CASA today released for consultation proposed amendments to the Part 138 Manual of Standards (MOS) that would enable helicopter operators to transport people to fire grounds without complying with the air transport rules.
The proposal would introduce a category called fireground personnel carriage operation to the aerial work regulations.
"Emergency service stakeholders and operators have informed CASA that the operational environment of the fireground for rotorcraft was more closely aligned with the aerial work rules," CASA states in the Summary of Proposed Changes.
"This alignment arose from the dynamic environment in which fireground operations take place, including pre-flight uncertainty about conditions at potential landing sites, compared to typical air transport operations."
Previously consulted in September-October last year, the proposal received strong support from a majority of emergency service and helicopter operators that responded.
Under the CASA proposal, the Part 138 MOS will be amended to:
- add Fireground Personnel Carriage as an aerial work operation
- add definitions that apply to a Fireground Personnel carriage operation
- contain requirements on operators in relation to training and checking systems, SMS and crew fatigue management for fireground personnel carriage
- contain pre-flight aerial work passenger requirements, aircraft performance requirements over populous areas and operator record keeping.
CASA's is proposing the new operation type to permit an aerial work certificate holder using a helicopter to transport passengers only if the operation is specifically tasked by a fireground emergency organisation, and the flight is only from a helibase to a fireground and back, or completely within a fireground.
CASA is not proposing to allow positioning flights to be done under the new rules.
The new rules are open for public consultation until 13 June. Consultation documents are available on the CASA Consultation Hub.