{"id":"F2005B00792","name":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R14) 2004 - Civil Aviation Order 20.13 - Air service operations - Cockpit check systems (02/12/2004)","slug":"civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r14-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-13-air-service-operations-cockpit","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32220,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B00792-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R14) 2004 - Civil Aviation Order 20.13 - Air service operations - Cockpit check systems (02/12/2004)","content":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order\n\n(No. R14) 2004\n\nI, WILLIAM BRUCE BYRON, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, issue the following Civil Aviation Order under subregulation 244 (2) 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\n2 December 2004\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\n1 Name of Order\n\nThis Order is the Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R14) 2004.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Order commences on gazettal.\n\n3 Replacement of section 20.13 of the Civil Aviation Orders\n\nSection 20.13 of the Civil Aviation Orders is omitted and a new section substituted as set out in Schedule 1.\n\nSchedule 1 Substitution of section 20.13 of the Civil Aviation Orders\n\nSECTION 20.13\n\nAIR SERVICE OPERATIONS — COCKPIT CHECK SYSTEMS\n\n1 APPLICATION\n\nThis section applies to all Australian registered aircraft having a maximum take-off weight of 5 700 kg or higher, to all aircraft conducting regular public transport operations regardless of weight, and to such other aircraft as CASA may prescribe.\n\n3 COCKPIT CHECK SYSTEM REQUIRED\n\nAn operator of aircraft shall establish a cockpit check system for each type of aircraft operated by him, setting out:\n\n    (a) the procedure to be followed by the pilot in command and other flight crew members before take-off, before landing and in emergency situations; and\n    (b) any other procedures necessary for the efficient handling of the aircraft.\n\n4 APPROVAL OF COCKPIT CHECK SYSTEMS\n\nCockpit check systems shall be approved by CASA.\n\n5 CARRIAGE AND USE OF COCKPIT CHECK SYSTEMS\n\n5.1 The cockpit check system shall be in the form of check lists, separate from manuals or other documents and shall be of a permanent nature such as the ‘roller blind’ type or stiff leaf booklets.\n\n5.2 The cockpit check system shall be kept in the appropriate crew compartment and shall be used by the flight crew as part of the flight crew procedures.\n\n5.3 When 2 or more members are carried in the flight crew, 1 member shall read off each item of the particular procedure from the cockpit check system and check that the required action has been carried out by another member.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument substitutes section 20.13, thereby defining current scope and duties: it applies to Australian-registered aircraft MTOW ≥5,700 kg, all RPT aircraft regardless of weight, and any aircraft CASA may prescribe, and it imposes operator duties to establish CASA-approved cockpit check systems with specified format, carriage and crew-use rules (s1, s3–5). The section replacement makes these applicability and procedural requirements explicit."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability thresholds and categories (MTOW ≥ 5,700 kg; all RPT; CASA-prescribed aircraft) create multiple applicability tests (s1).","Operator-level obligation to design a system for each aircraft type introduces implementation and operational variation across fleets (s3).","CASA approval requirement creates regulatory discretion and an administrative review process (s4).","Prescriptive format and storage rules (permanent checklist, crew compartment) impose physical compliance standards (s5.1–5.2).","Procedural duty for crew read-and-confirm cross-checking affects crew training and in-flight workflows (s5.3).","Unspecified details (e.g. approval criteria, how CASA will prescribe other aircraft) leave room for administrative interpretation and potential follow-up requirements (s1, s4)."],"plain_english_summary":"The Order replaces Civil Aviation Order 20.13 and requires operators of Australian-registered aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 5,700 kg or more, all regular public transport (RPT) aircraft, and any aircraft CASA prescribes to establish a cockpit check system for each aircraft type (s1, s3). Systems must be approved by CASA, be permanent checklist documents kept in the crew compartment, and be used in normal and emergency procedures; when two or more crew operate, one reads items aloud and another confirms actions (s4, s5.1–5.3)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment performs a straightforward substitution of section 20.13 regarding cockpit check systems. The scope remains tightly focused on its original purpose: mandating physical checklists for flight crews. There is no evidence of scope creep — the provision maintains the same weight thresholds (5,700kg) and coverage of regular public transport operations as typical for this regulatory area."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 300 words)","Only 5 operative provisions (sections 1, 3, 4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3)","No defined terms section","Minimal cross-referencing (only cites enabling regulation subregulation 244(2))","Simple conditional logic (only threshold is weight ≥5,700kg plus RPT operations)","Clear, prescriptive language ('shall establish', 'shall be approved', 'shall be kept')","Single amendment mechanism (complete substitution of previous section 20.13)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires airlines and aircraft operators to create and use written checklists for pilots before take-off, landing, and emergencies.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All Australian-registered aircraft weighing 5.7 tonnes or more\n- All aircraft doing regular passenger flights (regardless of size)\n- Any other aircraft CASA (the aviation safety regulator) decides to include\n\n**What it requires:**\n- **Checklists are mandatory:** Operators must create specific checklists for each aircraft type they fly, covering:\n  - Pre-take-off procedures\n  - Pre-landing procedures  \n  - Emergency procedures\n  - Any other procedures needed to fly the aircraft safely\n\n- **Physical format:** Checklists must be separate from other manuals and durable — like a \"roller blind\" (a scroll mounted in the cockpit) or a stiff booklet. They can't just be loose papers.\n\n- **Location and use:** Checklists must stay in the cockpit and flight crews must actually use them.\n\n- **Two-person rule:** When there's more than one pilot, one must read each item aloud while another confirms the action is done (this is the \"challenge and response\" or \"read and do\" method).\n\n- **CASA approval:** All checklists must be approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority before use.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis rule exists to prevent human error in the cockpit. Checklists ensure critical steps aren't missed — especially in high-stress situations like emergencies. The two-person verification rule adds a safety layer by having one pilot cross-check the other's actions. This is basic aviation safety infrastructure that reduces accidents caused by forgetfulness or distraction."},"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-r14-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-13-air-service-operations-cockpit","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r14-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-13-air-service-operations-cockpit/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r14-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-13-air-service-operations-cockpit/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r14-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-13-air-service-operations-cockpit/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r14-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-13-air-service-operations-cockpit/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r14-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-13-air-service-operations-cockpit/documents"}}