Who must comply with 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.

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).

Applies when the business has industry: Aviation (incl. drones).

How the regulator frames it: 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.

Jurisdiction: Commonwealth law, so the test is the same in every state and territory.

Outcome across the 35 industries Rules Mate maps (1 of 35: yes; 34 of 35: no).

Structure does not change the answer in aviation (incl. drones): for every structure the answer is "yes".

Size does not change the answer in aviation (incl. drones): at every size band the answer is "yes".

Each line is one run of the Rules Mate applicability engine for a single business profile, with the reason the engine gives:

• Pty Ltd company in aviation (incl. drones) with 6–19 employees, turnover $1M–$3M: applies. Industry: Aviation (incl. drones)
• Pty Ltd company in real estate agents with 6–19 employees, turnover $1M–$3M: does not apply. Requires industry: Aviation (incl. drones)

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.

Frequency

Ongoing

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.

Status

Current

Priority

Critical

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.

Rules Mate has not yet classified the audit or assurance level for this obligation. Any audit, review or certification requirement is set by the regulator source listed below.

If this obligation applies to you, so does this one: the engine uses the same rule for each.

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

• Hold a Remote Pilot Licence / RPAS operator certificate (drones): Commercial drone operations require operator certification + remote pilot licensing.

Rules Mate tracks 3 published obligations tagged "aviation", 1 of them rated critical. For a professional services Pty Ltd company with 6–19 employees operating in every state, 0 of those apply outright. This obligation is rated critical priority, and is an ongoing duty.

Regulated by Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

CASA: Aviation safety regulator. Administers Civil Aviation Safety Regulations including RPAS / drone operations.

• Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Civil Aviation Act 1988: Federal civil aviation safety regulation.

• Civil Aviation Act 1988

Free tools that help with this obligation:

• Compliance calendar builder