Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121)
Commercial air transport operators need an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) under CASR Parts 119/121, plus an AMOS and a safety management system.
Who must comply
Any company or individual conducting air transport operations for hire or reward in Australia, including charter, scenic and joy flight operators and corporate flight departments not covered by CASA EX68/24 section 7AA. Purely recreational flights with no payment or benefit generally do not need an AOC.
What triggers it
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.
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 required
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.
Max 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
Who must comply with this? The applicability test by industry, business structure and size.
Summary
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. Reward includes indirect benefit such as goods, services or goodwill. The application must include a complete exposition covering every regulatory requirement for the proposed operations, with a process for identifying and making changes (CASR 119.205(1)(m)). Operations then run under Part 121 (larger aeroplanes), Part 135 (smaller aeroplanes) or Part 133 (rotorcraft), and a safety management system is one of the Part 119 requirements. An AOC is unique to its holder and cannot be transferred (Civil Aviation Act 1988 s 27).
Enforced by
Source legislation
Industries
Topics
Related
Frequently asked questions
- Who must comply with Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121)?
- Any company or individual conducting air transport operations for hire or reward in Australia, including charter, scenic and joy flight operators and corporate flight departments not covered by CASA EX68/24 section 7AA. Purely recreational flights with no payment or benefit generally do not need an AOC.
- What triggers Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121)?
- 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.
- When is Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121) 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.
- What is the maximum penalty for Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121)?
- 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
- What evidence is required for Air Operator's Certificate & AMOS (CASR 119/121)?
- 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.
Source: https://www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/air-operators/air-transport-air-operators-certificate/air-transport-air-operators-certificate-part-119. Rules Mate is not a law firm. Always verify against the live regulator source before acting.