{"id":"F2026L00297","name":"CASA 06/26 — Foreign Registered Aircraft in Australian Territory (Radio Altimeters) Direction 2026","slug":"casa-06-26-foreign-registered-aircraft-in-australian-territory-radio-altimeters-direction-2026","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":107841,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2026L00297-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"CASA 06/26 — Foreign Registered Aircraft in Australian Territory (Radio Altimeters) Direction 2026","content":"Instrument number CASA 06/26\n\nI, PHILIPPA JILLIAN SPENCE, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, make this instrument under regulation 11.245 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.\n\n\\[Signed P. Spence\\]\n\nPip Spence  \nDirector of Aviation Safety\n\n10 March 2026\n\nCASA 06/26 — Foreign Registered Aircraft in Australian Territory (Radio Altimeters) Direction 2026\n\n1 Name\n\nThis instrument is CASA 06/26 — Foreign Registered Aircraft in Australian Territory (Radio Altimeters) Direction 2026.\n\n> Note In this instrument, certain terms and expressions have the same meaning as they have in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the regulations. These include aerodrome, AOC, Australian territory, foreign air transport AOC, foreign registered aircraft, low-visibility approach, New Zealand AOC with ANZA privileges and operator, of an aircraft.\n\n2 Duration\n\nThis instrument:\n\n(a) commences on 1 April 2026; and\n\n(b) is repealed at the end of 31 March 2029.\n\n> Note For regulation 11.250 of CASR, the directions issued in this instrument cease to be in force at the end of 31 March 2029.\n\n3 Application\n\nThis instrument applies to the operator of an aircraft if the aircraft is:\n\n1.  a foreign registered aircraft that is operating in Australian territory under a foreign air transport AOC; or\n\n(b) a foreign registered aircraft that is operating in Australian territory under a New Zealand AOC with ANZA privileges that is in force for Australia.\n\n4 Directions — Radio altimeters\n\n(1) Subject to subsection (3), the operator of the aircraft must ensure that each radio altimeter fitted to an aeroplane used for the conduct of a low-visibility approach in Australian territory complies with the requirements for tolerance to radio frequency interference specified for a “radio altimeter tolerant airplane” in FAA Airworthiness Directive AD 2023-10-02 (FAA AD 2023-10-02) as existing on 26 May 2023.\n\n> Note 1 In FAA AD 2023-10-02, a “radio altimeter tolerant airplane” is defined for the purposes of the AD as “one for which the radio altimeter, as installed, demonstrates the tolerances specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (ii) of this AD, using a method approved by the FAA.”.\n\n> Note 2 26 May 2023 is the date FAA AD 2023-10-02 was published in the Federal Register of the United States Government.\n\n(2) Subject to subsection (3), the operator of the aircraft must ensure that each radio altimeter fitted to a rotorcraft used for the conduct of a low-visibility approach in Australian territory complies with the requirements for tolerance to radio frequency interference specified for a “radio altimeter tolerant rotorcraft” in FAA Airworthiness Directive AD 2023-11-07 (FAA AD 2023-11-07) as existing on 22 June 2023.\n\n> Note 1 In FAA AD 2023-11-07, a “radio altimeter tolerant rotorcraft” is defined for the purposes of the AD as “one for which the radio altimeter, as installed, demonstrates the tolerances specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (ii) of this AD, using a method approved by the FAA.”.\n\n> Note 2 22 June 2023 is the date FAA AD 2023-11-07 was published in the Federal Register of the United States Government.\n\n(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to the operator of an aircraft used for the conduct of a low-visibility approach at an aerodrome that is included in a written list of aerodromes, as the list exists from time to time, that is:\n\n(a) maintained by CASA for the purposes of this instrument; and\n\n(b) published on the CASA website.\n\n> Note As at commencement of this instrument, the list is available on CASA’s website at\n\n> Note: <https://www.casa.gov.au/operations-safety-and-travel/safety-advice/5g-and-aviation-safety>\n\n(4) Subsection (3) is in force until the end of 31 March 2027.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument maintains its original narrow scope. It targets a specific technical safety issue (5G interference with radio altimeters) for a specific subset of aircraft (foreign-registered) conducting specific operations (low-visibility approaches). The temporary exemption for listed aerodromes is a transitional measure within the original scope, not an expansion of purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument (4 sections plus notes)","Only 7 defined terms incorporated by reference from parent legislation","Two simple conditional exemptions in subsection (3) and (4)","Heavy reliance on external documents (two FAA Airworthiness Directives) which are not reproduced in the instrument","Time-limited operation with sunset clause (31 March 2029)","Reference to a dynamic list maintained on CASA website (subsection 3(b))","No nested exceptions or complex logical structures"],"plain_english_summary":"This Direction requires foreign airlines operating in Australia to fit radio altimeters that meet specified FAA airworthiness directives (for aeroplanes and helicopters) before performing low-visibility landings, to guard against 5G interference. It applies to non‑Australian carriers (including NZ ANZA operators) and affects aircraft conducting low-visibility approaches.\n\nA temporary exemption lets foreign aircraft skip upgrades at CASA‑listed airports until 31 March 2027. The rule takes effect 1 April 2026 and expires 31 March 2029."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument sets out a new, time‑limited obligation for foreign‑registered aircraft; the text does not reference earlier instruments or state that it changes prior scope. No information in the source indicates a modification of earlier scope or intent."},"complexity_factors":["External technical cross-references: the rule imports specific FAA airworthiness directives (FAA AD 2023-10-02 and FAA AD 2023-11-07) by reference (s4(1)–(2)) rather than spelling out technical tolerances directly.","Technical compliance burden: requirement is that each radio altimeter demonstrate tolerance to radio‑frequency interference — a measurement, testing or modification task involving technical certifiers and equipment (s4(1)–(2); AD definition notes).","Scope limited to foreign operators: applies only to foreign registered aircraft operating under a foreign air transport AOC or NZ AOC with ANZA privileges (s3), creating cross‑jurisdictional regulatory effects.","Differentiated requirements: separate ADs and tolerances for aeroplanes and rotorcraft add operational and compliance complexity (s4(1) vs s4(2)).","Temporal layers: the instrument has an overall expiry (s2) and a shorter exemption window for listed aerodromes (s4(3)–(4)), requiring timeline tracking for compliance obligations.","Administrative discretion and dynamic scope: CASA maintains and publishes the list of exempt aerodromes (s4(3)(a)–(b)), so applicability can change without amending the instrument.","Dependence on other instruments and definitions: the instrument relies on defined terms from the Civil Aviation Act and CASR (note after s1), increasing legal interpretation work.","Enforcement and implementation gaps: the instrument mandates operator action but does not detail enforcement mechanisms, approvals or transitional arrangements within the text (no enforcement provisions)."],"plain_english_summary":"This direction requires operators of foreign‑registered aircraft (including New Zealand ANZA AOC holders) to ensure radio altimeters used for low‑visibility approaches in Australian territory meet the radio‑frequency interference tolerance standards set out in two FAA airworthiness directives published in mid‑2023. It applies from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.\n\nOperators bear costs for testing, modification or operational restrictions. CASA publishes a list of temporarily exempt aerodromes (exemptions end 31 March 2027) and therefore decides where the requirement applies."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/casa-06-26-foreign-registered-aircraft-in-australian-territory-radio-altimeters-direction-2026","history":"/api/acts/casa-06-26-foreign-registered-aircraft-in-australian-territory-radio-altimeters-direction-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/casa-06-26-foreign-registered-aircraft-in-australian-territory-radio-altimeters-direction-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/casa-06-26-foreign-registered-aircraft-in-australian-territory-radio-altimeters-direction-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/casa-06-26-foreign-registered-aircraft-in-australian-territory-radio-altimeters-direction-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/casa-06-26-foreign-registered-aircraft-in-australian-territory-radio-altimeters-direction-2026/documents"}}