kit) may, for special reasons, be waived or reduced at the discretion of the Air Board.\n\n(2) To the sums mentioned in the last preceding sub-regulation shall be added the unexpired value of the airman’s free issue of uniform and kit.\n\n(3) Except in time of war a re-engaged airman of the Permanent Air Force shall be entitled, upon the expiration of one month’s notice given in writing to his Commanding Officer, to be granted a free discharge before the expiration of the period of service for which he has re-engaged, subject to the payment of the unexpired value of his free issue of uniform and kit.\n\n(4) In special cases, on the recommendation of the Commanding Officer, the period of one month’s notice of intention to claim discharge may be either waived or reduced.\n\nAuthorising and confirming officer.\n\nCf. A.M.R. 355.\n\n14\\. In the case of the Permanent Air Force the competent authority to authorize a discharge shall be the Air Board or an officer authorized in that behalf by the Air Board and the competent officer to confirm a discharge shall be the airman’s Commanding Officer.\n\nLeave of absence.\n\nCf. A.M.R. 398.\n\n15. (1) Every member of the Permanent Air Force may, after completion of twelve months’ service therein, be granted in each financial year, leave of absence not exceeding in the whole the number of days specified in sub-regulation (3) of this regulation provided that his services can be spared and that his Commanding Officer approves.\n\n(2) The Air Board may, when the circumstances warrant such action, grant proportionate leave not in excess of eighteen days at any time prior to the completion of twelve months’ service.\n\n \n\n(3) The total period of leave (exclusive of Sundays and holidays) that may be granted in any year shall be as follows:—\n\n(a) To officers of the General List regularly employed on flying duties and to airmen borne on the authorized establishment for service as crews in aircraft­30 days;\n\n(b) To other officers on the General List not regularly employed on flying duties but who have completed the prescribed number of flying hours during the preceding financial year­24 days;\n\n(c) To other members of the Air Force­18 days.\n\nApplications for leave—how dealt with.\n\n16. (1) Applications by officers for leave of absence shall be submitted on the authorized form to Air Force Head-Quarters through the applicant’s Commanding Officer, and shall be dealt with by the Officer authorized to approve the granting of leave, and the applicant notified in due course through his Commanding Officer of the decision.\n\n(2) Applications by other ranks for leave shall be submitted on the authorized form to the applicant’s Commanding Officer who shall deal with the applications.\n\n(3) A record of all leave granted shall be kept in the authorized records.\n\nCommanding Officer may grant leave to officers in cases of emergency.\n\n17. (1) In cases of emergency the Commanding Officer of the unit may, at his discretion, grant leave to officers pending approval from Air Force Head-Quarters.\n\n(2) In such cases the application shall be forwarded in the ordinary way with a statement of the circumstances of the case and a note to the effect that leave has been granted pending approval from Air Force Head-Quarters.\n\nLeave not taken in year in which it accrues to lapse.\n\nCf. A.M.R. 399.\n\n18. Leave not taken during the year in which it accrues shall lapse. Provided that if it is found impracticable to grant the leave due in any year, or if for any sufficient reason leave has not been during the year in which it accrued the Air Board may permit the leave to be taken in the following year.\n\nAides-de-Camp to the Governor-General.\n\n19. (1) Officers of the Air Force, not exceeding two in number, may be appointed as Aides-de-Camp to the Governor-General for gallantry and distinguished service in the field or for meritorious service in the interests of the Commonwealth.\n\n(2) Officers to be eligible for the above distinction, must, during their tenure of office, be on the Active List and of permanent substantive rank not below that of Squadron Leader nor higher than that of Group Captain.\n\n(3) Appointments will be for three years, but in exceptional circumstances officers may be reappointed for an additional term of two years.\n\n(4) Aides-de-Camp to the Governor-General will wear, on the right shoulder, when on duty, a special gold cord aiguillette of a somewhat similar design to that worn by Aides-de-Camp to the Sovereign.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2507},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This represents the original 1922 regulations establishing the RAAF framework. The scope aligns with the original intent to create a regulatory structure for the newly formed Air Force by adapting existing Military Regulations rather than creating an entirely independent legislative scheme."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-referencing to the Australian Military Regulations 1916, which are incorporated by reference with modifications rather than restated","Multiple translation tables mapping Army ranks and terms to Air Force equivalents (containing over 15 specific rank correlations)","Conditional logic distinguishing between peacetime and wartime service (especially regarding retirement ages and discharge rights)","Nested exceptions in Regulation 6 listing specific Military Regulations and entire Divisions that do NOT apply to the Air Force","Three-tier retirement age system based on rank, employment category (General List vs Quartermaster's List), and service status","Delegation chains for decision-making requiring approval from Air Board, Commanding Officers, or Governor-General depending on the action"],"plain_english_summary":"The 1922 regulation set out the rulebook for Australia’s permanent Royal Australian Air Force by adapting existing Army regulations for air service use. It created an air-specific hierarchy, fixed terms and conditions of service (including enlistment lengths, leave and exit/recall rules), and allowed wartime extensions and recalls.\n\nIt affected all RAAF personnel and mattered because it gave the new air force immediate legal structure, discipline and administrative standards tailored to aviation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/air-force-regulations-1922","history":"/api/acts/air-force-regulations-1922/history","analysis":"/api/acts/air-force-regulations-1922/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/air-force-regulations-1922/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/air-force-regulations-1922/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/air-force-regulations-1922/documents"}}