The Australian Parachute Federation (APF) has become the first self-administering body in Australia to be presented with a Part 149 certificate.
CASR Part 149 is regulation that covers the activities of Approved Self-administering Aviation Organisations (ASAO) and was intended to replace the CASA instruments that such organisations were operating under.
Chair of the APF Board, Dave Smith, said the Part 149 certificate gives his organisation a sense of certainty and legitimacy.
“Like other sport and recreational aviation organisations we have operated for years under an instrument, which did to some extent make it feel as if we were different to other parts of the aviation community,” he said.
“We are now recognised under a specific set of regulations and have gone through a process to demonstrate we comply with the requirements.
“This gives us confidence and certainty in managing and growing our area of sport aviation.”
The APF is a not-for-profit organisation that administers civilian parachuting and has responsibility for nearly 400,000 parachute drops per year.
CASA’s CEO and Director of Aviation Safety, Shane Carmody, said moving to a Part 149 certificate would benefit the APF.
“Part 149 creates a more streamlined process for the safety regulation of sport and recreational aviation,” he explained.
“Self-administering organisations such as the [APF] have a very clear picture of their safety and regulatory responsibilities and the functions they need to discharge.
“CASA will continue to deliver safety oversight of self-administering organisations through surveillance and audits to ensure the required safety outcomes are being achieved, while the organisations get on with the job of running their sector of aviation."
Other organisations believed to be working towards Part 149 certificates include Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) and the Gliding Federation of Australia (GFA).