PNG CASA ATPL Air Law key terms

The primary PNG statute that establishes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and empowers it to make Civil Aviation Rules, issue certificates and licences, and enforce safety standards over Papua New Guinea aviation.

The statutory body created under the PNG Civil Aviation Act to regulate aviation safety, administer the Civil Aviation Rules, license personnel, certificate operators and conduct surveillance and enforcement.

The subordinate legislation made under the PNG Civil Aviation Act, numbered as Parts, which set out detailed requirements for licensing, operations, airworthiness, airspace and related matters.

Non-binding guidance issued by the regulator explaining an acceptable means, but not the only means, of complying with a particular rule requirement.

A written grant by the regulator relieving a named person from compliance with a specified rule, usually subject to conditions and a time limit, where the safety outcome can still be met.

A certificate issued to an operator authorising specified commercial air transport activities, listing the aircraft types, routes and operating specifications under which those activities may be conducted.

The document attached to an air operator certificate that states the specific authorisations, limitations and conditions under which the certificate holder may operate.

The carriage of passengers, cargo or mail for remuneration or hire, conducted under the applicable operating rules rather than as a private or aerial work flight.

An aircraft operation in which the aircraft is used for specialised services such as surveying, photography, agriculture or training, rather than for public transport of passengers or cargo.

The nominated person within an operator's organisation who is responsible to the operator for the supervision and standard of flight crew and for ensuring flight operations comply with the rules.

An individual accepted by the regulator as responsible for a defined functional area of an operator's organisation, such as flight operations, maintenance or safety management.

A documented organisational framework for managing safety, including hazard identification, risk assessment, occurrence reporting, investigation and continuous improvement of safety performance.

An approved document that allows an aircraft to be dispatched with specified items of equipment inoperative, subject to stated rectification intervals and operating conditions.

A mandatory requirement issued by the state of design and adopted by the regulator to correct an unsafe condition, requiring specified action within a stated compliance time.

The set of processes, including maintenance, inspections, modifications and defect control, that keep an aircraft in a condition meeting its type design and safe for flight throughout its life.

A certificate issued for an individual aircraft confirming that it conforms to an approved type design and is considered airworthy when maintained in accordance with the applicable requirements.

An approval issued for an aircraft, engine or propeller design that confirms the design meets the applicable airworthiness standards for its intended use.

An approval for a change to a product that has already been type certificated, such as a modification or installation not covered by the original design approval.

A certification by authorised maintenance personnel that the maintenance performed has been completed satisfactorily and the aircraft or component is released to service.

An organisation certificated by the regulator to perform maintenance, inspections or modifications on aircraft or components within a defined scope of approval.

The document recording that an aircraft is entered on the national register, identifying the owner, the aircraft and its assigned registration marks.

The letter or letters identifying the state of registry, which together with the registration mark forms the unique identification displayed on the aircraft.

A flight crew licence permitting the holder to act as pilot in command of aircraft engaged in commercial operations, subject to the ratings, endorsements and experience requirements held.

The highest level of flight crew licence, required for pilots in command of aircraft operated under the more demanding commercial air transport rules and carrying the associated privileges.

A rating that authorises the holder to fly under instrument flight rules and in instrument meteorological conditions, subject to the specified approach and currency requirements.

An authorisation entered on a licence permitting the holder to act as flight crew on a specific aircraft type that requires one, usually multi-crew or complex aircraft.

An authorisation allowing the holder to fly a class of similar aircraft, such as single-engine piston aeroplanes, rather than one individually specified type.

A certificate issued after examination by an authorised medical examiner confirming that the holder meets the medical fitness standards required for the privileges of the licence held.

The requirement that a licence holder must have completed specified recent experience, such as take-offs and landings or instrument approaches, within a defined preceding period to exercise privileges.

The rules governing flight conducted by reference to instruments, requiring an air traffic control clearance and adherence to specified separation, communication and navigation procedures.

The rules under which a flight is conducted by visual reference to the ground, subject to specified visibility, cloud clearance and, in controlled airspace, clearance requirements.

Airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to flights in accordance with the airspace classification, and within which clearances may be required.

An authorisation for an aircraft to proceed under conditions specified by an air traffic control unit, which the pilot must comply with unless an emergency requires otherwise.

A surface of constant atmospheric pressure related to a standard datum of 1013.2 hectopascals, expressed in hundreds of feet and used above the transition altitude.

The altitude at or below which an aircraft's vertical position is expressed in altitude on the local altimeter setting, and above which flight levels are used.

The pressure value set on the altimeter subscale so that the instrument indicates height above a specified reference, such as aerodrome elevation or standard pressure.

The limits of usability of an aerodrome for take-off or landing, expressed in terms of visibility, runway visual range and cloud base, approved for the operator and crew.

The distance over which a pilot on the runway centreline can see markings or lights, measured by instruments and reported for use in low visibility operations.

A published series of manoeuvres by reference to instruments that brings an aircraft from the approach phase to a point where landing can be completed or a missed approach initiated.

The part of an aerodrome used for the surface movement of aircraft, comprising the manoeuvring area and aprons, where control and access restrictions apply.

The part of an aerodrome used for take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, excluding aprons, and normally subject to air traffic control clearance.

A defined area on an aerodrome for parking aircraft, boarding and disembarking passengers, loading cargo, refuelling or maintenance, where special safety rules apply.

A written report submitted to the regulator and investigation authority describing an accident, serious incident or other safety occurrence, required within specified time limits.

An occurrence involving circumstances indicating a high probability of an accident, such as a near collision, engine failure in flight or a serious operational deviation.

An occurrence in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, or an aircraft sustains substantial damage or is missing, in connection with aircraft operation.

The ICAO annex establishing international standards for aircraft accident and incident investigation, including notification, participation of states and reporting.

The 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation, which established ICAO and the principles governing international civil aviation, including sovereignty and non-discrimination.

One of the numbered standards and recommended practices adopted under the Chicago Convention, covering subjects such as personnel licensing, operations and airworthiness.

Standards are specifications whose uniform application is necessary for safety; recommended practices are desirable but not mandatory, both adopted under the Chicago Convention.

The provision of the Chicago Convention allowing non-scheduled flights to transit or land in another state without prior permission, subject to the state's right to require notification.

The set of traffic rights describing how a state's carriers may serve other states, from overflight and technical stops through to carrying traffic between foreign points.

Articles or substances capable of posing a risk to health, safety or property when transported by air, which must be classified, packed, marked and documented under the technical instructions.

The document completed by the consignor certifying that a dangerous goods consignment has been classified, packed, marked and labelled in accordance with the applicable regulations.

A documented set of measures and procedures adopted by an operator or aerodrome to protect civil aviation from acts of unlawful interference, including access control and screening.

The application of technical or other means to identify and prevent the carriage of prohibited items into a security restricted area or onto an aircraft.

The area of an aerodrome beyond the security checkpoint, where access is controlled and only screened passengers, crew and authorised persons may be present.