Does Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121) apply to aviation (incl. drones) businesses?

Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121). Anyone who conducts, or proposes to conduct, an air transport operation in Australia in a fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft must hold an air transport air operator's certificate (AOC) granted by CASA under Part 119 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. Air transport covers any flight for hire or reward: scheduled passenger services, charter flights carrying passengers or cargo, joy and scenic flights, and corporate transport flights outside the CASA EX68/24 exemption.

Trigger: Proposing to fly passengers or cargo for hire or reward; and, for an existing holder, any significant change (as defined in CASR 119.020) such as new key personnel, new operating locations or new aircraft.

Rules Mate runs its applicability engine across 9 business structures and 6 size bands for each of the 35 industries it maps. For 34 of those industries the answer for "Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121)" is no. Aviation (incl. drones) is one of the 1 where the answer is different: yes.

The deciding fact for aviation (incl. drones) businesses: Industry: Aviation (incl. drones)

About the industry: Aircraft operators and RPAS / drone operators regulated by CASA.

Compare a professional services (general) business with 6–19 employees structured as a Pty Ltd company: the obligation does not apply (Requires industry: Aviation (incl. drones)).

Each cell is the engine's outcome for a business in aviation (incl. drones) with that structure and size, assuming it sells to consumers and small businesses and holds customer contact details. "Check" means the obligation turns on a fact the industry does not settle.

When due

Before the first air transport flight; a significant change must be approved before it takes effect, non-significant changes are notified through myCASA, and the AOC is renewed before it expires. CASA's cost estimate is valid for 30 days and an application can be closed if the fee and documents are not received within 30 days.

Evidence to keep

The AOC and its associated approvals under Parts 91, 121, 133 or 135; the exposition (operations manual) and its change-management process; key personnel nominations; the safety management system; the exposition compliance matrix lodged with an initial application; carriers' liability insurance where passengers are carried.

Maximum penalty

Conducting air transport without an AOC, or outside its terms, is a contravention of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and CASR; CASA conducts surveillance of AOC holders and can vary, suspend or cancel an AOC. A change of key personnel, location or aircraft made outside the approved change process can leave the AOC invalid

Regulator

CASA

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth (national)

• Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) — Pt 121, 135, 141, 142: Yes