CASA EX26/2002 - Exemption from the requirements of paragraphs 218(1)(a) and (b)

This document is a specific exemption granted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to Australian Airlines Limited (the former government-owned airline, not to be confused with Qantas's later low-cost carrier).

What it does: Normally, aviation regulations require airlines to follow strict rules about how pilots become qualified to fly specific routes (rules found in paragraphs 218(1)(a) and (b) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988). This exemption lets Australian Airlines use its own customised system instead of the standard regulatory requirements.

The trade-off: In exchange for this flexibility, the airline must meet strict conditions:

• Create a detailed operations manual with criteria for assessing how complex different routes are
• Set up a route qualification process that categorises airports by complexity and specifies what pilots must learn for each category
• Ensure pilots know about terrain, weather, navigation facilities, emergency procedures, and airport characteristics before flying a route
• Keep records proving pilots are qualified
• Require pilots to either fly the route at least once every 12 months or requalify, to keep their certification current

Who it affects: