AG REGS Flashcards
What Legislation Governs Ag
CASRs Part 137
For fixed-wing (133 for rotary)
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019C00821/Html/Volume_3
How long is an Ag AOC valid
7 years
Minimum Heights
100m / 350ft from an occupied building
Unless have written permission, have given 48 hours notice, or verbal notification to occupants, and no objections raised
Night Ag Ops
- must be familiar with the work area and route by day
- Must be within 30 minutes from base
- Two way equipped
- 5 km visibility minimum
- Lights at work area
(30 minutes from base is a limit if you only hold a night ag rating rather than a Night VFR Rating)
Firebombing minimum experience
Firebombing pilots must have a minimum of 500 hours of aerial application time
Performance: Weight and Balance
Limited by achieving 200’ at the aerodrome boundary and 200’ rate of climb.
Annual Proficiency Check
- Most (employee pilots/ contractors) will be conducted by the HOFO
- HOFO’s and those without employment will have to be checked by an Aerial Application (Ag) ATO, or an instructor who can do biennials
- Those with less than 50 hours in 12 months will have to be checked by an Aerial Application (Ag) ATO
aerial application operation (or application operation) means:
aerial application operation (or application operation) means:
(a) a flight that is carried out by an aeroplane to apply application material; and
(b) a flight by an aeroplane that is for, or partly for, 1 or more of the following:
(i) inspection of a work area;
(ii) pilot training or checking relating to a flight mentioned in paragraph (a);
(iii) training of a crew member other than the pilot;
(iv) travel from a landing area to a work area and back;
(v) the carriage of a passenger specified in regulation 137.135 for a purpose set out in that regulation; and
(c) preparation for any activities mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b).
- application material means fertiliser, trace elements, seeds, baits, water, pesticides or other material.
Head of flight operations
(1) Subject to subregulation (5), an operator must nominate an individual to be head of flight operations in the operator’s organisation.
(2) The duties of the head of flight operations must include being responsible for the following:
(a) monitoring the operator’s compliance with the Act, these Regulations and the conditions to which the operator’s AOC is subject, and reporting on compliance to the operator’s CEO;
(b) monitoring the adequacy of the operator’s systems and procedures to ensure safe operations under the operator’s AOC, and reporting on the adequacy of the systems and procedures to the CEO;
(c)
arranging rosters for the pilots employed to carry out application operations for the operator;
(d) maintaining an efficient system for recording flight and duty times for each pilot;
(e) maintaining up‑to‑date records of all licences, ratings, medical certificates and endorsements held by each pilot;
(f) maintaining a system that will ensure compliance with the relevant loading procedures for each type of aeroplane used in operations carried out under the operator’s AOC;
(g) ensuring that the operator keeps any documents required by the Act, these Regulations and the conditions of the operator’s AOC;
(h)
setting and monitoring the standard of application operations, including activities on the ground, carried out under the operator’s AOC;
(i)
ensuring that the checking required by Subpart 137.N is carried out and, if a pilot fails a check, that the appropriate retraining and re‑checking are carried out;
(j)
allocating an aeroplane for use in each operation carried out under the operator’s AOC.
(3) If an operator uses only 1 aeroplane for application operations, the person occupying the position of head of flight operations must have at least 300 hours total flight time as pilot in command in application operations.
(4) If an operator uses more than 1 aeroplane for application operations, the person occupying the position of head of flight operations must hold an agricultural pilot (aeroplane) grade 1 rating within the meaning given in Civil Aviation Order 40.6.
(5) A person who, under Civil Aviation Order 82.0, is approved as Chief Pilot of an operator, is taken to be the head of flight operations for the operator
Documents to be Carried
(1) The pilot in command of an aeroplane being used for an application operation must have a copy of the aeroplane’s flight manual, or an approved alternative document, on board the aeroplane on every flight.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2) The pilot must also have the documents or copies mentioned in subregulations (4) and (5) on board the aeroplane on a flight if the aeroplane will be more than 1 hour’s flying time (at cruise speed in still air) from the operator’s principal operating base.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
(3) However, if:
(a) the aeroplane is to be based for more than 7 days at a place that is not the operator’s principal operating base (a substitute base); and
(b) the aeroplane is less than 1 hour’s flying time (at cruise speed in still air) from the substitute base;
the documents or copies mentioned in subregulations (4) and (5) may be kept at the substitute base.
(4) For subregulations (2) and (3), the documents are:
(a) the aeroplane’s flight and maintenance records; and
(b) each of the following documents, or copies of the documents:
(i) the aeroplane’s certificate of registration;
(ii) the aeroplane’s certificate of airworthiness (or, if applicable, special flight permit);
(iii) the current medical certificate for, and licence of, the pilot.
(5) However, if the operations manual states that only a specified part of a document mentioned in subregulation (1) or paragraph (4)(a) must be carried during a flight, only that part need be carried.
If an aeroplane engaged in an application operation is on the ground with the engine running, the pilot in command must be at the controls unless:
a) the pilot is refuelling the aeroplane in accordance with the operations manual; or
(b) the following apply:
(i) the pilot remains near the aeroplane;
(ii) the wheel brakes are locked and, if practicable, the wheels are chocked;
(iii) the aeroplane’s power controls are friction locked and, if possible, the propeller is feathered;
(iv) the engine is retarded to idle and, if possible, ground idle.
Penalty: 25 penalty units.
(3) Subregulation (4) applies if a person who is not, under these Regulations, entitled to manipulate the aeroplane’s flight controls:
(a) occupies a control seat fitted with fully or partially functioning controls; or
(b) is seated in a position where he or she could interfere with the controls.
(4) The pilot in command of the aeroplane must:
(a) instruct the person not to interfere with the controls; and
(b) be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the person has understood the instruction.
Carriage of passengers
(1) If an aeroplane is engaged in an application operation, neither the operator nor the pilot in command may allow a passenger to be carried unless subregulation (2), (3) or (4) applies to the operation and the passenger.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2) This subregulation applies if the passenger is an officer, or delegate of CASA, who is on board the aeroplane to carry out his or her duties.
(3) This subregulation applies if:
(a) the passenger is on board the aeroplane to identify the area where the application material is to be applied; and
(b) no application material is applied during the operation.
(4) This subregulation applies if:
(a) the passenger is on board the aeroplane to carry out duties necessary for his or her employment; and
(b) both the operator and the pilot agree to the carriage of the passenger.
Minimum height and lateral separation for operation
(1) Subject to subregulations (2), (3) and (4) the pilot in command of an aeroplane engaged in an application operation may fly at any height while:
(a) over the work area; or
(b) travelling from the landing area used for loading the aeroplane to the work area.
(2) In a populous area, the aeroplane must not fly closer than 100 metres, measured horizontally, from an occupied building.
Penalty: 25 penalty units.
(3) In an area other than a populous area the aeroplane must not fly less than 350 feet AGL while closer than 100 metres, measured horizontally, from an occupied building.
Penalty: 25 penalty units.
(4) The aeroplane may fly closer to a building and to the ground than provided for in subregulation (2) or (3) if:
(a) more than 48 hours before the proposed operation, the occupier of the building was notified in writing about the operation and did not object to the operator about it; or
(b) if it was not reasonably practicable to give written notice—the occupier was notified verbally before the operation and did not object to the operator about it.
Application over populous areas
(1) A person may conduct an application operation over a populous area only if:
(a) the person is an operator; and
(b) the procedures for the operation are set out in the operations manual; and
(c) the operation was requested by a person that, under a law of a State or Territory, may authorise the operation.
Penalty: 25 penalty units.
(2) An operator must, before conducting the operation, make a plan for the operation that:
(a) includes consultation with the person that requested the operation; and
(b) identifies any obstructions to flight and sets out how these will be avoided; and
(c) identifies the most suitable emergency landing area for the operation; and
(d) sets out any coordination with ATC that is necessary for the operation.
Operations near RPT flight
(1) The pilot in command of an aeroplane must not engage in an application operation within 5 nautical miles of an aerodrome during:
(a) the period commencing 10 minutes before the estimated time of arrival at the aerodrome of an aeroplane with an MTOW of more than 5 700 kg that is conducting a regular public transport operation (an RPT aeroplane) and finishing when the RPT aeroplane lands; and
(b) the period commencing when an RPT aeroplane starts to taxi for take‑off at the aerodrome and finishing when the RPT aeroplane is at an altitude that is 500 feet greater than the maximum operating altitude that is to be reached by the aeroplane during the operation.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply if the pilot is:
(a) subject to instructions by ATC; or
(b) in radio contact with the RPT aeroplane.
