PNG CASA CPL Air Law key terms

The PNG statute that establishes CASA PNG, defines the Minister's powers, and authorises the making of Civil Aviation Rules for aviation safety and security in Papua New Guinea.

The statutory body responsible for regulating civil aviation in PNG, including licensing, aircraft registration, airworthiness oversight, rule development and enforcement of the Civil Aviation Act and Rules.

The subordinate legislation made under the PNG Civil Aviation Act, organised by Parts covering personnel licensing, aircraft operations, airworthiness, air traffic services and related matters, largely aligned with ICAO Annexes.

Authority vested in the PNG Minister responsible for civil aviation to make, amend or revoke Civil Aviation Rules, issue directions and appoint the CASA PNG board, subject to statutory procedures.

A flight crew licence permitting the holder to act as pilot in command of aircraft engaged in commercial operations, subject to the ratings, recency and medical requirements prescribed in the Rules.

The highest medical fitness standard for pilots, required for CPL and ATPL holders, issued after examination by a designated medical examiner and subject to periodic renewal and validity limits.

A physician designated by CASA PNG to conduct aviation medical examinations and issue or recommend medical certificates at the standards required for the licence sought.

A licence endorsement allowing a pilot to fly under instrument flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions, requiring specific training, testing and recent instrument experience to remain valid.

The minimum recent flight experience, such as take-offs, landings or instrument hours within a defined period, that a licence holder must maintain to exercise licence privileges.

The document issued by CASA PNG recording the nationality and registration marks of an aircraft and identifying its registered owner, evidencing that the aircraft is on the PNG register.

The letters and characters, in PNG typically the prefix P2, painted on an aircraft to identify its State of registry and unique registration, as prescribed by the Rules.

A certificate issued by CASA PNG confirming that an aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is in a condition for safe operation, valid only while maintenance and airworthiness requirements continue to be met.

A mandatory instruction issued by the State of design or PNG CASA requiring inspection, modification or repair of an aircraft or component to correct an unsafe condition.

A certification by an appropriately authorised person that specified maintenance has been completed and the aircraft or component is fit for return to service.

An organisation holding a CASA PNG approval to perform maintenance on aircraft or components within the scope of its approval, under an approved quality and training system.

The pilot designated by the operator as responsible for the conduct and safety of the flight, holding final authority for decisions concerning the aircraft while in command.

The exercise of authority over the initiation, continuation, diversion or termination of a flight in the interest of safety and regularity, vested in the operator or a designated representative.

The lowest altitude permitting safe flight over terrain or obstacles, normally 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a specified horizontal distance in non-mountainous areas, with higher margins in designated mountainous terrain.

The minimum fuel that must remain at destination or alternate, prescribed by the Rules for the type of operation, to cover contingencies, holding and a diversion.

The calculation confirming an aircraft can safely clear obstacles on take-off and stop or land within the available runway, accounting for mass, elevation, temperature, wind and runway condition.

The maximum mass at which an aircraft is certified for take-off, a limiting design value that must not be exceeded and which influences performance, runway and airspace requirements.

Airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided, classified into categories with differing requirements for clearances, separation and pilot qualifications.

The collective services comprising air traffic control, flight information and alerting services, provided to prevent collisions and ensure the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

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 deviation.

A service providing advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights, such as weather, aerodrome conditions and traffic information, without issuing clearances.

The obligation on pilots to repeat back safety-related clearances and instructions, such as route, level and runway assignments, so the controller can verify correct understanding.

Flight rules under which pilots operate by visual reference to the ground, subject to prescribed visibility, cloud clearance and distance-from-cloud minima depending on airspace class.

Flight rules requiring the aircraft to be flown by reference to instruments under an ATC clearance, with prescribed equipment, pilot qualification and separation from other traffic.

An authorisation allowing flight under visual flight rules within a control zone when weather is below normal VFR minima, subject to ATC clearance and specified conditions.

Controlled airspace extending upward from the surface around an aerodrome, established to protect aircraft approaching and departing under air traffic control.

The limits, expressed as visibility or runway visual range and decision altitude or height, below which an aircraft may not take off or land at a particular aerodrome.

The distance over which a pilot on the runway centreline can see markings or lights, measured by instruments and used to determine take-off and landing minima.

A visual glidepath aid beside the runway using coloured lights to indicate whether an aircraft is above, on or below the correct approach slope.

Airborne equipment that responds to secondary surveillance radar interrogations with identity and altitude information, supporting identification, separation and collision avoidance.

The mandatory prompt report by the operator or pilot to the PNG accident investigation authority and CASA PNG of an accident, with details required by the Civil Aviation Act and Rules.

An occurrence, other than an accident, involving circumstances indicating a high probability of an accident, such as a near collision or engine failure, which must be notified and may be investigated.

The independent body established under PNG law to investigate accidents and serious incidents, determine causes and make safety recommendations rather than apportion blame.

The 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation, to which PNG is a party, establishing the principles of international air navigation, ICAO and the Standards and Recommended Practices in the Annexes.

The nineteen technical annexes to the Chicago Convention containing Standards and Recommended Practices on licensing, operations, airworthiness, air traffic services and related subjects that PNG implements through its Rules.

The Chicago Convention provision allowing non-scheduled flights of other contracting States to transit or land in a State's territory without prior permission, subject to the right of the State to require notification.

Articles or substances capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment when transported by air, carried only in accordance with the ICAO Technical Instructions and PNG requirements.

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

An occurrence involving dangerous goods in flight, such as leakage, spillage or undeclared carriage, which must be reported to the appropriate authority and investigated for safety action.

The set of measures, including screening, access control and background checks, adopted by an airport or operator to protect civil aviation from acts of unlawful interference.

An act such as hijacking, sabotage or attack on aviation facilities that endangers the safety of civil aviation and triggers security and notification obligations.