The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will open public consultation on a potential weight increase for RAAus-registered aircraft before the end of August, according to a statement released by RAAus today.
Aircraft with maximum take-off weights (MTOW) above 600 kg cannot be registered with RAAus, a threshold which the organisation has been working to increase to 750 or 1500 kg for several years.
"With regard to the RAAus application for an increase in the maximum take-off weight of aircraft administered by RAAus, CASA advised RAAus in early 2019 that public consultation would commence in the third quarter of 2019," the statement reads.
"RAAus is pleased to announce that CASA has confirmed that public consultation on the proposed weight increase will commence by 31 August 2019.
"RAAus has matured tremendously in recent years and by demonstrating to CASA our sound approach we have been able to create the framework to support greater freedoms for our members."
RAAus applied for an increase to their maximum take-off weight from 600 kg to either 750 or 1500 kg in 2016, with CASA confirming their support in June last year.
The consultation package is expected to proposed a staged increase in MTOW, with Stage One allowing aircraft with MTOWs up to 760 kg on the RAAus register and Stage Two expanding that limit to 1500 kg.
CASA is also likely to call for feedback on maintenance for RAAus aircraft that fall into the new weight limit, with proposals expected to require LAME maintenance for aircraft over 600 kg.