{"id":"F2024L00201","name":"CASA EX07/24 — Low-level Operations (Air Displays and Aerobatic Manoeuvres) Exemption 2024","slug":"casa-ex07-24-low-level-operations-air-displays-and-aerobatic-manoeuvres-exemption-2024","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":105106,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2024L00201-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"CASA EX07/24 — Low-level Operations (Air Displays and Aerobatic Manoeuvres) Exemption 2024","content":"Instrument number CASA EX07/24\n\nI, STEVEN JAMES CAMPBELL, Executive Manager National Operations and Standards, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under regulations 11.160 and 11.205 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.\n\n\\[Signed S. Campbell\\]\n\nSteven Campbell  \nExecutive Manager National Operations and Standards\n\n21 February 2024\n\nCASA EX07/24 — Low‑level Operations (Air Displays and Aerobatic Manoeuvres) Exemption 2024\n\n1 Name\n\nThis instrument is CASA EX07/24 — Low‑level Operations (Air Displays and Aerobatic Manoeuvres) Exemption 2024.\n\n2 Duration\n\nThis instrument:\n\n(a) commences on the day after it is registered; and\n\n(b) is repealed at the end of 31 January 2027.\n\n3 Definition\n\n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: aerobatic manoeuvres, air display, Australian territory, pilot in command, populous area and public gathering.\n\nIn this instrument:\n\n> low‑level operation has the meaning given by regulation 61.010 of CASR.\n\n4 Exemptions\n\n(1) The exemptions stated in subsection (3) apply to a pilot (the pilot) of an aircraft who:\n\n(a) does not hold any of the following:\n\n(i) a low‑level rating;\n\n(ii) an aerial application rating;\n\n(iii) an aerobatics (unlimited) flight activity endorsement; and\n\n(b) is conducting a low‑level operation:\n\n(i) at an air display in Australian territory approved by CASA under regulation 91.045 of CASR for the purposes of regulation 91.180 of CASR; or\n\n(ii) during a flight that is solely and demonstrably a practice flight in Australian territory for an actual, or anticipated, air display to be conducted in Australian territory.\n\n(2) To remove doubt, but without limiting subparagraph (1)(b)(ii), the exemptions stated in subsection (3) apply to a pilot of an aircraft who is conducting a low‑level operation during a practice flight to become competent for an actual, or anticipated, air display before receiving the display organiser’s approval to participate in the display.\n\n(3) The pilot is exempt from compliance with the following provisions in relation to the operation:\n\n(a) subregulation 61.065(1) of CASR, to the extent that it prohibits the pilot from conducting a low‑level operation because the pilot does not hold either a low‑level rating or aerial application rating;\n\n(b) subregulation 61.375(7) of CASR, but only in relation to item 5 of Table 61.375 of CASR.\n\n(4) The exemptions stated in subsection (6) apply to a pilot (also the pilot) of an aircraft who:\n\n(a) holds an aerobatics (unlimited) flight activity endorsement; and\n\n(b) does not hold any of the following:\n\n(i) a low‑level rating;\n\n(ii) an aerial application rating; and\n\n(c) is conducting a low‑level operation:\n\n(i) at an air display in Australian territory approved by CASA under regulation 91.045 of CASR for the purposes of regulation 91.180 of CASR; or\n\n(ii) during a flight that is solely and demonstrably a practice flight in Australian territory for an actual, or anticipated, air display to be conducted in Australian territory; or\n\n(iii) for the purpose of practising aerobatic manoeuvres with the aircraft.\n\n(5) To remove doubt, but without limiting subparagraph (4)(c)(ii), the exemptions stated in subsection (6) apply to the pilot of an aircraft who is conducting a low‑level operation during a practice flight to become competent for an actual, or anticipated, air display before receiving the display organiser’s approval to participate in the display.\n\n(6) The pilot is exempt from compliance with the following provisions in relation to the operation:\n\n(a) subregulation 61.065(1) of CASR, to the extent that it prohibits the pilot from conducting a low‑level operation because the pilot does not hold either a low‑level rating or aerial application rating;\n\n(b) subregulation 61.375(7) of CASR, but only in relation to item 5 of Table 61.375 of CASR.\n\n(7) The exemption stated in subsection (9) applies to the pilot in command (the pilot in command) of an aircraft who:\n\n(a) holds an aerobatics (unlimited) flight activity endorsement; and\n\n(b) does not hold any of the following:\n\n(i) a low‑level rating;\n\n(ii) an aerial application rating; and\n\n(c) is conducting a low‑level operation:\n\n(i) at an air display in Australian territory approved by CASA under regulation 91.045 of CASR for the purposes of regulation 91.180 of CASR; or\n\n(ii) during a flight that is solely and demonstrably a practice flight in Australian territory for an actual, or anticipated, air display to be conducted in Australian territory; or\n\n(iii) for the purpose of practising aerobatic manoeuvres with the aircraft.\n\n(8) To remove doubt, but without limiting subparagraph (7)(c)(ii), the exemption stated in subsection (9) applies to the pilot in command of an aircraft who is conducting a low‑level operation during a practice flight to become competent for an actual, or anticipated, air display before receiving the display organiser’s approval to participate in the display.\n\n(9) The pilot in command is exempt from compliance with subregulation 91.267(2) of CASR, in relation to the operation, if:\n\n(a) the operation involves the aircraft being flown other than over a populous area or public gathering; and\n\n(b) the pilot in command is not authorised under Part 61 of CASR, or does not hold an approval under regulation 91.045 of CASR, to fly the aircraft below the height mentioned in paragraph 91.267(2)(a) of CASR.\n\n(10) The exemptions stated in subsections (3) and (6) are subject to the condition stated in subsection 5(1).\n\n(11) The exemption stated in subsection (9) is subject to the conditions stated in subsections 5(1), (2) and (3).\n\n5 Conditions\n\n(1) The pilot, or pilot in command, must comply with any conditions of an approval, if relevant to the operation, mentioned in subparagraph 4(1)(b)(i), (4)(c)(i) or (7)(c)(i), as applicable.\n\n(2) The pilot in command must, before conducting the operation, conduct a risk assessment of the area to be flown over during the operation.\n\n(3) The pilot in command must ensure that the point on the ground, or water, vertically below the aircraft, during the operation, is not within 150 m of a person, vessel, vehicle or structure, or of livestock.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument remains tightly focused on its original purpose: creating exemptions for low-level flight operations specifically related to air displays and aerobatic practice. It does not expand beyond this specialised aviation context."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple nested eligibility criteria requiring pilots to both hold AND not hold specific endorsements simultaneously (e.g., must hold aerobatics endorsement but NOT hold low-level rating)","Three distinct exemption categories with overlapping but slightly different conditions (subsections 4(1), 4(4), and 4(7))","Cross-references to external regulations (CASR Parts 61 and 91) including specific subregulations and table items without reproducing their text","Conditional logic with 'to the extent that' limitations on exemptions rather than blanket exemptions","Geographic and operational restrictions (Australian territory, populous area exclusions, 150m buffer zones)","Temporal limitation with automatic repeal date","Clarifying subsections (4(2), 4(5), 4(8)) that expand interpretation without adding substantive content"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a temporary exemption issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that allows certain pilots to fly aircraft at low altitudes during air shows and practice flights, even if they don't normally have the required qualifications.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Pilots performing at air displays (air shows) in Australia\n- Pilots practising for air displays\n- Pilots with aerobatic endorsements practising manoeuvres\n\n**What it does:**\nNormally, pilots need specific ratings (qualifications) to fly low-level operations—either a \"low-level rating\" or an \"aerial application rating\" (used for crop dusting). This exemption lets pilots without those ratings fly low in three specific situations:\n\n1. **During approved air displays** — Pilots without low-level or aerial application ratings can fly low if CASA has approved the air display.\n\n2. **During practice flights for air displays** — Pilots can practise low flying to prepare for an upcoming show, even before they've been officially approved to participate in that show.\n\n3. **During aerobatic practice** — Pilots who hold an \"aerobatics (unlimited)\" endorsement (meaning they're qualified for advanced stunts) can fly low while practising manoeuvres.\n\n**Important safety conditions:**\n- The pilot must follow any conditions CASA set when approving the air display\n- The pilot must do a risk assessment of the area before flying\n- The aircraft must stay at least 150 metres away from people, vehicles, buildings, boats, or livestock on the ground\n- If flying over non-populous areas, pilots with aerobatic endorsements can go lower than normally allowed\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis exemption recognises that air display pilots need to practise low-level flying and aerobatics, but the normal licensing system doesn't perfectly fit their needs. It creates a legal pathway for them to do this specialised flying without requiring every display pilot to get a crop-dusting or general low-level rating. However, it maintains safety through strict conditions and the requirement that actual displays must be CASA-approved.\n\nThe exemption runs until 31 January 2027."},"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standalone exemption instrument that does not amend any existing law."},"complexity_factors":["multiple categories of pilots","cross references to several regulations","specific conditions on operations"],"plain_english_summary":"**CASA EX07/24: Low-level Operations (Air Displays and Aerobatic Manoeuvres) Exemption 2024**\n\nThis is an exemption instrument issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. It provides relief from specific requirements in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 for pilots involved in low-level operations at air displays and for aerobatic practice.\n\n**What the exemption allows**\n\nPilots who do not hold a low-level rating or an aerial application rating are exempt from certain provisions when conducting low-level operations at an approved air display or during practice flights for an air display. This includes pilots with an aerobatics (unlimited) flight activity endorsement who are practising aerobatic manoeuvres.\n\nThe exemptions relate to subregulation 61.065(1) and subregulation 61.375(7) of the regulations. Pilots in command with the aerobatics endorsement are also exempt from height restrictions under subregulation 91.267(2) when flying over non-populous areas, provided they maintain a 150 metres separation from people and objects.\n\n**Conditions and duration**\n\nThe exemptions are subject to conditions. These include complying with approval conditions, conducting a risk assessment of the flight area and ensuring the aircraft remains at least 150 metres from any person, vessel, vehicle, structure or livestock.\n\nThe instrument commences the day after registration and is repealed at the end of 31 January 2027.\n\n**Who it affects and practical point**\n\nThis instrument affects pilots participating in air displays or aerobatic activities in Australia who lack standard low-level operation qualifications. The practical effect is that it enables these operations to occur under controlled conditions without requiring additional ratings, while safety is addressed through risk assessments and distance requirements.\n\nIf your search relates to aviation regulations for air shows or aerobatics, this exemption may be directly relevant to your situation."},"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-ex07-24-low-level-operations-air-displays-and-aerobatic-manoeuvres-exemption-2024","history":"/api/acts/casa-ex07-24-low-level-operations-air-displays-and-aerobatic-manoeuvres-exemption-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/casa-ex07-24-low-level-operations-air-displays-and-aerobatic-manoeuvres-exemption-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/casa-ex07-24-low-level-operations-air-displays-and-aerobatic-manoeuvres-exemption-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/casa-ex07-24-low-level-operations-air-displays-and-aerobatic-manoeuvres-exemption-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/casa-ex07-24-low-level-operations-air-displays-and-aerobatic-manoeuvres-exemption-2024/documents"}}