{"id":"F2015L00662","name":"Civil Aviation Order 20.21 Instrument 2015","slug":"civil-aviation-order-20-21-instrument-2015","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":93335,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2015L00662-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation Order 20.21 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, subregulation 5 (1), paragraph 157 (4) (b) and subregulation 235 (7) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, regulation 11.160 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, and subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.\n\n\\[Signed M. Skidmore\\]\n\nMark Skidmore AM  \nDirector of Aviation Safety\n\n5 May 2015\n\nCivil Aviation Order 20.21 Instrument 2015\n\n1A Name of instrument\n\n(1)This instrument is the Civil Aviation Order 20.21 Instrument 2015.\n\n(2)This instrument may be cited as Civil Aviation Order 20.21.\n\n(3) A reference in an instrument to section 20.21 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 Amendment Order (No. R20) 2004, also known as F2005B00804, including section 20.21 of the Civil Aviation Orders as set out in Schedule 1 of that instrument, as amended, is repealed.\n\n2 Application\n\nThis Order applies to rotorcraft engaged in agricultural operations and related inspection flights.\n\n2A Definitions\n\nIn this Order:\n\n> agricultural operations has the same meaning given by subregulation 2 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988).\n\n3 Low flying permission\n\n3.1Under paragraph 157 (4) (b) of CAR 1988, permission is granted for the flight of rotorcraft at a lower height than 500 feet over any area other than a city, town or populous area while the rotorcraft is engaged in:\n\n(a) agricultural operations authorised by an AOC; and\n\n(b) inspection flying related to such agricultural operations; and\n\n(c) transit flights to a treatment area up to a maximum radius of 5 nautical miles from the aerodrome or agricultural landing area in use when carrying an agricultural payload.\n\n3.2Despite the permission granted in paragraph 3.1, a rotorcraft engaged in agricultural operations and related inspection flights must not be flown over, or in proximity to, a building occupied by persons unless it is operated in a pattern and at such an altitude that in the event of an emergency it can avoid endangering persons or property on the ground. The rotorcraft must not in any event be flown within 100 metres horizontally of an occupied building which forms part of a city, town or populous area, or below 350 feet above terrain within 100 metres horizontally of an occupied building which is situated in any other area, unless:\n\n(a) a notice in writing of such flight has been given to the occupier of the building not less than 48 hours before the proposed flights and no objection to the flight is made; or\n\n(b) if it is not reasonably practical to give a written notice under the preceding subparagraph, a verbal notice of such flights is given to the occupier before the flight and no objection to the flight is made.\n\n> Note 1 The distance limits mentioned above are based on operational safety and aircraft noise considerations and do not take into account the possible environmental and health hazards from handling, storage, application or jettisoning of agricultural chemicals. In this respect, operators should ensure that relevant State requirements, particularly those associated with health and welfare, are adhered to. Such requirements may impose stricter limitations than those in this Order.\n\n> Note 2 Attention is directed to the fact that the permission granted in this subsection does not confer on an operator any rights, as against the owner of any land over which the operations may be conducted, or prejudice in any way the rights and remedies which any person may have in common law in respect of any injury to persons or damage to property caused directly or indirectly by the operator.\n\n4 Loading area\n\nAn operator engaged in agricultural operations must ensure that:\n\n(a) loading equipment is not located; and\n\n(b) loading operations are not carried out;\n\nat a distance of less than 30 metres from the manoeuvring area.\n\n5 Operations during scheduled aircraft movements\n\n5.1 Subject to paragraph 5.2, a rotorcraft engaged in agricultural operations from an aerodrome used for regular public transport operations must not undertake those operations at a distance of less than 5 nautical miles from the aerodrome during the following periods:\n\n(a) the period starting 15 minutes before the scheduled arrival of a regular public transport aircraft at the aerodrome and ending when the aircraft has landed at the aerodrome;\n\n(b) the period starting when a regular public transport aircraft on the aerodrome starts its engines preparatory to take\\-off and ending 10 minutes after the aircraft has taken off.\n\n5.2 Paragraph 5.1 does not apply:\n\n(a) to rotorcraft under the control of Air Traffic Control; or\n\n(b) if the rotorcraft that is engaged in agricultural operations is in two‑way radio contact with the regular public transport aircraft.\n\n6 Exemption\n\n6.1 For regulation 11.160 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), if the conditions set out in this subsection are complied with, a rotorcraft that is engaged in agricultural operations is exempt from compliance with paragraphs 166A (2) (e) and (f) of CAR 1988.\n\n6.2 The exemption given by paragraph 6.1, in relation to a rotorcraft, is subject to the following conditions:\n\n(a) after take-off, the rotorcraft must not turn at a height that is less than 100 feet above ground level;\n\n(b) during take-off, the rotorcraft must not be operated in a manner that causes a danger to persons or livestock;\n\n(c) the pilot in command must, before conducting an operation under this exemption, broadcast his or her intention to do so on the local area frequency.\n\n6.3 The exemption in paragraph 6.1 expires at the end of August 2017, as if subsection 6 had been repealed by another instrument.\n\n7 Circuit requirements\n\n7.1 A rotorcraft that is carrying out agricultural operations from:\n\n(a) a military aerodrome; or\n\n(b) an aerodrome established under CASR 1998; or\n\n(c) a licensed aerodrome;\n\nmust, before landing, join the traffic pattern at a height of not less than 500 feet above the elevation of the aerodrome.\n\n7.2 The requirement in paragraph 7.1 is in addition to any other requirement specified in CASR 1998 or AIP relating to the operation of rotorcraft within the vicinity of aerodromes.\n\n8 Pilot qualifications\n\n8.1 Subject to paragraph 8.2, a pilot in command of a rotorcraft conducting agricultural operations must hold an aerial application rating and an aerial application endorsement in accordance with Part 61 of CASR 1998.\n\n8.2 A person may conduct agricultural operations in a rotorcraft when undergoing training in accordance with Part 61 of CASR 1998 and this Order.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument repeals the prior Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R20) 2004 (s 1C) and reissues permissions and conditions for rotorcraft engaged in agricultural operations and related inspection flights (s 2–8). The text confines application to rotorcraft agricultural activities and sets operational, notification, qualification and aerodrome constraints; it does not on its face expand the class of activities or parties affected beyond that scope (ss 2, 3.1, 8.1)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross‑references to CAR 1988 and CASR 1998 and other instruments (instrument preamble; ss 3.1, 6.1, 7.2) increase legal interoperability complexity.","Layered permission with conditional limits: a general low‑flying permission (s 3.1) subject to proximity/altitude exceptions and notification requirements (s 3.2).","Numeric spatial and altitude thresholds to apply in different contexts (500 ft general limit, 100 m horizontal limits, 350 ft within 100 m of non‑populous occupied buildings, 30 m loading setback, 5 NM transit radius) (ss 3.1, 3.2, 4, 3.1(c)).","Temporal and operational exceptions for aerodrome activity and ATC/radio control (5.1–5.2) create interaction between scheduled movements and agricultural flights.","A time‑limited statutory exemption with prescriptive operational conditions (broadcasting intent, minimum turn height, no dangerous take‑off conduct) and explicit expiry (s 6.1–6.3).","Aerodrome‑specific circuit joining requirement that supplements other regulatory documents (s 7.1–7.2), requiring coordination with aerodrome procedures and AIP/CASR material.","Pilot certification linkage and a training carve‑out requiring alignment with Part 61 endorsements and training rules (ss 8.1–8.2).","Operational safety vs environmental/health note (s 3.2 Notes) flags potential non‑regulatory constraints (State requirements) that operators must consider, adding compliance complexity across jurisdictions."],"plain_english_summary":"This Order grants permissions and sets operational rules for rotorcraft engaged in agricultural work and related inspection flights. It allows flights below 500 feet outside cities subject to specified horizontal and vertical limits near occupied buildings, loading‑area and aerodrome separation rules, a limited exemption for certain take‑off manoeuvres, and pilot qualification requirements. It affects agricultural rotorcraft operators, pilots and aerodrome managers because it defines where, when and how low agricultural flights may be conducted and what notifications and safety measures are required."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original scope focused specifically on rotorcraft agricultural operations. It repeals and replaces the 2004 version without expanding into new operational areas. The temporary exemption in section 6 was an intentional time-bound provision rather than scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple legislative instruments referenced (Civil Aviation Act 1988, CAR 1988, CASR 1998, Acts Interpretation Act 1901) in the enabling provisions","Nested conditional logic in section 3.2 (prohibitions with exceptions that have sub-exceptions)","Cross-references to external regulations for definitions ('agricultural operations' defined by reference to CAR 1988)","Time-limited exemption provision (subsection 6.3) creating temporary regulatory effect","Dual qualification requirements (rating AND endorsement) in section 8.1 with training exception in 8.2","Specific distance and time measurements (5 nautical miles, 15 minutes before/10 minutes after, 100 metres, 350 feet, 30 metres) requiring precise compliance"],"plain_english_summary":"This order governs helicopter agricultural operations—allowing controlled low flying outside towns for crop spraying and inspection while imposing safety, distance, notification, loading, and pilot qualification rules. It replaces the 2004 order and includes temporary exemptions already lapsed.\n\nIt affects rotorcraft pilots and operators, farmers hiring aerial services, nearby residents, and airports sharing airspace, balancing efficient agricultural work with public safety and trained personnel for hazardous low-level operations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-21-instrument-2015","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-21-instrument-2015/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-21-instrument-2015/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-21-instrument-2015/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-21-instrument-2015/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-21-instrument-2015/documents"}}