The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) was called before Senate Estimates on the 22nd February 2019 to provide answers on a range of questions regarding recent changes to Community Service Flights (CASA 09/19 legislation).

During the proceedings, CASA has confirmed the withdrawal of the AD/ENG4 requirement and has confirmed that an amendment will be introduced shortly permitting the use of helicopters for Community Service Flights.

CASA will again be before Senate Estiamtes on the 2nd April 2019.

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

– Senator Brockman sought to clarify that if a pilot was required to fly a sector to a location to pickup a Community Service Flight passenger, then onwards to a destination where the Community Service Flight passenger disembarked, then a sector back to the original point of departure, would all three legs be considered Community Service Flights even though two of the legs were only a pilot onboard.  Mr Carmody responded that he did not know as he was not a pilot, referring the question to CASA’s Chris Monahan, who responded with yes – on the basis that the pilot would be compensated for costs on all three legs, it was considered a Community Service Flight.