A milestone in Australian aviation has been marked with the first regulatory certificate issued to a self-administering sport and recreational aviation organisation.
The Australian Parachute Federation has been issued with a certificate under Part 149 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations.
Part 149 brings a new approach to the safety regulation of sport and recreational aviation, with benefits for approved self-administering organisations and their members.
The Australian Parachute Federation is a not-for-profit organisation that administers civilian parachuting and has responsibility for nearly 400,000 parachute descents a year.
CASA's CEO and Director of Aviation Safety, Shane Carmody, said moving to a Part 149 certificate will be beneficial for the Australian Parachute Federation.
"Part 149 creates a more streamlined process for the safety regulation of sport and recreational aviation," Mr Carmody says.
"Self-administering organisations such as the Australian Parachute Federation 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.
"I congratulate the Australian Parachute Federation for the work they have successfully completed to be the first to obtain a self-administering certificate."
Chair of the Australian Parachute Federation 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," Mr Smith 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."
