{"id":"F2005B01537","name":"CASA 9/1996 - Exemption for emergency service helicopters using the Westmead Hospital (NSW) Helicopter Landing Zone","slug":"casa-9-1996-exemption-for-emergency-service-helicopters-using-the-westmead-hospital-nsw-helicopter-l","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32616,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B01537-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"CASA 9/1996 - Exemption for emergency service helicopters using the Westmead Hospital (NSW) Helicopter Landing Zone","content":"EXEMPTION NUMBER: CASA 9/1996\n\nCIVIL AVIATION ACT 1988\n\nCIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS\n\nEXEMPTION FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE HELICOPTERS USING THE WESTMEAD HOSPITAL (NSW) HELICOPTER LANDING ZONE\n\nI, JOHN EDWIN INNES PIKE, a delegate of CASA:\n\n(a) having taken into account all relevant considerations relating to the interests of safety, issue the following exemption under regulation 308 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (the Regulations); and\n\n(b) in the interests of safety, having regard to those interests and the exemption, issue the exemption subject to the condition that the requirements set out in clause 4 are complied with.\n\n2. The exemption applies to helicopters operated by the following organisations:\n\n(a) CareFlight Ltd;\n\n(b) Child Flight Inc.;\n\n(c) Hunter Region SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service Ltd;\n\n(d) Sydney SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service Pty Ltd;\n\n3. Each helicopter is exempt from compliance with subregulations 178 (3) and (4) of the Regulations when carrying persons or cargo to or from the Westmead Hospital (NSW) Helicopter Landing Zone.\n\n4. The exemption is subject to the condition that:\n\n(a) the helicopter utilises the NDB/DME (Cat H) (Using RIC NDB & DME) instrument approach procedures as set out in the attached approach plate (ATTACHMENT A); or\n\n(b) the helicopter utilises the GPS (Cat H) instrument approach procedures as set out in the attached approach plate (ATTACHMENT B).\n\n\\[Signed John Pike\\]\n\nJOHN PIKE\n\nDeputy Director\n\n14 June 1996\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n![](image.002.png)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a narrow, site-specific exemption issued under existing regulatory powers. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of facilitating emergency helicopter access to Westmead Hospital under controlled conditions."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 400 words)","Only 2 substantive operative clauses (clauses 3 and 4)","Single exemption from 2 specific subregulations (178(3) and 178(4))","Simple alternative condition structure ('or' between 4(a) and 4(b))","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulation 308 and the exempted regulations","Limited to 4 named organisations and 1 specific location"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a **specific aviation safety exemption** issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in 1996.\n\n**What it does:**\nNormally, civil aviation rules (specifically regulations 178(3) and 178(4)) impose certain requirements on helicopter operations. This document **waives those rules** for four specific emergency helicopter services when they're landing at or taking off from Westmead Hospital's helicopter pad in Sydney.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nFour organisations:\n- **CareFlight Ltd** – air ambulance service\n- **Child Flight Inc.** – paediatric emergency transport\n- **Hunter Region SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service Ltd** – surf lifesaving rescue (Newcastle/Hunter area)\n- **Sydney SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service Pty Ltd** – surf lifesaving rescue (Sydney area)\n\n**The catch (conditions):**\nThese helicopters can only use this exemption if they follow specific instrument approach procedures using either:\n- **NDB/DME navigation** (a radio beacon system), OR\n- **GPS navigation**\n\nBoth approaches are detailed in attached diagrams (not shown in full here).\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWestmead Hospital is a major trauma centre. This exemption allows emergency helicopters to operate more flexibly during critical medical missions—getting patients to definitive care faster—while still maintaining safety through prescribed flight paths. Without this exemption, these emergency flights might face operational restrictions that could delay patient transport."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not expand or reframe the underlying regulations; it creates a targeted exemption from regs 178(3) and (4) solely for listed operators on flights to/from the Westmead Hospital landing zone and replaces those requirements with a condition to use specified instrument-approach procedures (the attached plates). No broader change to the Regulations’ scope is indicated in the text."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow scope: applies only to flights to/from Westmead Hospital and only for four named organisations.","References specific subregulations (178(3) & (4)) which are displaced only for the listed operations.","Conditional reliance on external technical documents (attached approach plates) that define permissible procedures.","Requires specific navigation/approach capability (NDB/DME Cat H or GPS Cat H) — operational and equipment implications for operators and pilots.","Decision made by a CASA delegate under regulation 308, introducing delegated administrative discretion.","Low cross-cutting regulatory interaction: does not amend wider regulatory framework, only creates a targeted exemption."],"plain_english_summary":"This exemption lets four named emergency helicopter operators ignore subregulations 178(3) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Regulations when flying people or cargo to or from Westmead Hospital’s helicopter landing zone, provided they use one of two specified instrument-approach procedures. The CASA delegate issued it “in the interests of safety”; mechanically it replaces those regulatory limits with a condition that pilots follow the attached NDB/DME (Cat H) or GPS (Cat H) approach plates, shifting compliance onto meeting those procedures and related navigation requirements."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/casa-9-1996-exemption-for-emergency-service-helicopters-using-the-westmead-hospital-nsw-helicopter-l","history":"/api/acts/casa-9-1996-exemption-for-emergency-service-helicopters-using-the-westmead-hospital-nsw-helicopter-l/history","analysis":"/api/acts/casa-9-1996-exemption-for-emergency-service-helicopters-using-the-westmead-hospital-nsw-helicopter-l/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/casa-9-1996-exemption-for-emergency-service-helicopters-using-the-westmead-hospital-nsw-helicopter-l/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/casa-9-1996-exemption-for-emergency-service-helicopters-using-the-westmead-hospital-nsw-helicopter-l/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/casa-9-1996-exemption-for-emergency-service-helicopters-using-the-westmead-hospital-nsw-helicopter-l/documents"}}