{"id":"F2005B00820","name":"Civil Aviation Order 29.2 - Air service operations - Night flying training (02/12/2004)","slug":"civil-aviation-order-29-2-air-service-operations-night-flying-training-02-12-2004","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32234,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B00820-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation Order 29.2 - Air service operations - Night flying training (02/12/2004)","content":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R22) 2004 \nas amended\n\nmade under regulations 5.11, 5.16 and 303 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.\n\nThis compilation was prepared on 30 January 2015 taking into account amendments up to Civil Aviation Order (Flight Crew Licensing) Repeal and Amendment Instrument 2014 (No. 1).\n\nPrepared by the Legislative Drafting Section, Legal Branch, Legal Services Division, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Canberra.\n\n1 Name of Order\n\nThis Order is the Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R22) 2004.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Order commences on gazettal.\n\n3 Replacement of section 29.2 of the Civil Aviation Orders\n\nSection 29.2 of the Civil Aviation Orders is omitted and a new section substituted as set out in Schedule 1.\n\nSchedule 1 Substitution of section 29.2 of the Civil Aviation Orders\n\nSection 29.2\n\nAir service operations — night flying training\n\n1 Application\n\nThis section applies to the conduct of night circuit operations in aircraft operated by an operator authorised to conduct flying training at night.\n\n2 Operating limitations\n\n2.1Aerodromes\n\nAn aerodrome used for night flying training must be 1 of the following:\n\n(a) a military, certified or registered aerodrome that is suitable for night circuit operations;\n\n(b) a landing area which meets the general guidelines in CAAP 92-1 and has been approved for night flying training operations by CASA;\n\n(c) in the case of helicopters, an aerodrome or landing area described in (a) or (b) above, or a helicopter landing site which meets the guidelines in CAAP 92-2.\n\n2.2Airspace\n\nUnless otherwise approved by CASA, night circuits must not be conducted at a height less that 1 000 feet above aerodrome elevation. Operations must be conducted within a radius of 3 miles from the aerodrome reference point.\n\n2.3Weather Conditions\n\nNight circuit operations must not be conducted in weather conditions less than a ceiling of 1 500 feet and visibility of 5 kilometres.\n\n3 Supervision of operations\n\nNight circuit operations must be conducted under the supervision of a flight instructor authorised by the operator to supervise the night flying training.\n\n4 Aerodrome lighting and ground facilities\n\n4.1Lighting\n\nThe operator must ensure lighting is provided for the duration of the operations in accordance with the following:\n\n(a) for aeroplanes — lighting as described in:\n\n(i) for military, certified or registered aerodromes — CAAP 92-1(1); or\n\n(ii) for other landing areas — CAAP 92A-1(0);\n\n(b) for helicopters — lighting as described in subparagraph (a) or which meets the guidelines in CAAP 92-2.\n\n4.2Ground Facilities\n\nThe operator must ensure that the following ground facilities are provided:\n\n(a) either:\n\n(i) a suitable standby power supply for fixed electric runway or HLS lighting; or\n\n(ii) portable runway or HLS lighting that is available for use in the event of a runway or HLS lighting power failure;\n\n(b) a suitable means of indicating the wind velocity to aircraft on the manoeuvring area and aircraft in flight.\n\n5 Aircraft equipment\n\nThe operator must ensure that aircraft are fitted with:\n\n(a) serviceable instrumentation and lighting as mentioned in Civil Aviation Order 20.18 for night V.M.C. aerial work and private operations; and\n\n(b) serviceable radio communication equipment.\n\n> Notes to Civil Aviation Order 29.\n\n> Note: 2\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 29.2 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. R22 | 8 December 2004 (F2005B00820) | 8 December 2004 (s. 2) | |\n| CAO (Flight Crew Licensing) Repeal and Amendment Instrument 2014 (No. 1) | FRLI 29 August 2014 (F2014L01177) | 1 September 2014 (s. 2) | Sections 3 and 31 (Table A) |\n\n```html\n

Table of Amendments

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

Provision affected

How affected

s. 29.2

rs. CAO 2004 No. R22

subs. 1

rs. F2014L01177

subs. 2

am. F2014L01177

subs. 3

rs. F2014L01177

subs. 4

rs. F2014L01177

subs. 5

rs. F2014L01177

subs. 6

rep. F2014L01177

Appendix I

rep. F2014L01177

Appendix II

rep. F2014L01177

\n```\n\nTable A Application, saving or transitional provisions\n\nSections 3 and 31 of Civil Aviation Order (Flight Crew Licensing) Repeal and Amendment Instrument 2014 (No. 1) read as follows:\n\n3 Definitions\n\n(1)In this instrument:\n\ncontinued authorisation has the meaning given by regulation 202.261 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998).\n\nnew authorisation has the meaning given by regulation 202.261 of CASR 1998.\n\n(2)A reference in this instrument to a Civil Aviation Order identified by a specified number is taken to include a reference to the section of the Civil Aviation Orders with that number.\n\n> Note Some existing legislative instruments are referred to as a Civil Aviation Order followed by a number. Other instruments are referred to as a section of the Civil Aviation Orders. For consistency, in this instrument, all such instruments are referred to as a Civil Aviation Order followed by a number. For example, a reference to Civil Aviation Order 40.2.2 is taken to include a reference to section 40.2.2 of the Civil Aviation Orders.\n\n31 Transitional — application of Civil Aviation Orders\n\nThe Civil Aviation Orders apply to a continued authorisation as if it were the equivalent new authorisation.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The 2014 amendments significantly narrowed the scope. Originally this Order appears to have contained additional provisions (subsection 6, Appendices I and II) that were repealed. The current version is tightly focused on night circuit operations specifically, rather than broader night flying training operations. The transitional provisions in Table A also indicate a shift from the old Civil Aviation Orders system to the new CASR 1998 authorisation framework, suggesting the instrument's application mechanism changed even if its substantive safety requirements remained similar."},"complexity_factors":["Short, focused instrument with only 5 substantive subsections","Minimal defined terms (relies on external definitions in referenced CAAPs and CAO 20.18)","Straightforward conditional structure with clear alternatives (aeroplanes vs helicopters, different aerodrome types)","External references to 4 other documents (CAAP 92-1, CAAP 92-2, CAAP 92A-1(0), CAO 20.18) without incorporation by full text","No nested exceptions or complex temporal provisions","Single amendment history (2014) that simplified rather than complicated the instrument by removing Appendices I and II and subsection 6"],"plain_english_summary":"This Civil Aviation Order sets out the safety rules for flight schools that want to teach pilots how to fly at night. It applies specifically to **night circuit operations** — the practice of taking off, flying a rectangular pattern around an airport, and landing again, all after dark.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Flight training operators** authorised to conduct night flying training\n- **Flight instructors** supervising night training\n- **Student pilots** learning to fly at night\n\n**What it requires:**\n\n**Where you can train:**\n- Military, certified, or registered aerodromes suitable for night operations\n- Other landing areas approved by CASA (the aviation safety regulator) that meet specific guidelines\n- For helicopters: the above options, or specially approved helicopter landing sites\n\n**Operating limits:**\n- Stay at least **1,000 feet above the aerodrome** unless CASA approves otherwise\n- Stay within **3 miles** of the aerodrome reference point\n- Only fly when the cloud ceiling is at least **1,500 feet** and visibility is at least **5 kilometres**\n\n**Supervision:**\n- All night circuit operations must be supervised by a **flight instructor** specifically authorised by the operator for this purpose\n\n**Ground facilities:**\n- Proper lighting must be available (different standards apply for aeroplanes vs helicopters)\n- **Backup power or portable lighting** must be on hand in case the main lights fail\n- A way to show pilots the **wind direction and speed** must be available\n\n**Aircraft equipment:**\n- Working instruments and lighting as required for night visual flight rules (V.M.C. stands for Visual Meteorological Conditions)\n- Working radio communication equipment\n\n**Why it matters:**\nFlying at night is inherently riskier than daytime flying — visual cues are reduced, depth perception changes, and emergencies are harder to handle. These rules ensure that training happens in controlled conditions with proper safety margins, backup systems, and qualified supervision."},"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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The substituted section retains a focused scope: prescribing operational, equipment, lighting and supervision requirements for night circuit flying training. Amendments reflected in the compilation appear to modernise and consolidate the text and remove obsolete appendices, and to align references with newer instruments (see amendment history referencing the 2014 repeal/amendment instrument). Those changes clarify and update regulatory mechanics but do not materially expand the subject‑matter beyond regulating night flying training."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single‑subject instrument focused on night circuit training (5 numbered paragraphs with subparagraphs)","Multiple cross‑references to external guidance: CAAP 92‑1, CAAP 92A‑1, CAAP 92‑2 (for lighting and landing area standards)","Cross‑reference to Civil Aviation Order 20.18 for aircraft instrument/lighting standards (s.5)","One explicit regulator discretion point: CASA may approve departures (s.2.1(b), s.2.2)","Clear conditional limits (height, radius, weather minima) but no nested exceptions beyond CASA approval","Amendment history and transitional provisions (2004 and 2014 instruments) require users to check related instruments and the CASR definitions of 'continued/new authorisation' (Table A and ss.3,31 of the repeal/amendment instrument)"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument consolidates rules for night circuit flight training: it limits where and when such training may occur, requires operator‑provided instructor supervision, specifies aerodrome lighting/ground facilities and aircraft equipment, and ties approvals and exceptions to CASA and CAAP guidance. \n\nIt affects authorised training operators, instructors, students and aerodrome managers by imposing equipment, lighting and weather/airspace limits that restrict venues, raise compliance costs, and concentrate night training at better‑equipped aerodromes for safety."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-29-2-air-service-operations-night-flying-training-02-12-2004","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-29-2-air-service-operations-night-flying-training-02-12-2004/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-29-2-air-service-operations-night-flying-training-02-12-2004/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-29-2-air-service-operations-night-flying-training-02-12-2004/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-29-2-air-service-operations-night-flying-training-02-12-2004/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-order-29-2-air-service-operations-night-flying-training-02-12-2004/documents"}}