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Civil Aviation Safety Authority Annual Report 2018–19

Appendix A: Operating statistics

Appendix A: Operating statistics

Flight operations

Table A.1 Air operator certificates, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of application	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial issue	39	41	44	55	44
Subsequent issue	355	267	198	276	225
Variation	274	237	212	214	258
Total	668	545	454	545	527
Current certificates at 30 June^a	824	908	864	793	785

Table A.2 Remotely piloted aircraft operator certificates, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of application	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial issue	154	419	474^a	332^a	380^a
Subsequent issue	n/a	136	392	444	381
Variation	n/a	62	74	62	66
Total	n/a	617	940	838	827
Current certificates at 30 June	256	688	1,070^a	1,357^a	1,628^a

Table A.3 Remote pilot licences, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of application	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial issue	n/a	1,996	2,381	3,034^a	4,149
Issued certificates at 30 June	n/a	3,282	5,664	8,698	12,845

Flight personnel

Table A.4 Flight crew licences, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Aircraft type	Licence type	2014–15		2015–16		2016–17		2017–18		2018–19
Aircraft type	Licence type	Issued	Current	Issued	Current	Issued	Current	Issued	Current	Issued	Current
	*Pilots*
Aeroplane	Air transport	245	7,278	162	7,203	190	7,240	240	7,304	188	7,280
	Commercial	980	4,539	1,048	4,780	967	4,943	883	5,091	1,142	5,312
	Commercial (CASA EX25/18)^a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	4,303	0	4,415
	Private	1,101	14,258	1,071	13,704	1,093	13,728	1,057	9,004	1,035	9,019
	Recreational^b	841	2,443	1,220	2,539	1,252	2,802	1,190	3,000	1,265	3,206
	Student (GFPT)^c	169	0	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Total aeroplane pilots	3,336	28,518	3,501	28,226	3,502	28,713	3,370	28,702	3,630	29,232
Helicopter	Air transport	44	818	23	811	23	811	20	782	16	763
	Commercial	201	1,884	185	1,915	201	2,033	202	2,030	173	1,977
	Commercial (CASA EX25/18)^a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	741	0	807
	Private	115	1,585	99	1,561	115	1,510	103	806	120	877
	Recreational^b	7	16	7	16	7	21	10	28	5	27
	Student (GFPT)^c	0	0	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Total helicopter pilots	367	4,303	314	4,303	346	4,375	335	4,387	314	4,451
Other	Commercial – Other^d	7	102	2	100	7	106	7	105	8	114
	Commercial (CASA EX25/18)^a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	3	0	3
	Private – gyroplane	0	4	1	3	0	3	0	1	0	2
	Recreational^b	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	1
	Student (GFPT) – Other^c	0	0	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Student (no GFPT)^c	352	0	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Total other pilots	359	106	3	103	7	109	8	111	8	120
Glider	Total glider pilots^b	22	22	18	38	11	43	7	48	5	49
Total initial issues and current pilots^e		4,085	30,830	3,836	30,562	3,866	31,111	3,720	31,145	3,957	31,750
	*Flight engineers*
All	Flight engineer	1	88	1	82	0	75	0	70	0	68
	Restricted flight engineer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Student flight engineer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total initial issues and current flight engineers		1	88	1	82	0	75	0	70	0	68

Table A.5 Flight crew licensing examinations, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of licence	2014–15		2015–16		2016–17		2017–18		2018–19
Type of licence	Exams sat	% passed	Exams sat	% passed	Exams sat	% passed	Exams sat	% passed	Exams sat	% passed
Air transport pilot	3,539	70.2	3,781	71.7	3,956	70.6	5,016	73.1	5,889	73.1
Commercial pilot	10,893	73.7	10,985	73.6	12,775	74.2	13,113	70.5	15,629	72.8
Private pilot	1,937	62.0	1,543	68.1	1,784	66.0	1,793	65.0	1,862	67.3
Recreational pilot^a	17	47.1	279	49.8	324	59.0	376	58.5	1,143	57.8
Total	16,386	71.5	16,588	72.3	18,839	72.4	20,298	70.4	24,523	70.7

Table A.6 Medical certificates, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of certificate	2014–15			2015–16			2016–17			2017–18			2018–19
Type of certificate	Initial	Renewal	Refusal	Initial	Renewal	Refusal	Initial	Renewal	Refusal	Initial	Renewal	Refusal	Initial	Renewal	Refusal
Class 1	1,646	15,317	44	1,768	14,055	34	2,083	17,191	32	2,137	15,992	26	2,624	16,847	51
Class 2	3,445	20,777	78	3,640	19,183	29	4,252	23,216	50	3,727	21,253	24	4,483	21,967	49
Basic Class 2^a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	978	4	0
Class 3	134	732	3	92	631	3	106	804	2	70	684	2	126	670	5
Total	4,029	21,535	125	4,229	19,901	66	4,718	23,928	84	4,146	21,835	52	6,002	22,549	105

Maintenance organisations

Table A.7 Certificates of approval, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of application	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial issue	19	17	13	12	14
Subsequent issue	32	21	18	13	14
Variation	86	95	75	63	66
Total	137	133	106	88	94
Current certificates at 30 June	665	653	619^a	629	608

Table A.8 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 145 approval certificates, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of application	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial issue	16	10	13	3	9
Subsequent issue	17	29	21	49	67
Variation	119	157	125	30	37
Total	152	196	159	82	113
Current certificates at 30 June	159	158	117	154	156

Maintenance personnel

Table A.9 Aircraft maintenance engineer examinations, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of examination	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Scheduled examination sitting^a	3,569	842	908	905	840
Special examination sitting^b	157	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Category technical competency examination^c	53	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Weight control authority examination	93	27	18	30	31
Total	3,872	869	926	935	871

_{n/a = not applicable}

_{a Scheduled examination sittings (including weight control authority examination sittings) are conducted by a CASA-approved examination provider.}

_{b Before 2016–17, individuals who had a particular reason to seek an aircraft maintenance engineer licence but were unable to attend scheduled examination sittings could seek a special sitting. Training organisations were also able to seek special sittings, to coincide with completion of their courses. Special examination sittings were conducted by CASA until 1 July 2015 and by a CASA-approved examination provider in 2015–16. Special sittings ceased in 2016–17.}

_{c These examinations are for Australian Defence Force and overseas licence holders only. CASA stopped carrying out category technical competency examinations in July 2015; they are now managed by CASA-approved Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 147 maintenance training organisations.}

Table A.10 Aircraft maintenance engineer licences, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Detail	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Category Technical Competency Assessments and Licence Technical Assessments (combined) conducted
Australian military	114	8	0	1	2
Foreign civil	72	2	14	23	22
Total	186	10	14	24	24
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 assessments conducted	51	34	12	8	9
Licences issued	417	236	90	135	116
Current licences at 30 June^b	8,458	8,695	8,784	8,913	9,028
Average age of licence holder	49.1	49.7	50.5	51.2	52.0

_{a In 2015–16, CASA ceased conducting Australian military and foreign civil licensing assessments; they are now conducted by the CASA-approved Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) Part 147 maintenance training organisations.}

_{b CASR Part 66 licences.}

Table A.11 Airworthiness authorities, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of authority	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Maintenance	35	28	18	10	19
Non-destructive testing	6	9	5	8	11
Weight control	15	9	5	4	20
Welding	2	7	5	6	8

Airworthiness

Table A.12 Airworthiness certificates, authorisations and approvals issued, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of permission	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Type certificate^a
Aeroplanes	0	4	3	5	5
Lighter than air	0	1	1	2	1
Rotorcraft	0	0	1	0	0
Engine	0	0	0	0	0
Propeller	0	0	0	0	0
Total	0	5	5	7	6
Type acceptance certificate^a
Aeroplanes	15	12	33	13	15
Lighter than air	2	0	1	2	2
Rotorcraft	17	7	7	3	2
Total	34	19	41	18	19
Other authorisations, certificates and approvals
Supplemental type certificate^a	24	24	13	15	28
Certificate of airworthiness	443	162	343	491	488
Special flight authorisation	25	17	14	16	16
Special flight permit^b	288	314	429	443	296
Experimental certificate^c	157	24	133	159	157
Simulator certification (flight simulator training devices)	48	48^c	57^c	54	55
Design advice	66	82	80	74	75
Flight manual supplement	5	3	2	3	0

_{a Includes amendments to supplemental data including type certificate data sheets and type certificate holder details.}

_{b Figures include all permits issued by CASA and industry delegates.}

_{c Includes certificates issued for devices located overseas.}

Table A.13 Aircraft registrations, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of registration	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial registration	349	343	352	422	402
Change of registration holder	1,213	1,526	1,491	1,313	1,263
Cancellation of registration	321	283	286	306	313
Change of registration mark	56	50	56	51	52
Reservation of registration mark	964	774	870	913	870
Reissue of certificate of registration^a	81	39	52	64	54
Aircraft registered as at 30 June	15,287	15,347	15,413	15,529	15,617
Marks reserved as at 30 June	685	510	559	577	546

_{a Due to changes of address or loss, for example.}

Table A.14 Average age of the Australian fleet of civil aircraft at 30 June 2019

Aircraft group by airframe and propulsion characteristics					> 56 years	56–47 years	46–37 years	36–27 years	26–17 years	16–7 years	6–2 years	< 2 years	Total by group	% of total fleet
Gliders					67	188	436	135	88	57	21	5	997	6.38
Powered gliders					0	24	35	55	59	67	41	4	285	1.82
Balloons					0	0	15	52	101	141	102	27	438	2.80
Airships					0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0.01
RPAS					0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0.01
Amateur-built aircraft	Aeroplane	Single-engine		Diesel	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0.01
				Piston	1	14	80	142	369	553	199	42	1,400	8.96
				Turboprop	0	0	0	0	4	0	1	0	5	0.03
				Jet	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	4	0.03
				Rotary	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0.01
		Multi-engine		Piston	0	0	0	2	3	3	2	1	11	0.07
		Multi-engine		Jet	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0.01
	Helicopter			Diesel	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0.01
				Piston	2	0	0	2	32	42	9	1	88	0.56
				Turboshaft	0	0	0	0	0	6	7	2	15	0.10
Production aircraft	Helicopter	Single-engine		Piston	9	63	37	147	179	696	131	54	1,316	8.43
		Single-engine		Turboshaft	3	67	195	122	69	108	35	14	613	3.92
		Multi-engine	Up to 5,700 Kg MTOW	Turboshaft	0	0	33	47	39	43	11	5	178	1.14
		Multi-engine	Over 5,700 Kg MTOW	Turboshaft	0	0	2	4	0	29	52	4	91	0.58
	Aeroplane	Single-engine	Up to 5,700 Kg MTOW	Diesel	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0	6	0.04
				Piston	1,335	1,403	2,867	341	451	681	135	73	7,286	46.65
				Turboprop	1	2	28	60	126	113	49	9	388	2.48
				Jet	9	9	17	12	0	0	0	0	47	0.30
			Over 5,700 Kg MTOW	Piston	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0.03
				Turboprop	0	0	0	1	25	38	19	3	86	0.55
				Jet	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0.03
		Multi-engine	Up to 5,700 Kg MTOW	Diesel	0	0	0	0	0	5	1	0	6	0.04
				Piston	51	249	733	42	25	50	24	9	1,183	7.57
				Turboprop	0	7	103	24	22	38	8	0	202	1.29
				Jet	0	6	6	0	9	14	3	1	39	0.25
			5,701 to 20,000 Kg MTOW	Piston	23	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	26	0.17
				Turboprop	3	0	6	71	100	29	6	5	220	1.41
				Jet	1	0	32	17	31	25	0	6	112	0.72
			20,001 to 50,000 Kg MTOW	Piston	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0.04
				Turboprop	2	0	1	3	4	37	8	0	55	0.35
				Jet	1	1	0	45	61	23	7	1	139	0.89
			50,001 to 100,000 Kg MTOW	Piston	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.01
				Turboprop	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.01
				Jet	0	1	0	6	35	185	48	1	276	1.77
			Over 100,000 Kg MTOW	Jet	0	0	0	1	6	51	17	5	80	0.51
Total by age bracket					1,524	2,037	4,628	1,331	1,840	3,044	938	275	15,617	100.00
% of total fleet					9.76	13.04	29.64	8.52	11.78	19.49	6.01	1.76	100.00

_{MTOW = maximum take-off weight, RPAS = remotely piloted aircraft systems}

Table A.15 Appointments of airworthiness delegates and authorised persons, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of appointment	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Appointments excluding Civil Aviation Safety Regulations subpart 21.M
Initial issue	10	9	23	21	8
Subsequent issue	39	46	37	52	44
Variation	8	6	8	9	4
Appointments active at 30 June	111	97	162	133	173
Appointments under Civil Aviation Safety Regulations subpart 21.M
Initial issue and variation	34	26	25	18	26
Appointments active at 30 June	42	39	36	35	37
Total appointments active at 30 June	153	136	198	168	210

Table A.16 Production authorisations, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of authorisation	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Production certificates
Initial issue	0	0	0	0	0
Variation	0	1	2	3	1
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	3	3	4	4	4
Active at 30 June	9	5	7	7	8
One-off production certificates
Initial issue	5	5	4	2	1
Variation	2	8	8	0	10
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	2	3	4	3	2
Active at 30 June	29	33	33	35	36
Australian parts manufacturing approval
Initial issue	1	1	2	1	0
Variation	7	8	8	9	5
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	11	11	11	12	2
Active at 30 June	38	39	35	35	36
Australian Technical Standard Order authorisation
Initial issue or variation	4	2	0	0	4
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	3	3	4	3	3
Active at 30 June	10	11	9	9	8
Parts approval under Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Regulation 21.305A
Initial issue or variation	1	0	1	1	2
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	3	3	3	3	3
Active at 30 June	9	9	9	9	9
Total production authorisation holders at 30 June	117	120	119	120	111

Table A.17 Airworthiness directives and bulletins, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of directive/bulletin	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Australian Airworthiness Directive
Issued	6	3	1	30	40
Cancelled	60	45	33	41	33
Amended	21	17	34	33	29
Current	8,191	8,014	7,996	7,962	7,886
State of design airworthiness directive	649	618	641	635	642
Exclusion from airworthiness directive	67	35	40	72	72
Review of airworthiness directive	6	6	0	8	12
Airworthiness Bulletin
Issued or amended	67	33	14	22	22
Current	349	374	384	376	384

Table A.18 Aircraft defect reports, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Report status	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Received during the year	2,829	1,984	2,182	1,734	1,814
Closed during the year	2,092	2,950	2,084	875	1,201
Open as at 30 June	1,646	680	693	1,495	2,108

Aerodromes

Table A.19 Aerodromes at 30 June, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Aerodrome status	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Certified	192	189	188	194	197
Registered	135	133	133	130	126
Total	327	322	321	324	323

Training

Table A.20 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 141 flight training certificates, 2015–16 to 2018–19

Type of application	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial issue^a	2	16	17	17
Subsequent issue	4	4	16	31
Variation	27	47	53	47
Total	33	67	86	95
Current certificates at 30 June^b	n/a	n/a	n/a	237

_{n/a = not applicable}

_{a The figures for initial issue do not include interim certificates and transitions.}

_{b The four-year transition period to the new licensing and training regulations was completed on 31 August 2018, making the previously unreportable figure for current certificates available.}

Table A.21 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 142 flight training certificates, 2015–16 to 2018–19

Type of application	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial issue^a	3	8	0	1
Subsequent issue	2	3	3	5
Variation	3	13	5	4
Total	8	24	8	10
Current certificates at 30 June^b	n/a	n/a	n/a	62

_{n/a = not applicable}

_{a The figures for initial issue do not include interim certificates and transitions.}

_{b The four-year transition period to the new licensing and training regulations was completed on 31 August 2018, making the previously unreportable figure for current certificates available}

Table A.22 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 147 maintenance training organisation certificates, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Type of application	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Initial issue^a	2	1	2	1	2
Variation	34	40	42	40	56
Total	36	41	44	41	58
Suspended certificates	0	2	2	0	0
Surrendered certificates	1	2	2	1	2

_{a The figures for initial issue do not include interim certificates and transitions.}

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Appendix A: Operating statistics

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