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The Part 133 Manual of Standards sets detailed safety rules for Australian commercial helicopter and rotorcraft operations, covering operational limits, documentation, fuel rules, medical transport and NVIS use, equipment, performance classes and required training. It applies to operators, pilots, crew and CASA approvers. It matters because helicopters often fly in higher‑risk environments (low altitude, over water, at night) and the MOS defines the safety baseline to prevent accidents.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Part 133 (Australian Air Transport Operations—Rotorcraft) Manual of Standards 2020.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
(1) This instrument is the Part 133 (Australian Air Transport Operations—Rotorcraft) Manual of Standards 2020. (2) This instrument may be cited as the Part 133 Manual of Standards. (3) Unless the contrary intention appears, references in this instrument to “this Manual of Standards”, “this MOS” or “this instrument” are references to the Part133 Manual of Standards.
This instrument is made under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.
Note: Regulation 133.020 of CASR provides a general power for CASA to issue a Manual of Standards for the purposes of Part 133 of CASR (Australian air transport operations — rotorcraft).
Note: Some expressions used in this instrument are defined in section 3 of the
Civil Aviation Act 1988, the Dictionary of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 or subregulation 2(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.
(1) In this instrument, a reference to a class of airspace means the volumes of airspace of that class, as determined by CASA in or under the Determination of Airspace and Controlled Aerodromes Etc. (Designated Airspace Handbook) Instrument, as in force from time to time.
Note: The Determination of Airspace and Controlled Aerodromes Etc. (Designated Airspace Handbook) Instrument is a legislative instrument that is revised and reissued by CASA approximately every 6 months. Airspace details from the Determination in force at any particular time are also published by Airservices Australia in the Designated Airspace Handbook available free online at www.airservicesaustralia.com.
(2) In this instrument: alternate aerodrome has the same meaning as in Annex 2 to the Chicago Convention.
Note: At the commencement of this instrument, Chapter 1 of Annex 2 to the Chicago Convention included the following definition:
Note: “Alternate aerodrome. An aerodrome to which an aircraft may proceed when it becomes either impossible or inadvisable to proceed to or to land at an aerodrome of intended landing where the necessary services and facilities are available, where aircraft performance requirements can be met and which is operational at the expected time of use. Alternate aerodromes include the following:
Take‑off alternate. An alternate aerodrome at which an aircraft would be able to land should this become necessary shortly after take‑off and it is not possible to use the aerodrome of departure.
En‑route alternate. An alternate aerodrome at which an aircraft would be able to land in the event that a diversion becomes necessary while en route.
Destination alternate. An alternate aerodrome at which an aircraft would be able to land should it become either impossible or inadvisable to land at the aerodrome of intended landing.”
APU means auxiliary power unit.
ATC means air traffic control.
ATS means Air Traffic Services.
Note: The term Air Traffic Services is defined in the Dictionary.
automatic ELT: see section 11.43.
avoid area of the HV envelope, of a rotorcraft, means the area delineated on the height-velocity envelope diagram in the rotorcraft’s flight manual that shows the parameters within which operations of the rotorcraft should be avoided.
destination alternate aerodrome means an alternate aerodrome that is a destination alternate (within the meaning of Annex 2 to the Chicago Convention).
ELT: see section 11.42.
en route alternate aerodrome means an alternate aerodrome that is an en-route alternate (within the meaning of Annex 2 to the Chicago Convention).
(E)TSO means ETSO or TSO.
final approach and take-off area, for a rotorcraft at an aerodrome, means the area of the aerodrome:
(a) from which a take-off of the rotorcraft is commenced; or
(b) over which the final phase of approach to hover is completed by the rotorcraft.
GNSS means global navigation satellite system.
headset includes a flying helmet that incorporates a headset.
landing performance requirements, for a rotorcraft, means the landing performance requirements for the rotorcraft stated in its flight manual.
LSALT means lowest safe altitude.
minimum flight altitude, for a point on the route, or a route segment, of a flight of a rotorcraft, means:
(a) for an IFR flight, or VFR flight at night:
(i) the published LSALT for the route or route segment; or
(ii) if subparagraph (i) does not apply — the LSALT for the route or route segment; or
(b) for a VFR flight at night, when not using the LSALT determined under paragraph (a) — 1 000 ft above the highest feature or obstacle on the ground or water within 10 nautical miles ahead, and to either side, of the rotorcraft at that point; or
(c) for a VFR flight by day over a populous area — 1 000 ft above the highest feature or obstacle within a horizontal radius of 300 m of that point on the ground or water immediately below the rotorcraft; or
(d) for a VFR flight by day, other than over a populous area — 500 ft above the highest feature or obstacle within a horizontal radius of 300 m of that point on the ground or water immediately below the rotorcraft.
MTOW means maximum take-off weight.
NAA means national aviation authority.
NVIS means night vision imaging system.
NVIS operation has the meaning given by subsection 8.02(1) of this MOS.
operative, for anything, means the thing is not inoperative.
Note: The term inoperative is defined in the Dictionary.
passenger list, for a flight, means a passenger list for the flight, or other document, stating the information stated in subregulation 133.080(2) of CASR.
performance class 1: see section 10.01.
performance class 2: see section 10.01.
performance class 2 with exposure: see section 10.01.
performance class 3: see section 10.01.
recognised foreign State has the meaning given by regulation 61.010 of CASR.
survival ELT: see section 11.44.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a medical transport operating site, for a rotorcraft, is a site: (a) at which a take-off or landing of the rotorcraft is, or is to be, conducted as part of a medical transport operation; or (b) over which the rotorcraft is required to operate to conduct a medical transport operation. (2) A medical transport operating site, for a rotorcraft, does not include a place that meets the requirements stated in subregulation 91.410(2) of CASR. (3) Despite subsection (2), a place mentioned in subparagraph 91.410(2)(a)(iv) of CASR is a medical transport operating site if the pilot in command of the rotorcraft determines the place is a medical transport operating site, after: (a) following any procedures mentioned in the rotorcraft operator’s exposition under regulation 133.170 of CASR that relate to managing the safety of operations to an unfamiliar aerodrome; and (b) conducting a risk assessment of the medical transport operation for the place.
(1) In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to an ICAO document, however described, is a reference to the document as in force or existing from time to time. (2) In this instrument, a reference to a numbered ICAO Annex is a reference to the Annex of that number, as in force or existing from time to time, and as included in the Chicago Convention. (3) In this instrument, a reference to a numbered ICAO Manual is a reference to the Manual of that number, or later version, as in force or existing from time to time and issued by ICAO. (4) In this instrument, a reference to a numbered ICAO Circular is a reference to the Circular of that number, or later version, as in force or existing from time to time and issued by ICAO. (5) If a provision of this instrument refers to an ICAO document, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the document, as in force or existing from time to time, is taken to be applied, adopted or incorporated by, into or for this instrument, as the case requires.
Note 1: Relevant ICAO documents for this MOS may be accessed by navigating from the following link: http://www.icao.int/publications/Pages/default.aspx.
Note 2: A reference to an ICAO document, including an ICAO Annex, which only occurs in a Note to a provision does not have the effect that the document is taken to be applied, adopted or incorporated for this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears. Such references in Notes are to documents that may be used as guidance or background information.
(1) In this instrument, unless a contrary intention appears, a reference to a particular AS/NZS standard is a reference to the particular joint Australian and New Zealand Standard, as in force or existing from time to time.
Note: For example, the joint Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754:2004, Child restraint systems for use in motor vehicles.
(2) In this instrument, unless a contrary intention appears, a reference to a particular TSO is a reference to that TSO or a later version of that TSO. (3) In this instrument, unless a contrary intention appears, a reference to a particular ETSO is a reference to that ETSO or a later version of that ETSO.
Note 1: The first version of a TSO may have been issued with, or without, the notation “(0)” at the end (for example only, the citations of TSO-C129 and TSO-129(0) would refer to the same document). Therefore, for first version TSOs, either form is an acceptable citation.
Note 2: TSO later versions are identified by an alphabetical letter (for example only, TSO- C129 (or TSO-C129(0) versus TSO-C129a). Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to (for example only) TSO-C129 (or TSO-C129(0)) means that version or a later version. A reference to TSO-C129a means that version or a later version, but not the earlier version, unless a contrary intention appears.
In this instrument, a reference in a provision to a document that is applied, adopted or incorporated for the purposes of the provision is a reference to the document as it exists or is in force from time to time, unless the contrary intention is expressly stated by the reference being to a specifically dated version of the document.
RESERVED
(1) For paragraph 133.030(2)(a) of CASR, each of the following circumstances are prescribed: (a) a rotorcraft is conducting a medical transport operation at a medical transport operating site, and the rotorcraft’s operator has risk-assessed the operation and found the site to be a suitable place to operate the rotorcraft safely; (b) a rotorcraft is conducting an external load operation, during a medical transport operation, involving winching a person or load, and the rotorcraft’s operator has applied the risk assessment and management processes stated in the operator’s exposition to the external load operation; (c) a rotorcraft is being flown in performance class 2 with exposure during the take-off stage, or approach and landing, or baulked landing stage, of a flight. (2) For paragraph 133.030(2)(b) of CASR, the kind of requirement or limitation that is prescribed is a limitation stated in the rotorcraft’s flight manual that restricts the operation of the rotorcraft, by its pilot in command, inside the rotorcraft’s avoid area of the HV envelope. (3) In this section:
winching means the pick-up, or lowering, of an object or person to, or from, the rotorcraft by means of a winch or hoist fitted to the rotorcraft.
(1) For paragraph 133.055(1)(a) of CASR, the following documents are prescribed: (a) the rotorcraft’s aircraft flight manual instructions; (b) either: (i) the rotorcraft’s flight technical log; or (ii) if Part 42 of CASR does not apply to the rotorcraft — the maintenance release for the rotorcraft; (c) if there is required to be a minimum equipment list for the rotorcraft under regulation 133.035 of CASR — the rotorcraft’s minimum equipment list; (d) if an operational flight plan for the flight is required under regulation 133.135 of CASR — the operational flight plan for the flight; (e) the journey log for the flight; (f) the authorised aeronautical information for the flight; (g) the weight and balance documents for the flight.
Note 1: These documents are in addition to documents that are required to be carried on the rotorcraft, as stated in subregulations 133.055(2) and (3), and regulation 133.065, of CASR.
Note 2: Other documents may also be required to be carried on the rotorcraft under other legislation. For example, documentation relating to the carriage of dangerous goods under Part 92 of CASR, or documentation relating to aircraft disinsection requirements and procedures under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
(2) Despite paragraph (1)(a), if: (a) the information and instructions that are required under the relevant airworthiness standards for the rotorcraft to be included in the rotorcraft’s flight manual are contained in another document; and (b) the other document is carried on board the rotorcraft; and (c) that document does not alter, or contain anything that would conflict with, the information, or instructions, mentioned in paragraph (a); the document may be carried on board the rotorcraft in place of the flight manual.
Note: An exposition that meets the requirements in subsection (2) could be carried on board instead of the flight manual.
(3) Also, despite paragraph (1)(a), if: (a) a checklist of the rotorcraft’s normal, abnormal and emergency procedures mentioned in paragraph (b) of the definition of aircraft flight manual instructions in the Dictionary is contained in another document; and (b) the other document is carried on board the rotorcraft; and (c) that document does not alter, or contain anything that would conflict with, the information or instructions in the checklist; then the document may be carried on board the rotorcraft in place of the checklist.
For paragraph 133.065(3)(a) of CASR, the following documents are prescribed: (a) the rotorcraft’s certificate of registration; (aa) for a registered rotorcraft — the rotorcraft’s certificate of airworthiness; (ab) for a foreign-registered rotorcraft — the rotorcraft’s authorisation (however described) that is equivalent to a certificate of airworthiness; (b) if the rotorcraft has a radio station licence — a copy of the licence; (c) if the flight is a passenger transport operation or medical transport operation — a document containing the information required by regulation 133.080 of CASR (Passenger lists); (d) if the rotorcraft is carrying cargo, other than passenger baggage: (i) a manifest and detailed declaration of the cargo; and (ii) a statement about whether any of the cargo may require special, or unusual, handling; (e) a certified true copy of the operator’s Australian air transport AOC; (f) a copy of the operations specifications issued to the operator in relation to the operator’s Australian air transport AOC.
Note 1: These documents are in addition to documents that are required to be carried on the rotorcraft, as stated in regulation 133.055 of CASR.
Note 2: For paragraph (b): see the definition of radio station licence in the Dictionary.
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.