What it does
CASA EX08/25 is a legislative instrument made under regulations 11.160 and 11.205 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR). It grants a time-limited exemption from certain radio-related provisions of CASR and Civil Aviation Order 95.8 (CAO 95.8) to pilots in command of hang gliders and paragliders who participate in approved hang gliding or paragliding events. The exemption applies only while the pilot is operating within a defined event area during a defined event period, and only for events that CASA has approved in writing following an application by the Sports Aviation Federation of Australia Limited (SAFA). The instrument is structured around a two-tier approval system: SAFA first applies to CASA for event approval; CASA then decides whether to grant an approval instrument that specifies the event area, event period, minimum pilot qualification, and optionally a non-controlled aerodrome. CASA may also issue directions to SAFA concerning the conduct of the event. The exemption itself relieves pilots from six specific obligations: regulation 91.400 of CASR (radio communications in the vicinity of a non-controlled aerodrome, but only if the event area includes such a vicinity), regulations 91.630 and 91.640 (which deal with radio failures and radio listening watch requirements), regulation 91.635 (which requires a radio in Class E airspace), and two provisions of CAO 95.8 - subparagraph 10.3(a) to the extent it requires carriage or use of a VHF radiocommunication system, and subparagraph 10.4(b) (which relates to radio equipment standards). Notably, the exemption applies regardless of whether the hang glider or paraglider is actually equipped with a VHF radio. However, the exemption is conditional on compliance with a set of conditions in section 6, most critically the requirement that the aircraft be equipped with a serviceable UHF radiocommunication system. The instrument operates from the time of registration until repeal at the end of 31 October 2027, giving it a lifespan of less than three years. It is a focused, event-specific regulatory relief measure rather than a permanent change to the radio equipment rules for sport aviation.