Recreational Aviation Australia Ltd (RAAus) has confirmed it is lobbying CASA for a 1500 kg weight limit on aircraft it is permitted to administer.
Currently, RAAus cannot provide administration for any aircraft that weighs over 600 kg.
If the new limit is granted, owners of aircraft such as the Van's RV range and two-seat general aviation aircraft will have the option of staying on the civil register or joining RAAus and transferring the registration to recreational.
Despite there being a large gap in performance between the light sport aircraft (LSA) RAAus currently administers and most general aviation types, RAAus CEO Michael Linke believes his organisation has the expertise and ability to deal with a 1500 kg limit.
"RAAus has a number of staff experienced with both GA and RAAus registered aircraft," he told Australian Flying.
"Our team of senior staff has a combined 50+ years experience across a range of aircraft operations, maintenance, risk mitigation and training. We also recently upgraded our systems architecture and have in place a cutting edge administration system that has been built for growth and development of RAAus well into the future.
"RAAus’ core competency is in training people to fly aircraft and CASA has already demonstrated their trust in our training by allowing our members to fly in CASA registered aircraft up to 1500kg as part of the RPL.
"RAAus is looking forward to the approval of higher weight aircraft to enable manufacturers and amateur builders to design and build safer aircraft (factory built and amateur built aircraft). RAAus is strategically focused on growing aviation in Australia and playing a leading role in this development by increasing aircraft utilisation through our 170 flying schools across Australia."
In April this year, RAAus stated they were chasing a new limit of 750 kg, which would have brought in some smaller two-seat GA aeroplanes like the Cessna 150 and Grumman AA-1. Now they are talking about a limit twice that, which will increase significantly the catchment of aircraft types, even moreso if owners elect to take the back seats out of four-seat aeroplanes.
"This is about giving people options," Linke said. "We have already seen some two seat aircraft placed on the RAAus register in a modified form to take advantage of RAAus benefits. While some may describe this as odd (using a two seat aircraft for single seat ops) others have clearly seen some value.
"To preclude four-seat aircraft is making a presumptuous choice on behalf of pilots and aircraft owners and forcing something on them that they may not want. Give them a choice and they can make the decision themselves. Moreover, ask around and there’s a lot of 172s, Cherokees, Archers, etcetera, where owners like the additional capacity for luggage and/or fuel, not extra passengers. Many of these people are effectively flying a large two seat aircraft anyway.
"Lastly, it has been demonstrated that there is a demand for this type of operation with the introduction of the RPL. People are using these very same aircraft with the privileges of their RPL. What we’re doing is giving them an alternative to the CASA regulatory system and providing them with a means to operate that same aircraft in a less bureaucratic framework and at lower cost.
"Again, not forcing them, giving them choice."
Linke could not be drawn on how confident RAAus is that they will get the 1500 kg or 750 kg increase, except to say that they had put a very strong case to CASA based on their performance and capabilties.
We can’t speak for what CASA may or may not do," he said. "Our focus is on making RAAus the best it can be and demonstrating to CASA through our positive action and successes over the last three years that RAAus is capable of managing increased weight aircraft.
"Also by approving our increased weight proposal CASA can demonstrate it is working hand in glove with us and industry to create a pathway of growth."
RAAus has recently changed its structure from an association to an incorporated limited company, which it says will ensure the organisation is able to meet the needs of members as well as the legal and regulatory requirements better than it ever has before.
"We’ve achieved a lot in the last three years," lIne said. "RAAus has grown up, matured if you like. We have a contemporary governance approach now with a policy-focused and strategic board.
"Our staff team is stable, qualified, passionate and dedicated to safety, continuous improvement and member engagement. We’ve built a digital eco-system to augment service delivery and we are ready for new challenges as a leader in our sector."