{"id":"F2005B00646","name":"CASA 558/00 - Permission under subregulation 250(2)","slug":"casa-558-00-permission-under-subregulation-250-2","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32123,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B00646-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"CASA 558/00 - Permission under subregulation 250(2)","content":"INSTRUMENT NUMBER: CASA 558/00\n\nCIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS 1988\n\nAUTHORITY UNDER REGULATION 151\n\nPERMISSION UNDER SUBREGULATION 250 (2)\n\nI, MICHAEL JOHN SMITH, Acting Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA:\n\n(a) revoke instrument numbered CASA 931/99; and\n\n(b) under regulation 151 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (the Regulations), authorise any helicopter operated by an AOC holder mentioned in Schedule 1 (an approved operator) to pick up persons during any flight carried out for the operational training of members of the approved operator’s rescue teams in winching and/or rappelling, but to the extent only that the helicopter is not authorised to do so under section 29.11 of the Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs); and\n\n(c) under subregulation 250 (2) of the Regulations, give permission for persons to be carried on a static line or flexible ladder attached to any helicopter operated by an approved operator during any flight carried out for the operational training of members of the approved operator’s rescue teams in winching and/or rappelling, but to the extent only that no such permission has been given under section 29.11 of the CAOs; and\n\n(d) under subregulation 250 (2) of the Regulations, give permission for persons to be carried on the undercarriage of any helicopter operated by an approved operator during:\n\n(i) any flight in the course of which winching and/or rapelling operations are carried out; or\n\n(ii) any flight carried out for the operational training of members of the approved operator’s rescue teams in winching and/or rappelling;\n\nbut to the extent only that no such permission has been given under section 29.11 of the CAOs; and\n\n(e) under regulation 151 and subregulation 250 (3) of the Regulations, specify that persons are to be so picked up and carried subject to the following conditions:\n\n(i) the provisions of section 29.11 (other than subsection 5) of the CAOs are to be complied with;\n\n(ii) the training of members of an approved operator’s rescue teams in winching and/or rappelling is to be carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of the approved operator’s operations manual as that manual has effect on the date of this instrument.\n\nIn this instrument:\n\nrappelling and winching each have the meaning that they have in section 29.11 of the CAOs.\n\nSCHEDULE 1\n\nAOC HOLDERS\n\nCareflight (Aviation Reference Number 405385)\n\nHunter Region SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service Ltd (Aviation Reference Number 086990)\n\nNSW Police Service (Aviation Reference Number 219412)\n\nSkyplan Australia Pty Limited (Aviation Reference Number 554908), trading as Rotor-Lift Helicopters\n\nSLSA Helicopters Pty Ltd (Aviation Reference Number 086957), trading as Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter\n\n\\[Signed Michael Smith\\]\n\nMichael John Smith\n\nActing Director of Aviation Safety\n\n28 December 2000","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument replaces and revokes CASA 931/99 and continues a narrowly focused permission regime: it authorises specified AOC holders to carry persons by particular means during winching/rappelling operations or associated training where CAO 29.11 does not already permit those actions. The instrument does not expand permissions beyond the same limited operational contexts nor broaden the class of affected operators beyond those listed in Schedule 1. Its scope remains operator‑specific and focused on the same kinds of carriage and training activities as governed by CAO 29.11, so there is no material enlargement of scope compared with its evident original purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (single-page style: preamble, operative clauses and a single schedule).","4 operative paragraphs with near-identical conditional phrasing (paras (b)–(e)).","Multiple external cross-references: regulation 151, subregulation 250(2) and (3) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, and section 29.11 of the Civil Aviation Orders.","Conditional limits: permissions apply only \"to the extent only that\" CAO 29.11 does not already provide the permission — adds a minor interpretive wrinkle.","Schedule listing five specific AOC holders — makes effect operator‑specific rather than general.","Revocation of an earlier instrument (CASA 931/99) introduces a historical link but not additional internal complexity.","Definitions (rappelling, winching) deferred to CAO 29.11 rather than defined in the instrument, increasing reliance on external material."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- Revokes the earlier instrument CASA 931/99 and replaces it with CASA 558/00 (opening line).\n- Authorises a short, specific list of Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders (see Schedule 1) to pick up and carry people from a helicopter during certain training and operational winching and rappelling flights, but only where the Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) do not already provide that authorisation (paragraphs (b)–(d)).\n- Gives permission, under subregulation 250(2) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, for persons to be carried on a static line or flexible ladder attached to those helicopters during training flights in winching and/or rappelling — again only where CAO 29.11 does not already give permission (paragraph (c)).\n- Gives permission, under subregulation 250(2), for persons to be carried on the undercarriage of those helicopters during flights involving winching/rappelling or training for such operations — subject to the same \"only if CAO 29.11 hasn't already given permission\" limitation (paragraph (d)).\n- Imposes conditions: operators must comply with section 29.11 of the CAOs (except subsection 5) and must carry out training in accordance with the operator's approved operations manual as it exists on the date of the instrument (paragraph (e)).\n- Defines \"rappelling\" and \"winching\" by reference to section 29.11 of the CAOs (final note).\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- The named AOC holders listed in Schedule 1 (specific rescue, police and aero-medical operators). Those operators receive permissions beyond default regulatory entitlements only to the limited extent the CAOs do not already permit the activity.\n- Individual crew, rescue team trainees and persons being picked up/carried by those helicopters during the described training or operations — because the instrument authorises specific carriage methods (static line, flexible ladder, undercarriage) for those persons when carried by the listed operators.\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the AOC holders' safety-management and training systems, because the instrument conditions operations on compliance with CAO 29.11 (except subsection 5) and the operator's operations manual.\n\n**Why it matters (official purpose and practical effect)**\n\n- Officially, the instrument gives those listed operators explicit regulatory permission to carry people by specific non‑conventional means (static lines, ladders, undercarriage) during winching/rappelling operations or associated operational training, where the CAOs do not already grant that permission (paras (b)–(d)).\n- Practically, it removes legal uncertainty for the listed operators about whether these carriage methods are permitted during the specified training/operations and binds them to specified safety controls: compliance with most of CAO 29.11 and with the operator's approved operations manual (para (e)).\n\n**Mechanisms, incentives and costs — plain facts, not judgement**\n\n- Who decides: CASA (the Acting Director of Aviation Safety) decides the permission, and operators decide how to implement training subject to their operations manuals and CAO compliance (instrument header; paras (b)–(e)).\n- Who pays: the listed AOC holders bear the direct costs of compliance — updating and following operations manuals, training, equipment, safety checks and any insurance/maintenance implications of carrying persons on ladders/static lines/undercarriage. CASA bears administrative cost of issuing and supervising the permission.\n- Behaviour changes required: listed operators may continue or commence training that involves live pick‑ups, rappelling or winching using the specified carriage methods, but they must do so only under the conditions (CAO 29.11 compliance, operations manual). Operators not on Schedule 1 are not given these permissions by this instrument.\n- Compliance burden: operators must ensure their operations manuals reflect the permitted activities and that training follows those manuals and CAO 29.11 (except subsection 5). That imposes internal documentation, training oversight, and possible equipment and maintenance standards tied to CAO 29.11.\n- Bureaucratic discretion and limits: the permission is narrow and operator‑specific; CASA exercised discretion to list particular AOC holders and limited the permissions to areas not covered by CAO 29.11. The instrument revokes a prior CASA instrument, which indicates administrative continuation or update of CASA’s delegated permissions.\n- Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs: benefits (regulatory clarity and authority to run the training described) are concentrated to the named operators and their trainees; costs (oversight by CASA, potential safety externalities) are borne by operators and, indirectly, by regulators and possibly third parties exposed to operational risk. The instrument itself does not create funding or fee changes.\n- Substitution and operational trade-offs: operators may prefer in-house live training using these permissions rather than alternative (e.g. purely simulated) training. That can reduce training friction but raises operational safety and equipment wear considerations that the operator must manage under its manual and CAO obligations.\n- Implementation risk: the permission depends on the operator maintaining an operations manual consistent with the conditions; lapses in adherence could create regulatory non‑compliance and safety risk. The instrument leaves the detailed safety standarding largely to CAO 29.11 and each operator’s manual rather than embedding new technical requirements in the instrument.\n\n**Concrete cross‑references (where to look in the instrument)**\n\n- Enabling regulations referenced: regulation 151 and subregulation 250(2) and (3) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (instrument header and paras (b)–(e)).\n- Conditions reference: section 29.11 of the Civil Aviation Orders (para (e)(i)).\n- List of authorised operators: Schedule 1.\n\n**Net effect in one sentence**\n\nThis instrument gives a small group of named helicopter operators explicit, limited permission to pick up and carry people by static line, flexible ladder or on the undercarriage during specified winching/rappelling operations and training — only where the CAOs do not already permit it — and conditions that permission on complying with (most of) CAO 29.11 and the operator’s operations manual."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument maintains its original narrow scope. It is a specific operational permission for helicopter rescue training, limited to five named operators. There is no evidence of scope creep; it replaces a previous similar instrument (CASA 931/99) with substantially the same purpose and limitations."},"complexity_factors":["Single-purpose instrument with clear, limited scope (training only, specific operators only)","Only 2 defined terms ('rappelling' and 'winching')","Multiple cross-references to external documents (Civil Aviation Orders section 29.11, Civil Aviation Regulations regulations 151 and 250) but these are standard aviation law references","Conditional logic is present but straightforward ('but to the extent only that...' clauses creating carve-outs)","Short length (approximately 400 words)","Simple structure: revocation, three permissions, conditions, definitions, schedule"],"plain_english_summary":"This document is a **Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) permission** that allows specific helicopter rescue operators to conduct specialised training exercises that would normally be illegal under standard aviation safety rules.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Revokes** an earlier permission (CASA 931/99) and replaces it with this updated version.\n- **Authorises five specific helicopter operators** (listed in Schedule 1) to pick up people during flights for rescue team training in **winching** (being lowered from or raised to a helicopter by cable) and **rappelling** (descending by rope).\n- **Gives permission** for people to be carried on static lines, flexible ladders, or helicopter undercarriages during these training flights.\n\n**Why these permissions are needed:**\nNormally, aviation regulations ban carrying people on the outside of helicopters or picking them up during flight because it's extremely dangerous. However, rescue operations require these skills. This instrument creates a **limited exception** for training purposes only.\n\n**Key restrictions:**\n- Only applies to the five approved operators listed (including Careflight, NSW Police, and Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter).\n- Only for training rescue team members—not actual rescue operations.\n- Only applies if the operator doesn't already have permission under section 29.11 of the Civil Aviation Orders (a separate set of aviation rules).\n- Must follow safety conditions in the operator's approved operations manual and most rules in section 29.11 of the CAOs.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- The five helicopter operators listed\n- Their rescue team members undergoing training\n- CASA, which oversees compliance"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/casa-558-00-permission-under-subregulation-250-2","history":"/api/acts/casa-558-00-permission-under-subregulation-250-2/history","analysis":"/api/acts/casa-558-00-permission-under-subregulation-250-2/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/casa-558-00-permission-under-subregulation-250-2/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/casa-558-00-permission-under-subregulation-250-2/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/casa-558-00-permission-under-subregulation-250-2/documents"}}