{"id":"F2015L01128","name":"Civil Aviation Order 100.96 Instrument 2015","slug":"civil-aviation-order-100-96-instrument-2015","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":129000,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2015L01128-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation Order 100.96 Instrument 2015","content":"I, Mark alan skidmore, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, make this instrument under subsection 98 (4A) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and subregulations 5 (1) and 235 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.\n\n\\[Signed M. Skidmore\\]\n\nMark Skidmore AM  \nDirector of Aviation Safety\n\n6 July 2015\n\nCivil Aviation Order 100.96 Instrument 2015\n\n1A Name of instrument\n\n1A.1This instrument is the Civil Aviation Order 100.96 Instrument 2015.\n\n1A.2This instrument may be cited as Civil Aviation Order 100.96.\n\n1A.3A reference in an instrument to section 100.96 of the Civil Aviation Orders is a reference to this instrument.\n\n1B Commencement\n\nThis instrument commences on the day of registration.\n\n1C Repeal\n\nCivil Aviation Order 100.96 Instrument 2007, also known as F2007L04936, including section 100.96 of the Civil Aviation Orders as set out in Schedule 1 of that instrument, is repealed.\n\n1 Definitions\n\n1.1 Terms and abbreviations used in this Order have the following meanings:\n\n> balloon, for calculating empty weight, comprises only the following:\n\n(a) an envelope;\n\n(b) a basket;\n\n(c) a burner (if any).\n\n> balloon component means the envelope, basket or burner mentioned in the definition of balloon.\n\n> basket includes the equipment and instruments required under civil aviation legislation to be carried for the airworthiness of the balloon and the safe performance of an operation.\n\n> CAR 1988 means the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.\n\n> CASR 1998 means the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.\n\n> empty weight of a balloon for an operation means the weight of the balloon used in the operation, as determined in accordance with this Order.\n\n> MA holder means a maintenance authority holder and is a person holding a maintenance authority issued under paragraph 33B (1) (a) of CAR 1988 with privileges that include the weight control of balloons.\n\n> operating weight of a balloon for an operation means:\n\n(a) the empty weight of the balloon; and\n\n(b) the weight of everything else, including people (additional weight), that is:\n\n(i) in, on, or attached to, the balloon; and\n\n(ii) not included in the empty weight of the balloon.\n\n> Note Additional weight is taken to include the weight of the flight crew and the passengers, their luggage and personal effects, the fuel tanks and the fuel, and the ballast, as well as any equipment or instruments not included in the empty weight.\n\n> weighing summary means the document used to calculate the operating weight of a balloon for an operation and that lists the empty weight of the balloon, including the weight of each balloon component.\n\n> weight control of a balloon means:\n\n(a) the determination of the empty weight of the balloon, including the weight of each balloon component; and\n\n(b) the recording of weight alterations.\n\n> WCO means a weight control officer and is a person holding an airworthiness authority issued under paragraph 33B (1) (e) of CAR 1988 that applies for balloon weighing.\n\n1.2For this Order, a person is taken to be an MA holder with privileges that include the weight control of balloons if the person:\n\n(a) holds a balloon maintenance authority under paragraph 33B (1) (a) of CAR 1988; and\n\n(b) has a certificate from a WCO that the person has satisfactorily completed at least 1 weighing of a balloon under the supervision of the WCO.\n\n2 Initial weighing\n\n2.1The initial weighing and subsequent weighing of a balloon for the purpose of determining the empty weight for an operation must:\n\n(a) be in accordance with subsection 3 of this Order; and\n\n(b) in the case of initial weighing, take place before any certificate of airworthiness or experimental certificate has been issued for the balloon.\n\n2.2 CASA may require a balloon that has been weighed to be reweighed if there is a reasonable doubt about the accuracy of the weight data submitted for the balloon.\n\n3 Weighing procedures\n\n3.1The operator and the pilot in command of a balloon must not allow the balloon to take off unless the weighing procedures mentioned in this subsection have been completed for each balloon component.\n\n3.2 The weighing summary for a balloon must list each of the specific balloon components included in the empty weight and state the weight of each component.\n\n3.3 The empty weight of the balloon, including the weight of each balloon component:\n\n(a) is to be certified as correct and entered in the weighing summary by the MA holder, WCO, or person referred to in paragraph 3.4; and\n\n(b) may only be so certified and entered:\n\n(i) following at least 2 consecutive and consistent weighings; and\n\n(ii) if the MA holder, WCO, or person referred to in paragraph 3.4 is satisfied with the accuracy of the weighing.\n\n3.4A person may carry out the weighing of balloons that are to be certified under regulations 21.190 and 21.195A of CASR 1998 for a purpose mentioned in paragraphs 21.191 (g), (h) or (j) of CASR 1998 if the person:\n\n(a) has completed a balloon weighing procedures course approved by CASA within the last 2 years; and\n\n(b) weighs the balloon on scales that are approved by CASA, or an organisation that has been approved by CASA, for the purpose of this subparagraph; and\n\n(c) complies with any other condition that CASA deems necessary.\n\n3.5Balloons must be weighed on scales that:\n\n(a) have an accuracy over the temperature range for which the scales are designed of:\n\n(i) 0.2% of the applied load; or\n\n(ii) 2 kg;\n\nwhichever is the greater; and\n\n(b) are of a type suitable for the purpose.\n\n3.6Each scale must have been calibrated:\n\n(a) in accordance with the procedures required or recommended by the manufacturer; or\n\n(b) in accordance with the procedures required or recommended either by a laboratory that has been accredited with the National Association of Testing Authorities (Australia) or a similar national accreditation body that is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation;\n\nwhichever is shorter, within a maximum 5 year period.\n\n4 Record of empty weight alterations\n\n4.1A complete, continuous and current record of changes in the empty weight of a balloon, including a balloon component, must be maintained and recorded in the balloon logbook or other approved alternative to the logbook.\n\n4.2The balloon must be reweighed if:\n\n(a) the empty weight alters by more than 5 kg as a result of repairs to, or maintenance on, the balloon, including a balloon component; and\n\n(b) the repairs, or maintenance, are of such a nature that the subsequent empty weight of the balloon cannot be accurately substantiated by calculation.\n\n4.3 A new weighing summary and record of empty weight alteration must be prepared after each weighing.\n\n5 Current empty weight\n\nWhen determining the empty weight or operating weight of a balloon in a particular configuration, the operator and the pilot in command must use the current weighing summary that includes each balloon component for that configuration.","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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument appears tightly focused on its original purpose of establishing balloon weighing procedures. It replaces a 2007 version (CAO 100.96 Instrument 2007) with substantively similar scope, updating references to modern regulations (CASR 1998) and refining definitions without expanding into new regulatory areas."},"complexity_factors":["11 defined terms in section 1, with nested definitions (e.g., 'balloon component' refers back to 'balloon' definition)","Multiple overlapping roles with different privileges: MA holders, WCOs, and paragraph 3.4 persons each have slightly different authority","Cross-references to 3 separate pieces of legislation: Civil Aviation Act 1988, CAR 1988, and CASR 1998","Dual-path certification in section 3.3 requiring both procedural compliance (2 consecutive weighings) and subjective satisfaction of accuracy","Technical specifications with alternative thresholds in section 3.5 (±0.2% OR ±2kg, whichever is greater)","Calibration requirements with dual pathways and a 'whichever is shorter' temporal condition in section 3.6","Conditional trigger in section 4.2 combining quantitative threshold (5kg) with qualitative assessment ('cannot be accurately substantiated by calculation')"],"plain_english_summary":"This law establishes national rules for weighing hot‑air balloons in Australia: who may certify weights (MA holders, WCOs, trained persons), required scale accuracy and repeatability, mandatory record‑keeping, and a “weighing summary” pilots must use to calculate operating weight. It affects balloon operators, pilots, maintenance authorities, WCOs and CASA — ensuring accurate, up‑to‑date weight data so flights remain safe and airworthy."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the 2007 Civil Aviation Order 100.96 and restates rules for balloon weighing (s1C). It codifies specific procedural, technical and training requirements — including CASA‑approved scales and calibration intervals (s3.5–3.6), a CASA‑approved balloon weighing course (s3.4), a two‑weighing certification rule (s3.3) and a >5 kg reweigh trigger for repairs (s4.2) — thereby replacing the earlier instrument with updated, more explicit standards."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple defined roles and cross‑references to CAR/CASR (definitions and who may certify: s1.1, s1.2, s3.3).","Technical measurement standards for scales (accuracy tolerances and suitability: s3.5).","Calibration and accreditation requirements with a 5‑year maximum interval and lab accreditation references (s3.6).","Certification mechanics requiring at least two consecutive, consistent weighings and satisfaction of accuracy (s3.3).","Training and approval conditions for non‑MA persons to perform weighings (CASA‑approved course within 2 years; CASA may impose conditions; s3.4).","Recordkeeping and reweigh triggers, including mandatory reweigh where empty weight changes by >5 kg from repairs and continuous logbook entries (s4.1–4.3).","CASA discretion to require reweighing where accuracy is in doubt, creating regulatory oversight and compliance risk (s2.2).","Instrument-level change: repeal and replacement of the 2007 instrument, which may alter prior procedural obligations (s1C)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets mandatory rules for determining and recording the empty and operating weight of hot‑air balloons. It requires initial weighing before airworthiness certification, at least two consistent weighings to certify empty weight, CASA‑approved scales and calibration, specific training for people who weigh balloons, and continuous logbook records with reweighing when repairs change empty weight by more than 5 kg. It applies to balloon operators, pilots in command, maintenance authority holders, weight control officers and anyone performing balloon weighings."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-100-96-instrument-2015","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-100-96-instrument-2015/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-100-96-instrument-2015/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-100-96-instrument-2015/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-100-96-instrument-2015/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-100-96-instrument-2015/documents"}}