{"id":"F2016L01294","name":"Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence 2016","slug":"radiocommunications-aircraft-and-aeronautical-mobile-stations-class-licence-2016","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":94773,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2016L01294-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Compliance with specifications, equipment compliance requirements, standards and equipment rules","content":"#### 6 Compliance with specifications, equipment compliance requirements, standards and equipment rules\n\n  (1) A person must not operate an aircraft station or aeronautical mobile station under this Class Licence unless:\n    (a) if the device compliance day for the station occurs before 18 August 2016 – each device included in the station complies with section 6 of the Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence 2006 as in force immediately prior to that date; or\n    (b) if the device compliance day for the station occurs on or after 18 August 2016, but before the day that Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020 commenced – each device included in the station complies with any standard applicable to it, as in force on the device compliance day; or\n    (c) if the device compliance day for the station occurs on or after the day that Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020 commenced – each device included in the station complies with any equipment rules applicable to it, as in force on the device compliance day.\n    Note: The Radiocommunications (118 MHz to 137 MHz Amplitude Modulated Equipment – Aeronautical Radio Service) Standard 2012, the Radiocommunications (406 MHz Satellite Distress Beacons) Standard 2014 and the Radiocommunications (VHF Radiotelephone Equipment – Maritime Mobile Service) Standard 2018 were standards that may have applied to aircraft stations and aeronautical mobile stations for the purposes of paragraph (b), and are equipment rules that may apply to aircraft stations and aeronautical mobile stations for the purposes of paragraph (c).\n  (2) A person must not operate an aircraft station or aeronautical mobile station under this Class Licence unless each device included in the station complies with the requirements that apply to the device as specified in the ‘AS/NZS IEC 62287.1:2007: Maritime navigation and radiocommunications equipment and systems – Class B shipborne equipment of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) – Part 1: Carrier-sense time division multiple access (CSTDMA) techniques’ (other than clause 6.5.2), published by Standards Australia, as in existence from time to time, or another document published by Standards Australia that replaces that document.\n\n> Note 1: The AS/NZS IEC 62287.1:2007 Maritime navigation and radiocommunications equipment and systems – Class B shipborne equipment of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) is available for a fee from SAI Global Pty Limited’s website [https://infostore/saiglobal.com/](https://infostore/saiglobal.com/) or may be viewed at an office of the ACMA on request and subject to licensing conditions.\n\n> Note 2: If a radiocommunications device is required to be fitted to, or carried on, an aircraft under any civil aviation instrument, it must also comply with any relevant requirements under that civil aviation instrument.\n\n> Note 3: Clause 6.5.2 of the ‘AS/NZS IEC 62287.1:2007 Maritime navigation and radiocommunications equipment and systems – Class B shipborne equipment of the Automatic Identification System (AIS), Part 1: Carrier-sense time division multiple access (CSTDMA) techniques’ sets out the information reporting intervals that must be used when operating Class B shipborne equipment of the Automatic Identification System (AIS).\n\n> Note 4: It is permissible to use information reporting intervals of no less than 2 seconds if operating VHF international marine mobile service equipment for the purposes of search and rescue or the safe and expeditious conduct of a flight.\n\n  (3) In paragraph (1)(b), standard has the meaning given by section 5 of the Act, as in force immediately before the commencement of Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020.\n\n> Note: Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020 replaces standards with equipment rules. See also item 42 of that Schedule.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"6A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Condition — compliance with ARPANSA Standard","content":"#### 6A Condition – compliance with ARPANSA Standard\n\nA person must not operate an aircraft station or an aeronautical mobile station, or a group of aircraft stations or aeronautical mobile stations, under this Class Licence if the electromagnetic energy emitted by the station, or group of stations, exceeds the general public exposure limits specified in the ARPANSA Standard in a place accessible by the public.\n\n7 Operator qualifications\n\n  A person must not operate an aircraft station or an aeronautical mobile station unless the person is qualified to operate the station in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or any civil aviation instrument.\n\n8 Station identification\n\n(1) A person who operates an aircraft station must identify the station using:\n\n(a) the nationality mark and the registration mark of the relevant aircraft; or\n\n(b) the registration issued for that aircraft station by a sport aviation body; or\n\n(c) any other form of identification that clearly identifies the station.\n\n(2) A person who operates an aeronautical mobile station must identify the station using a form of identification that clearly identifies the station.\n\n> Note Other requirements, for example those imposed by Airservices Australia or CASA, may apply to the person in relation to the operation of an aircraft station or an aeronautical mobile station.\n\n9 Communications between stations\n\n(1) A person may operate an aircraft station to communicate only with:\n\n(a) another aircraft station operating on a frequency permitted under paragraph 11 (1) (c), (d) or (e);\n\n(b) an aeronautical station; or\n\n(c) a station operating for a purpose mentioned in an item in column 2 of Part 1.1, Part 1.2, Part 1.3 or Part 1.4 of Schedule 1, on a frequency mentioned in column 3 of that item in relation to that purpose.\n\n(2) A person may operate an aeronautical mobile station to communicate only with:\n\n(a) an aircraft station operating on a frequency permitted under paragraph 11 (1) (c), (d) or (e);\n\n(b) an aeronautical station;\n\n(c) an aeronautical mobile station operating on a frequency permitted under paragraph 11 (2) (c);\n\n(d) an aeronautical mobile station operating on a frequency mentioned in paragraph 11 (2) (d); or\n\n(e) a station operating for a purpose mentioned in an item in column 2 of Part 1.1, Part 1.2, Part 1.3 or Part 1.4 of Schedule 1, on a frequency mentioned in column 3 of that item in relation to that purpose.\n\n(3) A person may operate a station in accordance with subsection (1) or (2) only if the operation is for a communication that relates to:\n\n(a) the safe and expeditious conduct of a flight;\n\n(b) an emergency; or\n\n(c) a matter that relates to the particular occupation or industry in which:\n\n(i) the aircraft to which the aircraft station relates is engaged; or\n\n(ii) the aeronautical mobile station is engaged.\n\n(4) However, subsection (3) does not apply to a person employed by:\n\n(a) Airservices Australia; or\n\n(b) CASA.\n\n10 Operations outside Australia (aircraft stations)\n\n(1) A person may operate an aircraft station outside Australia only in accordance with:\n\n(a) the Radio Regulations; and\n\n(b) if the station is in the territory of another country — the requirements of the country applicable to radiocommunications.\n\n> Note The Radio Regulations mentioned in paragraph 10(1)(a) are those made by the International Telecommunication Union.\n\n(2) If an aircraft station is to be operated outside Australia on a frequency authorised by ICAO and published in an Aeronautical Information Publication (or a similar document, as in existence from time to time, for the country in whose territory the station is located), the person may operate the station only to communicate with:\n\n(a) an aeronautical station operated in another country; or\n\n(b) another aircraft station.\n\n> Note Section 16 of the Act provides that the Act applies outside Australia in particular circumstances. See also sections 23 and 195.\n\n11 Use of frequencies\n\n(1) A person may operate an aircraft station only:\n\n(a) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 1.1 of Schedule 1, and on a carrier frequency mentioned in column 3 of the item, utilising single sideband modulation using upper sideband with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 2.8 kHz;\n\n(b) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 1.2 of Schedule 1, and on a carrier frequency mentioned in column 3 of the item in relation to that purpose;\n\n(c) on a frequency permitted in an Aeronautical Information Publication;\n\n(d) for the purposes of search and rescue:\n\n(i) on one of the following frequencies:\n\n(A) 2 182 kHz;\n\n(B) 3 023 kHz;\n\n(C) 4 125 kHz;\n\n(D) 5 680 kHz;\n\n(E) 121.5 MHz;\n\n(F) 123.1 MHz;\n\n(G) 123.2 MHz;\n\n(H) 156.3 MHz;\n\n(I) 156.8 MHz; or\n\n(ii) if the station is an Automatic Identification System (AIS) that operates on 161.975 MHz or 162.025 MHz; or\n\n(e) if the station is an Automatic Identification System (AIS) — for the purpose of the safe and expeditious conduct of a flight, on 161.975 MHz or 162.025 MHz.\n\n(2) A person may operate an aeronautical mobile station only:\n\n(a) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 1.2 of Schedule 1, on a carrier frequency mentioned in column 3 in relation to that purpose;\n\n(b) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 1.4 of Schedule 1, on a frequency band mentioned in column 3 of the item;\n\n(c) on a frequency permitted in an Aeronautical Information Publication, as existing from time to time; or\n\n(d) on any of the following frequencies for the purposes of search and rescue:\n\n(i) 3 023 kHz;\n\n(ii) 5 680 kHz;\n\n(iii) 121.5 MHz;\n\n(iv) 123.1 MHz;\n\n(v) 123.2 MHz.\n\n12 Operation on radionavigation frequencies (aircraft stations)\n\nA person may operate an aircraft station on radionavigation frequencies only:\n\n(a) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 1.3 of Schedule 1; and\n\n(b) on a frequency in a frequency band mentioned in column 3 of the item in relation to that purpose.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Endnotes","sectionType":"section","heading":"Endnotes","content":"#### Endnotes\n\nEndnote 1 – About the endnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nEndnote 2 (Abbreviation key) sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nEndnote 3 (Legislation history) provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nEndnote 4 (Amendment history) provides information about the amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level and includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nIt also includes information about any misdescribed amendment (that is, an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made). If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history. If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\n| ad. = added               | am = amended                  |\n| ------------------------- | ----------------------------- |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003 | rs = repealed and substituted |\n| rep. = repealed           |                               |","sortOrder":2}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument stays within the original subject matter: regulating operation of aircraft and aeronautical mobile radio stations under a class licence. Changes reflected in the text are primarily modernising and technical (migrating from older 2006 class‑licence references to date‑based application of standards and, post‑2020, equipment rules; explicit reference to an AIS standard; and specifying ARPANSA public exposure compliance). Those are refinements and additions of technical and health/safety requirements within the existing regulatory scope rather than a material expansion beyond the original purpose of managing aeronautical radiocommunications under a class licence."},"complexity_factors":["Three date‑based compliance branches in s 6(1) that reference different historical regimes (2006 class licence, standards as in force on device compliance day, and post‑2020 equipment rules).","Multiple external cross‑references: Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020, the Radiocommunications Act definitions (including 'standard' as historically defined), International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations, and civil aviation instruments (ss 6, 10).","Reference to an external Standards Australia document (AS/NZS IEC 62287.1:2007) with an explicit carve‑out (s 6(2) and notes), including paywalled access (note to s 6).","A separate health/safety condition (Condition 6A) referencing ARPANSA exposure limits, introducing non‑radio technical compliance and potential measurement/mitigation requirements.","Schedule 1 cross‑references (Parts 1.1–1.4) that determine permitted purposes and specific carrier frequencies; these are multi‑column, multi‑part lookups rather than inline rules (ss 9, 11, 12).","Enumerated frequency lists (e.g. search and rescue frequencies in s 11) combined with modality limits (e.g. SSB upper sideband and bandwidth caps in s 11(1)(a)), adding technical parameters to frequency permissions.","Operational condition exceptions and role‑based carve‑outs (e.g. Airservices Australia and CASA exemptions in s 9(4)), requiring implementers to check employment/status conditions.","Interplay between domestic and international operation rules (s 10), meaning different legal regimes apply depending on where the station is used.","Embedded notes and historical transitional references (notes to s 6 and s 6(3)) that require awareness of legislative history to determine which regime applies.","Moderate number of defined terms implied (device compliance day, standard, equipment rules, aircraft station, aeronautical mobile station) and conditional logic tied to those definitions."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does, in plain terms**\n\n- This is a class licence that lets people operate radio equipment on aircraft (\"aircraft stations\") and hand‑held or other mobile equipment used in aircraft operations (\"aeronautical mobile stations\") without getting an individual licence, provided they follow the rules set out here.\n\n- The rules require that every radio device on an aircraft meets specific technical standards or \"equipment rules\" (see s 6). Which set of rules applies depends on the device's \"device compliance day\" (three date-based branches in s 6(1)): older devices must meet the 2006 class licence rules, devices with intermediate dates must meet the relevant standards as they existed on the compliance day, and newer devices must meet the equipment rules in force on their compliance day. (s 6(1))\n\n- In addition to the date‑based requirements, every device in a station must comply with the AS/NZS IEC 62287.1:2007 requirements for Class B AIS equipment (except clause 6.5.2) or a Standards Australia replacement document (s 6(2)).\n\n- Devices required by civil aviation rules must also meet those civil aviation requirements (s 6 note 2).\n\n- There is a separate, non-technical safety condition: you must not operate any aircraft or aeronautical mobile station under the class licence if the electromagnetic emissions from the station (or a group of stations) exceed the general public exposure limits set by ARPANSA (the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) in places accessible to the public (Condition 6A).\n\n- Operators must be qualified under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or the relevant civil aviation instrument (s 7).\n\n- Stations must be identified clearly when operating (nationality and registration marks, sport aviation registration, or any clear identifier) (s 8).\n\n- The licence limits who you can communicate with and what you can use the radios for. Communications are only allowed with specified other stations (other aircraft, aeronautical ground stations, or stations listed in Schedule 1) and only where the communication relates to: the safe and expeditious conduct of a flight, an emergency, or matters related to the occupation/industry of the aircraft or aeronautical mobile station. Personnel employed by Airservices Australia or CASA are exempt from the occupation/industry limitation (s 9).\n\n- When operating outside Australia, aircraft stations must follow the International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations and any radiocommunications rules of the country whose territory they are in (s 10).\n\n- The licence specifies which frequencies and frequency bands may be used for particular purposes (s 11 and s 12), including a list of frequencies reserved for search and rescue and specific authorization for Automatic Identification System (AIS) use on 161.975 MHz and 162.025 MHz (s 11).\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Aircraft operators (airlines, general aviation owners), pilots, crew using aeronautical mobile equipment, avionics manufacturers and installers, avionics maintenance organisations, and organisations that fit or carry mandatory radiocommunications equipment under civil aviation rules.\n\n- Regulators and technical standards bodies: ACMA (for enforcement and equipment rules), Standards Australia (standards referenced), ARPANSA (exposure limits), and CASA/Airservices (civil aviation qualifications and other operational requirements).\n\n**Why it matters (mechanically and economically)**\n\n- Compliance obligations are technical and administrative: operators must ensure every installed device complies with the correct historical or current standard/equipment rule on its compliance day (s 6(1)–(3)); they must maintain station identification and operator qualifications (ss 7–8); and they must observe strict limitations on allowed communications and frequencies (ss 9–12).\n\n- Costs and incentives: meeting the referenced standards and equipment rules typically requires buying certified equipment, paying for compliance testing/certification, and keeping records. Some standards are sold under licence (Note 1 to s 6), which creates a direct purchase cost for access to the specification for implementers.\n\n- Health/safety addition: Condition 6A adds an obligation to keep electromagnetic emissions within ARPANSA public exposure limits in places accessible to the public. That creates a monitoring and potential mitigation cost for operators whose transmissions could affect public areas.\n\n- Interaction with other regulators: where civil aviation instruments mandate particular devices, operators must also meet those civil aviation requirements (s 6 note 2). International operations are constrained by ITU Radio Regulations and the host country's rules (s 10).\n\n**Testing the instrument's stated purpose against costs and trade‑offs**\n\n- If the stated purpose is to ensure safe, interoperable, and interference‑free aeronautical communications, the mechanics support that: device technical compliance, frequency restrictions for safety and search and rescue, and operator qualification requirements all contribute directly (ss 6, 7, 9–12).\n\n- Trade‑offs and costs are concrete: operators bear equipment, testing and documentation costs; manufacturers face certification burdens; small operators with older equipment may need retrofits or replacements; Standards Australia documents may be behind paywalls, raising information costs (s 6 notes). The ARPANSA requirement may force power reductions, site changes, or equipment reconfiguration in circumstances where emissions could affect public spaces (Condition 6A).\n\n- Implementation and enforcement risks: the regime relies on cross‑referenced external instruments (historical standards, newer equipment rules, civil aviation instruments, and international regulations). That increases complexity for implementers and for regulators when verifying compliance (see s 6(1) and notes; ss 10–11).\n\n**Who pays and who decides**\n\n- Operators and manufacturers pay directly in the form of compliant equipment, testing, certification, and possibly mitigation measures for ARPANSA exposure limits (s 6; Cond. 6A).\n\n- Decisions about technical requirements come from: ACMA through equipment rules/standards (s 6), Standards Australia for the referenced standard (s 6(2)), ARPANSA for exposure limits (Cond. 6A), and CASA/Airservices for civil aviation qualifications and any other operational requirements (s 7 and notes).\n\n**Practical note on scope and day‑to‑day effect**\n\n- Day‑to‑day, most air operators will treat this instrument as a checklist: ensure each device is compliant with the applicable standard/equipment rule on its compliance day (s 6), ensure operators hold civil aviation qualifications (s 7), display/communicate the station identity (s 8), limit communications to permitted purposes and partner stations (s 9), and use only the authorised frequencies (ss 11–12). Condition 6A overlays an emissions‑safety requirement that can trigger measurement or mitigation activity for operations near public spaces."},"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":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown significantly beyond simple radio licensing into a complex temporal patchwork of equipment compliance regimes. The original 2016 instrument has been substantially modified by the 2020 Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act, requiring the retention of three separate compliance pathways (pre-2016, 2016-2020, post-2020) to grandfather existing equipment. Additionally, the scope has expanded to incorporate specific technical standards for maritime AIS equipment (AS/NZS IEC 62287.1:2007) into aircraft legislation, reflecting the convergence of aviation and maritime safety systems, and includes health/safety radiation limits (ARPANSA) not typically found in pure communications licensing."},"complexity_factors":["Temporal layering: Section 6 contains three parallel compliance regimes based on 'device compliance day' cut-off dates (pre-18 August 2016, 18 August 2016 to 2020 reform commencement, and post-2020 reform), creating a complex matrix of applicable standards","Legislative cross-referencing: Heavy reliance on external instruments including the Civil Aviation Act 1988, civil aviation instruments, ARPANSA standards, ITU Radio Regulations, Aeronautical Information Publications, and multiple repealed/amended standards (2006 Class Licence, 2012/2014/2018 Standards)","Defined terms with temporal limitations: 'Standard' in s 6(3) has a specific meaning tied to the pre-2020 reform version of the Act, requiring readers to track legislative history","Technical specification incorporation: Direct incorporation of AS/NZS IEC 62287.1:2007 with specific exclusions (clause 6.5.2) and 'as in existence from time to time' drafting, requiring access to external paid standards documents","Nested conditional permissions: Sections 9-11 contain multi-layered conditions (purpose restrictions × frequency restrictions × communication partner restrictions) with exceptions for specific employers (Airservices Australia and CASA in s 9(4))","Schedule-dependent operation: Extensive references to Schedule 1 (not fully reproduced in extract) which contains detailed frequency allocation tables across Parts 1.1-1.4","Dual regulatory overlay: Requirements must be read alongside both radiocommunications law and civil aviation law, creating parallel compliance obligations"],"plain_english_summary":"This class licence allows operation of aircraft radio and aeronautical mobile stations without individual licences, subject to technical equipment standards, ARPANSA exposure limits, operator qualification rules, and identification and communications restrictions. It also requires compliance with international and foreign laws when abroad.\n\nIt affects pilots, aircraft operators, ground crew and search-and-rescue personnel. It matters because it preserves safe, orderly aviation communications, prevents interference, and ensures critical distress and flight-safety channels work reliably."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-aircraft-and-aeronautical-mobile-stations-class-licence-2016","history":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-aircraft-and-aeronautical-mobile-stations-class-licence-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-aircraft-and-aeronautical-mobile-stations-class-licence-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-aircraft-and-aeronautical-mobile-stations-class-licence-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-aircraft-and-aeronautical-mobile-stations-class-licence-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-aircraft-and-aeronautical-mobile-stations-class-licence-2016/documents"}}