CASA this week said it would issue exemptions for pilots to fly specific multi-engine helicopters without having to obtain a type rating.
The exemptions will be offered until CASA can amend CASR Part 61 to allow a multi-engine class rating, which was an issued that CASA promised to address under the General Aviation Workplan released in early May.
"The Part 61 flight crew licensing rules currently do not make provision for a multi-engine helicopter (MEH) class rating," CASA says on their website.
"All multi-engine helicopters have type ratings. We plan to make changes to Part 61 to create a class rating, but this will take some time."
Pilots will still be required to undertake type-specific training and an assessment in a similar fashion to those holding a multi-engine fixed-wing rating.
As an example, someone who was endorsed on a Squirrel, but wanted to fly an AW109, could be trained and assessed by an operation holding a training approval for the 109. The pilot would be approved to fly the 109, but would not hold a type rating for the aircraft.
However, a pilot who held no type rating for any multi-engine helicopter would initially have to train for a type rating first before an exemption could be applied to fly other types.
Flight instructors and examiners won't need to hold a training or examiner endorsement for each type of helicopter in the class.
Exemptions will apply only to prescribed aircraft on Schedule 1 of CASA EX49/22, which includes popular models such as the AW109, AS355 Squirrel, BK117, EC135, Bell 206 and Bell 429.
More information on the exemption including the full list of types is on the CASA website.