Instrument number CASA EX58/08
I, MICHAEL DAVID QUINN, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Operations, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under regulation 308 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988).
Mick Quinn
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Operations
29 August 2008
Exemption — use of radiocommunication systems in firefighting operations
1 Duration
This instrument:
(a) commences on the day after it is registered; and
(b) stops having effect at the end of 31 August 2010.
2 Application
This instrument applies to:
(a) the pilot in command of an Australian aircraft in which a radiocommunication system approved under subregulation 82 (1) of CAR 1988 is installed (the pilot); and
(b) members and staff of the Department of Sustainability and Environment of Victoria (DSE) and the Country Fire Authority of Victoria (CFA); and
(c) aviation radio operators who are members or staff of the DSE or CFA (the operators).
3 Exemption
(1)The pilot is exempt from compliance with paragraphs 83 (1) (c) and (e) of CAR 1988 when engaged in firefighting operations involving the DSE and CFA.
(2) Members and staff of DSE and CFA are exempt from compliance with paragraph 83 (2) (b) of CAR 1988.
(3) The operators are exempt from compliance with subregulation 83 (3) of CAR 1988 in the course of their duties when operating a radiocommunication system.
4 Conditions
The exemption is subject to the conditions mentioned in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1 Conditions
Each member or staff of the DSE or CFA who, in the course of his or her duties, operates a radiocommunication system to which this exemption applies must:
(a) have completed a prescribed DSE training course including the use of radiocommunication systems; and
(b) have been assessed as competent by the Chief Fire Officer of the DSE, or his or her delegate; and
(c) only use the aviation bandwidth VHF AM frequencies allocated to the DSE and CFA by Airservices Australia and the Australian Communications and Media Authority for use during firefighting activities; and
(d) only use the allocated aviation bandwidth VHF AM frequencies for tactical aircraft-to-aircraft and air-to-ground communications during fire suppression and prevention operations.