{"id":"F2026L00246","name":"CASA EX15/26 — Aircraft Used for Low-visibility Approaches (Radio Altimeters) Exemption 2026","slug":"casa-ex15-26-aircraft-used-for-low-visibility-approaches-radio-altimeters-exemption-2026","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":107787,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2026L00246-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"CASA EX15/26 — Aircraft Used for Low-visibility Approaches (Radio Altimeters) Exemption 2026","content":"Instrument number CASA EX15/26\n\nI, PHILIPPA JILLIAN SPENCE, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, make this instrument under regulation 11.160 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 EX15/26 — Aircraft Used for Low-visibility Approaches (Radio Altimeters) Exemption 2026\n\n1 Name\n\nThis instrument is CASA EX15/26 — Aircraft Used for Low-visibility Approaches (Radio Altimeters) Exemption 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, Australian territory, low-visibility approach, operator, Part 91 Manual of Standards, Part 121 Manual of Standards, Part 133 Manual of Standards, Part 135 Manual of Standards and pilot in command.\n\n2 Duration\n\nThis instrument:\n\n(a) commences on 1 April 2026; and\n\n(b) is repealed at the end of 31 March 2027.\n\n3 Application\n\nThis instrument applies to the operator and the pilot in command of an aircraft used for the conduct of a low-visibility approach at an aerodrome in Australian territory 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> <https://www.casa.gov.au/operations-safety-and-travel/safety-advice/5g-and-aviation-safety>.\n\n4 Exemptions\n\n(1) If Part 91 of CASR applies in relation to the operation of the aircraft, the pilot in command of the aircraft is exempt from compliance with subregulation 91.810(2) of CASR to the extent that the subregulation requires compliance with section 26.26A of the Part 91 Manual of Standards.\n\n(2) If the aircraft is an aeroplane and Part 121 of CASR (other than Subpart 121.Z) applies to its operation, the operator of the aircraft is exempt from compliance with subregulation 121.460(2) of CASR to the extent that the subregulation requires compliance with section 11.20A of the Part 121 Manual of Standards.\n\n(3) If the aircraft is a rotorcraft and Part 133 applies in relation to its operation, the operator of the aircraft is exempt from compliance with subregulation 133.360(2) of CASR to the extent that the subregulation requires compliance with section 11.17A of the Part 133 Manual of Standards.\n\n(4) If the aircraft is an aeroplane and Part 135 of CASR applies to its operation, the operator of the aircraft is exempt from compliance with subregulation 135.370(2) of CASR to the extent that the subregulation requires compliance with section 11.21A of the Part 135 Manual of Standards.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument remains tightly scoped to its original purpose: providing temporary relief from radio altimeter standards for low-visibility approaches. The scope has not expanded beyond this specific safety issue."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument (only 4 substantive sections plus name/duration)","Minimal defined terms — relies on external definitions from CASR and the Civil Aviation Act 1988","Simple conditional structure: four parallel exemptions based on which Part of CASR applies","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing beyond pointing to specific subregulations and Manual of Standards sections","Single external dependency: the CASA-maintained list of approved aerodromes","Straightforward temporal limitation (12-month sunset clause)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThis instrument temporarily exempts certain aircraft operators and pilots from specific safety rules about **radio altimeters** when conducting **low-visibility approaches** at specific Australian airports.\n\n**Background:** Radio altimeters are critical safety devices that tell pilots exactly how high they are above the ground during landing, especially when visibility is poor (like in fog). There have been concerns that new 5G telecommunications signals can interfere with some older radio altimeter models. This exemption allows aircraft to continue landing in low-visibility conditions even if their radio altimeters don't meet the latest technical standards — but **only** at airports CASA has specifically approved as safe for this.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Pilots** flying under Part 91 of the aviation rules (general operating rules)\n- **Operators** of aeroplanes flying under Part 121 (air transport — large aeroplanes)\n- **Operators** of rotorcraft (helicopters) flying under Part 133 (air transport — rotorcraft)\n- **Operators** of aeroplanes flying under Part 135 (air transport — small aeroplanes)\n\n**How it works:**\n- The exemption applies only to **low-visibility approaches** (landings when pilots can't see the runway clearly)\n- Only applies at **specific aerodromes** listed on CASA's website\n- CASA maintains this list and can update it as needed\n- The exemption lasts for **one year** (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout this exemption, some aircraft would be banned from landing in fog or poor weather at certain airports if their radio altimeters were susceptible to 5G interference. This provides a temporary workaround while airlines upgrade their equipment or while CASA assesses which airports have safe 5G environments."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument text itself sets out a limited, time-bound exemption and does not refer to any earlier instrument or amended scope. On its face, there is no indication within the instrument that the scope has changed from a stated original intent; it specifies commencement, expiry, the list-based scope and the precise MOS sections being disapplied for the listed operations (clauses 2–4)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to CASR Parts and specific Manual of Standards sections (clause 4(1)–4(4)) requiring interpretation of how MOS and CASR interact.","Dynamic applicability tied to a CASA-maintained, publicly published list of aerodromes that can change over time (clause 3).","Narrow, conditional exemption language (\"to the extent that\") that requires affected parties to determine the exact scope of relief (clause 4).","Time-limited operation (commencement and automatic repeal dates), which creates planning and transition considerations (clause 2).","Different legal actors are affected (pilot in command versus operators) depending on which CASR Part applies, adding operational complexity (clause 4)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument temporarily exempts certain pilots and operators from specific Manual of Standards requirements when conducting low‑visibility approaches at aerodromes that CASA lists on its website. It runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 and affects operations governed by Parts 91, 121, 133 and 135, shifting some compliance decisions to operators/pilots while requiring regular checks of CASA’s published list and planning for the instrument’s expiry."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/casa-ex15-26-aircraft-used-for-low-visibility-approaches-radio-altimeters-exemption-2026","history":"/api/acts/casa-ex15-26-aircraft-used-for-low-visibility-approaches-radio-altimeters-exemption-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/casa-ex15-26-aircraft-used-for-low-visibility-approaches-radio-altimeters-exemption-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/casa-ex15-26-aircraft-used-for-low-visibility-approaches-radio-altimeters-exemption-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/casa-ex15-26-aircraft-used-for-low-visibility-approaches-radio-altimeters-exemption-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/casa-ex15-26-aircraft-used-for-low-visibility-approaches-radio-altimeters-exemption-2026/documents"}}