I, PHILIPPA JILLIAN SPENCE, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, make this instrument under regulations 139.005 and 201.025 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.

[Signed P. Spence]

Pip Spence
Director of Aviation Safety

4 May 2025

Part 139 Manual of Standards Amendment Instrument 2025 (No. 1)

1 Name of instrument

  This instrument is the Part 139 Manual of Standards Amendment Instrument 2025 (No. 1).

2 Commencement

  This instrument commences on 12 June 2025.

3 Amendment of the Part 139 (Aerodromes) Manual of Standards 2019

  Schedule 1 amends the Part 139 (Aerodromes) Manual of Standards 2019.

Schedule 1 Amendments

[1] Subsection 3.01 (2), definition of aircraft classification number (ACN)

repeal and substitute

aircraft classification number (ACN), until the end of 26 November 2025, means a number expressing the relative effect of an aircraft on a pavement for a specified standard subgrade category.

[2] Subsection 3.01 (2), after the definition of aircraft classification number (ACN)

insert

aircraft classification rating (ACR) means the number that expresses the relative effect of an aircraft on a pavement for the specified standard subgrade strength of the pavement.

[3] Subsection 3.01 (2), definition of pavement classification number (PCN)

repeal and substitute

pavement classification number (PCN), until the end of 26 November 2025, means a number expressing the bearing strength of a pavement for unrestricted operations by aircraft with aircraft classification number (ACN) less than or equal to the PCN.

Note   For guidance, see CASA Advisory Circular (AC) 139.C-07: Strength rating of aerodrome pavements, as existing from time to time and freely available on the CASA website.

[4] Subsection 3.01 (2), after the definition of pavement classification number (PCN)

insert

pavement classification rating (PCR) means the number that expresses the bearing strength of a pavement for unrestricted operations.

Note   For guidance, see CASA Advisory Circular (AC) 139.C-07: Strength rating of aerodrome pavements, as existing from time to time and freely available on the CASA website.

[5] Paragraph 5.04 (1) (e)

repeal and substitute

(e) either:

 (i) until the end of 26 November 2025 — the strength rating of the runway pavement calculated using the ACN-PCN rating system; or

 (ii) subject to subsection (1A), the strength rating of the runway pavement calculated using the ACR-PCR rating system;

Note 1   Aerodrome operators have a transition period until the end of 26 November 2025 to adopt the ACR-PCR rating system and report the PCR value. If the PCR value is not reported for the 27 November 2025 date, being the Aeronautical Information, Regulation and Control (AIRAC) date, the relevant pavement will be published in the AIP ERSA as “unrated”.

Note 2   Guidance on assessing and reporting PCRs is contained in the ICAO Aerodrome Design Manual (Doc 9157, Part 3), as in force or existing from time to time.

[6] After subsection 5.04 (1)

insert

 (1A) For subparagraph (1) (e) (ii):

(a) the bearing strength of a pavement intended for aircraft with an MTOW greater than 5 700 kg must be determined and reported using the ACR-PCR method contained in CASA Advisory Circular (AC) 139.C-07: Strength rating of aerodrome pavements (AC 139.C-07), as in force from time to time; and

(b) the bearing strength of a pavement intended for aircraft with an MTOW equal to or less than 5 700 kg may be determined and reported using the ACR-PCR method contained in AC 139.C-07, as in force from time to time.

Note   For an aerodrome operator, determining and reporting the bearing strength of a pavement intended for smaller aircraft is optional, but where it is done it must be done using the ACR-PCR method contained in AC 139.C-07, as in force or existing from time to time.

[7] Section 6.10, the Note

repeal and substitute

Note   As required by paragraph 5.04 (1) (e), the pavement strength rating for a runway must be reported using the ACN-PCN or the ACR-PCR pavement rating system, as applicable.