{"id":"F2005B00778","name":"Civil Aviation Order 20.6 - Continuation of flight with 1 or more engines inoperative","slug":"civil-aviation-order-20-6-continuation-of-flight-with-1-or-more-engines-inoperative","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32209,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B00778-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation Order 20.6 - Continuation of flight with 1 or more engines inoperative","content":"Civil Aviation Order 20.6 (as amended)\n\nmade under subregulations 5.11 (2) and 303 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.\n\nThis compilation was prepared on 9 August 2010 taking into account amendments up to Civil Aviation Order 20.6 Amendment Order (No. 1) 2010.\n\nPrepared by the Legislative Drafting Branch, Legal Services Division, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Canberra.\n\nContents\n\nSection 20.6 (Continuation of flight with 1 or more engines inoperative)\n\nPage\n\n1 Name of Order\n\n2 Application\n\n3 Requirements\n\nNotes to Civil Aviation Order 20.6\n\nSection 20.6\n\nContinuation of flight with 1 or more engines inoperative\n\n1 Name of Order\n\nThis Order is Civil Aviation Order 20.6.\n\n2 Application\n\nThis Order applies as a condition on the flight crew licence of the pilot in command of an Australian aircraft.\n\n3 Requirements\n\n3.1 When an engine of an aircraft fails in flight or where the rotation of an engine of an aircraft is stopped in flight as a precautionary measure to prevent possible damage, the pilot in command must notify the nearest Air Traffic Services Unit immediately, giving all relevant information and stating the action he or she intends to take in regard to the conduct of the flight.\n\n3.2 The pilot in command of a multi-engine aircraft in which 1 engine fails or its rotation is stopped, may proceed to an aerodrome of his or her selection instead of the nearest suitable aerodrome if, upon consideration of all relevant factors, he or she deems such action to be safe and operationally acceptable. Relevant factors must include the following:\n\n(a) nature of the malfunctioning and the possible mechanical difficulties which may be encountered if the flight is continued;\n\n(aa) the nature and extent of any city, town or populous area over which the aircraft is likely to fly;\n\n(b) availability of the inoperative engine to be used;\n\n(c) altitude, aircraft weight, and usable fuel at the time of engine stoppage;\n\n(d) distance to be flown coupled with the performance availability should another engine fail;\n\n(e) relative characteristics of aerodromes available for landing;\n\n(f) weather conditions en route and at possible landing points;\n\n(g) air traffic congestion;\n\n(h) type of terrain, including whether the flight is likely to be over water;\n\n(i) familiarity of the pilot with the aerodrome to be used.\n\n> Notes to Civil Aviation Order 20.6\n\n> Note 1\n\n> Note: The Civil Aviation Order (in force under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988) as shown in this compilation comprises Civil Aviation Order 20.6 amended as indicated in the Tables below.\n\n> Note: > Note: Table of Orders\n\n| Year andnumber | Date of notificationin Gazette/registration on FRLI | Date ofcommencement | Application, saving ortransitional provisions |\n| ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |\n| CAO 2004 No. R4 | 8 December 2004 | 8 December 2004 (see s. 2) | |\n| CAO 20.6 2010 No. 1 | FRLI 6 August 2010 | 7 August 2010 (see s. 2) | |\n\n```html\n

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep.= repealed rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

s. 20.6

rs. 2004 No. R4

CAO title

am. CAO 20.6 2010 No. 1

subs. 1

ad. CAO 20.6 2010 No. 1

subs. 2

rs. CAO 20.6 2010 No. 1

subs. 3

am. CAO 20.6 2010 No. 1

\n```","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The 2010 amendments substituted and amended subsections and added or clarified factors (see Table of Amendments). Those changes refine how pilots should decide whether to continue to a selected aerodrome (for example, by explicitly adding consideration of populated areas) but do not materially extend the Order beyond its original, narrow purpose: to require notification on engine stoppage/failure and to set conditions under which a pilot may continue to a chosen aerodrome rather than the nearest suitable one. In short, the scope was clarified and tightened in places rather than significantly broadened."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument: 3 sections only (Name, Application, Requirements).","Single operative requirement to notify ATS (s. 3.1) — simple prescriptive duty.","One discretionary standard ('safe and operationally acceptable') that is broad and evaluative (s. 3.2).","Non‑exhaustive list of relevant factors in s. 3.2 containing 10 items (a, aa, b–i), which requires judgement but is straightforward to read.","Minor amendment history (substitutions and additions recorded) but no heavy cross‑referencing within the Order itself.","Made under cross‑references to the Civil Aviation Regulations (subregulations 5.11(2) and 303(1)), which is the only external reference."],"plain_english_summary":"This Order adds two licence conditions for pilots: require immediate notification to Air Traffic Services if an engine fails or is stopped in flight, and permit the pilot of a multi‑engine aircraft to continue to a chosen aerodrome (rather than divert to the nearest) only if, after weighing a non‑exhaustive set of safety and operational factors, they judge it “safe and operationally acceptable.” It affects pilots, ATS units, operators and passengers by shifting discretion to the pilot while creating compliance and liability trade‑offs."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation has remained tightly focused on its original purpose since 2004. The 2010 amendment added one additional factor (populous areas) to the pilot's decision-making checklist but did not expand the scope beyond engine-out procedures for multi-engine aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document — only 3 substantive sections","No defined terms section — all language is everyday aviation terminology","Single layer of conditional logic (the 'if' in section 3.2)","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulation citation","Simple list structure for the nine factors in 3.2, with no nested sub-paragraphs","Only one amendment of substance since 2004 (adding factor (aa) about populous areas in 2010)"],"plain_english_summary":"This rule tells pilots what they must do when an aircraft engine fails or is deliberately shut down during flight.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Pilots in command** (the main pilot responsible for the flight) of **Australian-registered aircraft**\n\n**What it requires:**\n\n**Immediate notification (Section 3.1):**\nIf an engine fails or is stopped as a safety precaution, the pilot must immediately contact the nearest air traffic control and explain:\n- What happened\n- What information they have about the situation\n- What they plan to do next\n\n**Decision about where to land (Section 3.2):**\nFor **multi-engine aircraft** (planes with more than one engine), if one engine fails, the pilot doesn't necessarily have to land at the closest airport. They can choose a different airport if they judge it safe after considering **nine specific factors**:\n\n- **The problem itself** — what's wrong with the engine and what could go wrong if they keep flying\n- **What's below** — whether they'll fly over cities, towns, or populated areas (this was added in 2010)\n- **Whether the broken engine can still help** — if it can provide some power or drag reduction\n- **Current conditions** — altitude, weight, and remaining fuel\n- **Risk of another failure** — how far they need to go and what happens if a second engine fails\n- **Airport quality** — comparing the available landing options\n- **Weather** — conditions along the route and at possible landing sites\n- **Air traffic** — how busy the skies are\n- **Terrain** — whether they're over land or water\n- **Pilot knowledge** — how well they know their chosen airport\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis rule balances safety with practicality. It recognises that the nearest airport isn't always the safest choice — a slightly farther airport with better weather, equipment, or medical facilities might be smarter. But it also ensures pilots think systematically about risks rather than making snap decisions."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-6-continuation-of-flight-with-1-or-more-engines-inoperative","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-6-continuation-of-flight-with-1-or-more-engines-inoperative/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-6-continuation-of-flight-with-1-or-more-engines-inoperative/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-6-continuation-of-flight-with-1-or-more-engines-inoperative/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-6-continuation-of-flight-with-1-or-more-engines-inoperative/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-20-6-continuation-of-flight-with-1-or-more-engines-inoperative/documents"}}