{"id":"F2005B00648","name":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. 2) 2004 - Civil Aviation Order 45.0 - Flight crew standards - Synthetic trainers - General (18/03/2004)","slug":"civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-2-2004-civil-aviation-order-45-0-flight-crew-standards-synthetic-t","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32124,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B00648-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. 2) 2004 - Civil Aviation Order 45.0 - Flight crew standards - Synthetic trainers - General (18/03/2004)","content":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order\n\n(No. 2) 2004\n\nI, WILLIAM BRUCE BYRON, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, issue the following Civil Aviation Order under regulation 303A of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.\n\n\\[Signed Bruce Byron\\]\n\nBruce Byron\n\nDirector of Aviation Safety and\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\n18 March 2004\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\n1 Name of Order\n\nThis Order is the Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. 2) 2004.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Order commences on gazettal.\n\n3 Replacement of section 45.0 of the Civil Aviation Orders\n\nSection 45.0 of the Civil Aviation Orders is omitted and a new section substituted as set out in Schedule 1.\n\nSchedule 1 Amendment of section 45.0 of the Civil Aviation Orders\n\n1 Section 45.0\n\nsubstitute\n\nSECTION 45.0 FLIGHT CREW STANDARDS — SYNTHETIC TRAINERS — GENERAL\n\n1 APPLICABILITY\n\nThis section specifies conditions for the approval under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988) of synthetic trainers.\n\n2 DEFINITIONS\n\nIn this section, unless the contrary intention appears:\n\n> accreditation check means the testing of a synthetic trainer for the purpose of approving it and assigning a category to it in accordance with subsection 3.\n\n> accreditation test guide means a document which contains a group of synthetic trainer tests compiled by the operator and approved by CASA.\n\n> approved synthetic trainer means a synthetic trainer approved by CASA for the purpose of gaining credits.\n\n> credit means an entitlement to complete specified flight time, airwork sequences and recent experience requirements by means of an approved synthetic trainer.\n\n> Note: More detailed definitions appear in the CASA publication “FSD-2 Operational Standards and Requirements — Approved Synthetic Trainers”. For definitions of synthetic flight trainer and synthetic trainer, see CAR 1988.\n\n3 ACCREDITATION OF A SYNTHETIC TRAINER\n\n3.1 An application for an accreditation check of a synthetic trainer must be made to CASA. The application must contain information as detailed in the CASA publication “FSD-2 Operational Standards and Requirements — Approved Synthetic Trainers” (CASA publication FSD-2).\n\n3.2 CASA, after a review of the application, must arrange with the operator to carry out the accreditation check. The operator must ensure that the arrangements for the accreditation check are in accordance with the CASA publication FSD-2. Any defects noted during the conduct of the accreditation check must be noted in the accreditation test guide. The completed accreditation test guide must be retained with the synthetic trainer.\n\n3.3 The accreditation check must be carried out by CASA.\n\n3.4 Following the successful completion of an accreditation check, CASA must approve the synthetic trainer and classify it by assigning to it category A, B or C, whichever is the most suitable, having regard to:\n\n(a) the results of the accreditation check; and\n\n(b) the credits appropriate to that category, as set out in CASA publication FSD-2.\n\n4 APPROPRIATE CREDITS\n\n4.1 A list of credits appropriate to the category assigned to an approved synthetic trainer is detailed in subsection 3.3, 3.4 or 3.5 of the CASA publication FSD-2.\n\n5 RECURRENT FIDELITY CHECKS\n\n5.1 CASA must conduct a recurrent fidelity check annually of an approved synthetic trainer.\n\n6 SUSPENSION OR CANCELLATION OF APPROVAL\n\n6.1 Where an operator knows or suspects that the accuracy or realism of an approved synthetic trainer has been degraded he or she must conduct tests and calibration procedures to establish the nature of the deficiency. Any deficiencies so established must be recorded and, if included in the synthetic trainer’s minimum equipment list, are taken to suspend the approval until rectification has taken place.\n\n6.2 CASA may suspend or cancel the approval of a synthetic trainer if it determines that the synthetic trainer no longer complies with the operational standards and requirements appropriate to its category.\n\n6.3 A synthetic trainer may not be used for a purpose referred to in this Order if its approval is suspended or cancelled.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument replaces an existing section with a procedural framework for accrediting, classifying and overseeing synthetic trainers. It does not expand the regulatory subject matter beyond the approval and oversight of synthetic trainers for training credits. The Order centralises accreditation and recurrent checks with CASA and delegates detailed operational requirements and credit tables to the CASA FSD-2 publication, but it does not materially broaden the scope of regulation (still limited to synthetic trainer approval, credit allocation, fidelity checks and suspension/cancellation mechanics)."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-part replacement of section 45.0 with 6 numbered subsections","About 6 defined terms in the section (accreditation check, accreditation test guide, approved synthetic trainer, credit, etc.)","Central cross-reference to external instruments: CASA publication FSD-2 for detailed procedures and credits (multiple references: 3.1, 3.2, 4.1)","Cross-reference to CAR 1988 for technical definitions (section 2)","Categorisation logic (assign category A, B or C) — simple but material for rights (3.4)","Conditional rules for suspension/cancellation tied to operator-recorded defects and CASA determinations (6.1–6.3)","Operational dependency on CASA to perform accreditation and annual fidelity checks (3.3, 5.1) — introduces scheduling/administrative complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument replaces Civil Aviation Order 45.0 with new rules for approving and overseeing synthetic trainers (simulators). CASA must accredit and categorise trainers (A/B/C), carry out annual fidelity checks, and may suspend or cancel approvals; operators must apply under CASA’s FSD‑2 requirements, record and retain accreditation test guides, and test/repair suspected degradation. It determines what simulator-based credits flight crew and training organisations may claim, shifting compliance costs to operators and control to CASA."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward amendment replacing an existing section with updated provisions. The scope remains focused on the accreditation and maintenance of synthetic flight trainers, consistent with the original purpose of Civil Aviation Order 45.0. No significant scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Relatively short document (approximately 1,000 words)","Only 5 defined terms in the interpretation section","Heavy reliance on external document 'FSD-2' for substantive details (incorporated by reference)","Simple conditional structure with clear subsections (3.1, 3.2, etc.)","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing within the instrument itself","Straightforward administrative process described (apply, check, approve, classify)"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation updates the rules for flight simulators and other synthetic training devices used by pilots in Australia. It replaces the old Section 45.0 of the Civil Aviation Orders with new rules that:\n\n**What it does:**\n- Sets out how flight simulators and similar training devices (called \"synthetic trainers\") get approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)\n- Establishes a three-tier classification system (Categories A, B, and C) based on how realistic and sophisticated the device is\n- Requires annual checks by CASA to ensure these devices remain accurate\n- Allows pilots to count time spent in approved simulators toward their flight experience requirements (called \"credits\")\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Flight schools and airlines that operate flight simulators\n- CASA inspectors who test and approve these devices\n- Pilots who use simulators to maintain their qualifications or reduce the amount of actual flying time needed for licensing\n\n**Why it matters:**\nFlight simulators are expensive but essential for pilot training. This order ensures that when a pilot practices in a simulator, the experience actually counts toward their real-world flying requirements—provided the device meets strict standards. It also protects safety by requiring regular checks and allowing CASA to pull approval if a simulator becomes inaccurate."},"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/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-2-2004-civil-aviation-order-45-0-flight-crew-standards-synthetic-t","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-2-2004-civil-aviation-order-45-0-flight-crew-standards-synthetic-t/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-2-2004-civil-aviation-order-45-0-flight-crew-standards-synthetic-t/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-2-2004-civil-aviation-order-45-0-flight-crew-standards-synthetic-t/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-2-2004-civil-aviation-order-45-0-flight-crew-standards-synthetic-t/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-2-2004-civil-aviation-order-45-0-flight-crew-standards-synthetic-t/documents"}}