{"id":"F2005B00941","name":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R90) 2004 - Civil Aviation Order 100.94 - Administration & procedure - Aircraft maintenance engineer licences - Category electrical (12/12/2004)","slug":"civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r90-2004-civil-aviation-order-100-94-administration-procedure-airc","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32340,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B00941-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R90) 2004 - Civil Aviation Order 100.94 - Administration & procedure - Aircraft maintenance engineer licences - Category electrical (12/12/2004)","content":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order\n\n(No. R90) 2004\n\nI, WILLIAM BRUCE BYRON, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, issue the following Civil Aviation Order under regulation 31 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\n12 December 2004\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\n1 Name of Order\n\nThis Order is the Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R90) 2004.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Order commences on gazettal.\n\n3 Replacement of section 100.94 of the Civil Aviation Orders\n\nSection 100.94 of the Civil Aviation Orders is omitted and a new section substituted as set out in Schedule 1.\n\nSchedule 1 Substitution of section 100.94 of the Civil Aviation Orders\n\nSECTION 100.94\n\nADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURE — AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEER LICENCES — CATEGORY ELECTRICAL\n\n1 APPLICATION\n\n1.1 Except where otherwise approved or directed by CASA, this section of the CAOs applies to the requirements for the grant of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence in category electrical systems and for the grant of additional ratings to a licence in this category.\n\n1.2 This section of the CAOs is to be read in conjunction with the current issue of CAO section 100.90 and AAC 9-94.\n\n2 DEFINITIONS\n\nTerms and abbreviations used in this section are detailed in CAO section 100.90, but in addition:\n\ndigital system means a system where the components of the system employ digital techniques and are interconnected via a data bus.\n\ndata bus means the hardware required to carry digital information between digital information processing components within the system.\n\n3 RATINGS\n\nCategory electrical systems is classified into the following ratings:\n\nGroup 1 Electrical systems in aircraft equipped with single generator power systems.\n\nGroup 2 Electrical systems in aircraft equipped with multi-generator power systems other than those classified as Group 20.\n\nGroup 20 Electrical systems in aeroplanes powered by turbojet/turbofan engines, or pressurised and of MTOW greater than 8 000 kg as listed in AAC 9-94:\n\nElectrical systems in helicopters as specified by CASA and listed in AAC 9-94; or\n\nAircraft listed in AAC 9-94 deemed by CASA to be of an unusual design requiring specialised maintenance techniques.\n\n4 LICENCE RATINGS AND FORM OF ENDORSEMENT\n\n4.1 Ratings specifying the groups of electrical systems and/or the specific aircraft type for which the privileges of the licence may be exercised must be endorsed on the licence.\n\n4.2 Applicants who comply with the experience and examination requirements of subsections 5 and 6 of this section may be granted the appropriate rating, subject to the conditions specified at paragraph 4.3.\n\n4.3 A separate rating in Group 20 is required for each aircraft listed in AAC 9‑94.\n\n4.4 Endorsement of ratings must take the following form:\n\nElectrical systems Group 1\n\nElectrical systems Group 2\n\n\\*............................ Group 20\n\n\\*(The appropriate aircraft type or series description as listed in AAC 9-94 is inserted in the space.)\n\n5 EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXAMINATIONS, GRANT OF A LICENCE OR ENDORSEMENT OF A RATING\n\n5.1 There are no work experience requirements to be met prior to sitting any examination.\n\n5.2 Successful completion of a relevant training course acceptable to CASA will be required for all aircraft classified in Group 20, with the exceptions specified by CASA and listed in AAC 9-94.\n\n5.3 The minimum experience required for the grant of a licence is 4 years’ aircraft maintenance or aircraft component maintenance including:\n\n    (a) aircraft maintenance experience, consisting of:\n    (i) 2 years’ maintenance experience in category electrical systems; or\n    (ii) if a person holds an aircraft maintenance licence that is endorsed with a rating in category radio systems or category instruments — 1 year’s maintenance experience in category electrical systems; and\n    (b) practical experience in the group or type for which a rating is sought, to the scope and depth indicated in the relevant Schedule of Experience issued by CASA, or other approved documents.\n\n5.4 For aircraft classified as Group 20 aircraft, practical experience shall be specified in a Schedule of Experience compiled by the operator and found acceptable by CASA.\n\n5.5 For the endorsement of additional electrical ratings, the minimum experience required is that specified in the relevant Schedule of Experience.\n\n6 EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS\n\nFor the grant of a licence or endorsement of additional ratings, applicants must pass the relevant examinations specified by CASA and listed in AAC 9-94.\n\n7 LICENCE RATINGS AND EXAMINATION EQUIVALENCY\n\n7.1 From the effective date of this CAO, ratings granted in accordance with section 100.94 will be deemed to be equivalent to the corresponding ratings listed in AAC 9-94.\n\n7.2 From the effective date of this CAO, examination credits granted in accordance with section 100.94 will be deemed to be equivalent to the examinations listed in AAC 9-94.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument replaces and restates the procedural rules for granting electrical‑category AME licences but does not broaden the regulatory field beyond the original subject matter. It reorganises and clarifies ratings, experience, and examination mechanics, adds two technical definitions, formalises a per‑type requirement for Group 20, and explicitly ties the CAO to AAC 9‑94 for technical detail and equivalency (s1.2, s3, s4.3, s7). Those are refinements and administrative clarifications rather than an expansion of scope into new regulatory domains; the CAO remains focused on licensing administration for electrical systems maintenance."},"complexity_factors":["Short replacement section but multiple external cross‑references to CAO section 100.90 and AAC 9‑94 (see s1.2, s3, s6, s7).","Two new defined technical terms in the section (digital system, data bus) but most definitions are delegated to CAO 100.90 (s2).","Three tiered grouping of ratings with a special, per‑type requirement for Group 20 (s3, s4.3).","Conditional and delegated requirements: CASA discretion to approve exceptions (s1.1), operator‑compiled Schedule of Experience subject to CASA acceptance (s5.4).","Mixture of procedural rules (endorsement wording, s4.4), quantitative minimums (4 years total, s5.3) and qualitative/acceptance standards (Schedule of Experience, s5.4).","Equivalency clause that alters treatment of existing ratings/credits relative to AAC 9‑94 (s7) — creates transitional legal effect.","Nested experience rules with alternative routes (reduced electrical experience if holder has radio/instrument rating, s5.3(a)(ii))."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- Replaces the previous rule for issuing Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) licences in the electrical category (CAO section 100.94) with a new, consolidated set of provisions. (See first paragraphs and Schedule 1.)\n\n- Defines two technical terms used in the section: **digital system** and **data bus**. (Section 2.)\n\n- Divides the electrical category into three groupings of licences/ratings: **Group 1** (single‑generator aircraft), **Group 2** (multi‑generator aircraft except Group 20), and **Group 20** (certain large/jet or specially listed types). It delegates the detailed list of Group 20 types to AAC 9‑94 and CASA determinations. (Section 3 and AAC 9‑94 cross‑reference.)\n\n- Specifies how licence endorsements (the markings on a licence that show what the holder is authorised to work on) must be worded, and requires a separate Group 20 rating for each aircraft type listed in AAC 9‑94. (Section 4.)\n\n- Sets the practical experience and training requirements: no prior work experience is required to sit exams (s5.1), but a full licence requires a minimum of four years’ aircraft/component maintenance experience with specified amounts of electrical experience (s5.3), and Group 20 types generally require completion of an approved training course (s5.2) and an operator‑compiled Schedule of Experience acceptable to CASA (s5.4). Additional ratings rely on the relevant Schedule of Experience. (Section 5.)\n\n- Requires passing CASA‑specified examinations listed in AAC 9‑94 to obtain a licence or additional ratings. (Section 6 and AAC 9‑94 cross‑reference.)\n\n- States that ratings and examination credits granted under this CAO are to be treated as equivalent to the corresponding entries in AAC 9‑94 from the CAO’s effective date. (Section 7.)\n\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Individual aircraft maintenance engineers seeking a licence or additional ratings in the electrical systems category.\n- Aircraft operators who must compile and have CASA accept Schedules of Experience for Group 20 types. (s5.4)\n- CASA (the regulator), which retains discretion to approve exceptions, training, and acceptable Schedules of Experience (s1.1, s5.4). \n\n\n**Why it matters (practical consequences)**\n\n- It clarifies the categories and administrative steps for getting authorised to maintain aircraft electrical systems, including stricter training/experience paths for complex/large/jet types (Group 20). (s3, s5.2–5.4)\n\n- It centralises detailed type lists and examination specifications in AAC 9‑94, so applicants and employers must consult that document as part of compliance. (s1.2, s3, s6, s7)\n\n- It places ongoing responsibility on operators to document practical experience for certain types and on CASA to assess and accept those documents, which creates administrative and oversight costs for both operators and the regulator. (s5.4)\n\n\n**Who pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes**\n\n- Who decides: CASA decides approvals, acceptable training courses, and whether an operator’s Schedule of Experience meets the required standard (s1.1, s5.2, s5.4).\n\n- Who pays: licence applicants pay for any training courses, examination fees, and time to acquire the practical experience; operators bear the cost of compiling Schedules of Experience and facilitating practical experience for staff. CASA bears regulatory administration costs. (See s5.2–5.4 and s6 for training/exam requirements and s5.4 for operator role.)\n\n- Behaviour changes: applicants may need to take approved training courses for Group 20 types and follow operator/CA S A‑approved Schedules of Experience; operators may need to formalise and record hands‑on experience to get ratings endorsed. Some applicants with existing radio or instrument ratings face reduced electrical experience requirements (s5.3).\n\n\n**Implementation, compliance and trade-offs**\n\n- Implementation reliance on AAC 9‑94 and CASA acceptance introduces administrative discretion and potential variability in how requirements are applied (s1.2, s3, s5.4). \n\n- The CAO reduces barriers to sitting exams (no experience needed before sitting) but maintains minimum experience for granting licences, creating a two‑step compliance path: pass exams and then satisfy experience requirements for the licence endorsement (s5.1, s5.3, s6).\n\n- For Group 20 aircraft, the rule shifts some of the practical experience design to operators (operator‑compiled Schedules of Experience) while leaving final acceptance to CASA. This concentrates operational record‑keeping costs on employers and gives CASA discretionary review responsibility (s5.4).\n\n- The equivalency clause (s7) smooths the transition from prior arrangements by treating new ratings and examination credits as matching AAC 9‑94 entries, which reduces legal uncertainty for people who already hold relevant ratings or credits.\n\n\n**Source’s stated purpose and testing against costs and incentives**\n\n- The instrument’s operational purpose is to set clear administrative procedures, ratings structure and experience/examination rules for electrical category AME licences (stated throughout sections 1–7). That purpose is achieved by defining groups, setting minimum experience, requiring CASA‑approved training for complex types, and linking to AAC 9‑94 for technical detail.\n\n- Costs and incentives: training and record‑keeping costs fall mainly on applicants and aircraft operators (s5.2–5.4). CASA retains discretionary approval powers, which creates compliance uncertainty and administrative burden but also allows the regulator to accept alternative pathways where appropriate (s1.1, s5.4). The two‑step exam/experience model allows motivated applicants to begin qualification by sitting exams earlier (s5.1–s6) but delays licence privileges until experience thresholds are met (s5.3). The separate Group 20 per‑type rating (s4.3) increases granularity of authorisation and therefore could raise the marginal cost of adding privileges for each new complex aircraft type.\n\n\n**Key provisions cited**\n\n- Application and reading with other documents: s1.1–1.2\n- Definitions: s2\n- Ratings/groups: s3\n- Endorsement format and per‑type Group 20 requirement: s4.1–4.4\n- Experience minima, training and Schedules of Experience: s5.1–5.5\n- Examination requirement: s6\n- Equivalency with AAC 9‑94: s7\n\n"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment appears to maintain the original scope of regulating aircraft maintenance engineer licences for electrical systems. It updates the framework to incorporate modern digital systems and data bus technology, and clarifies rating equivalencies with the AAC 9-94 document, but does not represent significant scope creep beyond the original purpose of licensing and qualification standards."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to external documents (CAO 100.90, AAC 9-94, Schedule of Experience) that contain substantive requirements not reproduced in this instrument","Conditional logic in experience requirements (paragraph 5.3) with nested alternatives and cross-category dependencies","Defined terms section introduces technical aviation terminology ('digital system', 'data bus') that assumes specialised knowledge","Group 20 classification combines multiple disjunctive criteria (turbojet engines OR pressurised aircraft over 8,000kg OR CASA-specified helicopters OR unusual design)","Exception to exception structure in paragraph 5.2 (training required for Group 20 'with the exceptions specified by CASA and listed in AAC 9-94')","Deeming provisions in section 7 create legal equivalencies with external documents not provided in the text"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation sets out the rules for getting and keeping an aircraft maintenance engineer licence specifically for **electrical systems** on aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Establishes three categories (called \"ratings\") for electrical work on aircraft:\n  - **Group 1**: Simple aircraft with single generator power systems\n  - **Group 2**: More complex aircraft with multiple generators\n  - **Group 20**: High-end aircraft including large jets, pressurised planes over 8 tonnes, and helicopters with specialised electrical systems\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- People who want to become licensed aircraft maintenance engineers specialising in electrical work\n- Current licence holders seeking to add electrical ratings to their existing licence\n- Aircraft operators who need to ensure their maintenance staff are properly qualified\n\n**Key requirements:**\n- **Experience**: Generally need 4 years of aircraft maintenance experience, including 2 years specifically in electrical systems (reduced to 1 year if you already hold a radio or instruments licence)\n- **Training**: Must complete CASA-approved training for Group 20 aircraft (the complex ones)\n- **Exams**: Must pass CASA-specified examinations\n- **Practical work**: Must complete hands-on experience specific to the aircraft type you want to work on, documented in a \"Schedule of Experience\"\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis ensures that people fixing aircraft electrical systems—from basic wiring in small planes to complex digital systems in commercial jets—have proven skills and knowledge. It maintains aviation safety by preventing unqualified people from performing critical maintenance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r90-2004-civil-aviation-order-100-94-administration-procedure-airc","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r90-2004-civil-aviation-order-100-94-administration-procedure-airc/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r90-2004-civil-aviation-order-100-94-administration-procedure-airc/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r90-2004-civil-aviation-order-100-94-administration-procedure-airc/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r90-2004-civil-aviation-order-100-94-administration-procedure-airc/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r90-2004-civil-aviation-order-100-94-administration-procedure-airc/documents"}}