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Civil Aviation Safety Authority Annual Report 2019-20

Appendix A: Operating statistics

Flight operations

Table A.1 Air operator certificates, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of application	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial issue	55	44	40
Subsequent issue	276	225	184
Variation	214	258	180
Total	545	527	404
Current certificates at 30 June	794^a	793^a	791

Note: Includes operators involved in one or more of aerial work, charter, charter (cargo), flying training, foreign aircraft (passengers and cargo), foreign aircraft (cargo), scheduled cargo services, and scheduled passenger services.

Figures only include Australian and discrete certificates issued and current during the period.

a Figure updated to reflect the number of current certificates as opposed to the number of certificate holders as shown in the 2018–19 annual report.

Table A.2 Remotely piloted aircraft operator certificates, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of application	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial issue	332	380	448
Subsequent issue	444	381	400
Variation	62	66	69
Total	838	827	917
Current certificates at 30 June	1,357	1,628	1,952

Table A.3 Remote pilot licences, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of application	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial issue	3,034	4,149	3,369
Current licences at 30 June	8,698	12,845	16,482

Flight personnel

Table A.4 Flight crew licences, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Aircraft type		Licence type	2017–18		2018–19		2019–20
		Licence type	Issued	Current	Issued	Current	Issued	Current
	Pilots^a
	Aeroplane	Air transport	240	7,304	188	7,280	166	6,519
		Commercial	883	5,091	1,142	5,312	1,343	4,990
		Commercial (CASA EX25/18)^b	n/a	4,303	0	4,415	0	5,506
		Private	1,057	9,004	1,035	9,019	1,184	8,406
		Recreational	1,190	3,000	1,265	3,206	1,228	3,185
		Total aeroplane pilots	3,370	28,702	3,630	29,232	3,921	28,606
	Helicopter	Air transport	20	782	16	763	14	654
		Commercial	202	2,030	173	1,977	271	1,801
		Commercial (CASA EX25/18)b	n/a	741	0	807	0	1,133
		Private	103	806	120	877	95	846
		Recreational	10	28	5	27	8	30
		Total helicopter pilots	335	4,387	314	4,451	388	4,464
	Other	Commercial – Other^c	7	105	8	114	4	110
		Commercial (CASA EX25/18)b	n/a	3	0	3	0	1
		Private – gyroplane	0	1	0	2	1	3
		Recreational	1	2	0	1	3	2
		Total other pilots	8	111	8	120	8	116
	Glider	Total glider pilots	7	48	5	49	13	50
	Total initial issues and current pilots^d		3,720	31,145	3,957	31,750	4,330	31,203
	Flight engineers
	All	Flight engineer	0	70	0	68	0	62
		Restricted flight engineer	0	0	0	0	0	0
		Student flight engineer	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total initial issues and current flight engineers		0	70	0	68	0	62

a For current pilots, pilots are counted only once in each licence category (aeroplane, helicopter and other), against the highest licence level of privileges their medical certificate permits them to use.

b CASA EX25/18 is effective 1 March 2018 to 29 February 2020. It enables a pilot holding a licence at the commercial pilot licence (CPL) level or air transport pilots licence level and a current class 2 medical to exercise reduced CPL privileges.

c Includes balloons and airships.

d Includes all pilots who held a minimum of a Class 2 medical each financial year. This reflects the number of pilots who were active, but not necessarily exercising the full privileges of their licence. In this row a pilot is counted only once regardless of the number of categories of licences held; therefore, the total does not equal the sum of the licence categories above it.

Table A.5 Flight crew licensing examinations, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of licence	2017–18		2018–19		2019–20
Type of licence	Exams sat	% passed	Exams sat	% passed	Exams sat	% passed
Air transport pilot	5,016	73.1	5,889	73.1	5,604	75.1
Commercial pilot	13,113	70.5	15,629	72.8	17,077	73.5
Private pilot	1,793	65.0	1,862	67.3	1,813	71.4
Recreational pilot	376	58.5	1,143	57.8	1,966	58.0
Total	20,298	70.4	24,523	70.7	26,460	72.6

Table A.6 Medical certificates, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of certificate	2017–18			2018–19			2019–20
Type of certificate	Initial	Renewal	Refusal	Initial	Renewal	Refusal	Initial	Renewal	Refusal
Class 1	2,137	15,992	26	2,624	16,847	51	2,427	15,272	47
Class 2	3,727	21,253	24	4,483	21,967	49	4,066	19,871	36
Basic Class 2^a	n/a	n/a	n/a	978	4	0	810	92	0
Class 3	70	684	2	126	670	5	117	552	2
Total	4,146	21,835	52	6,002	22,549	105	5,403	20,438	85

n/a = not applicable

Note: The certificate classes are 1 Professional pilots and flight engineers, 2 Student and private pilots (Basic Class 2 is an alternative to a full Class 2 certificate for private operations), and 3 Air traffic control and flight service providers. A certificate issued may have more than one class of medical: for example, all Class 1 medicals are automatically issued a Class 2 medical. The total shown is the total number of certificates issued, not the sum of the three licence classes for initial issues or renewals.

a The Basic Class 2 medical certificate was introduced as part of changes made to the aviation medical certification system on 2 July 2018. The Basic Class 2 certificate allows designated aviation medical examiners and general practitioners to assess applicants against the Austroads commercial driving standards for some simple types of private flying.

Maintenance organisations

Table A.7 Certificates of approval, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of application	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial issue	12	14	12
Subsequent issue	13	14	10
Variation	63	66	55
Total	88	94	77
Current certificates at 30 June	629	608	577

Note: Includes operators involved in one or more of aircraft and component maintenance, design (aircraft, components and materials), distribution (components and materials), aircraft maintenance engineer training and examinations.

Table A.8 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 145 approval certificates, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of application	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial issue	3	9	3
Subsequent issue	49	67	30
Variation	30	37	31
Total	82	113	64
Current certificates at 30 June	154	156	161

Maintenance personnel

Table A.9 Aircraft maintenance engineer examinations, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of examination	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Schedule of Experience examinations	905	840	929
Weight control authority examinations	30	31	13
Total	935	871	942

Table A.10 Aircraft maintenance engineer licences, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Detail	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Licence assessments
Australian military	1	2	2
Foreign civil	23	22	30
Total	24	24	32
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 assessments conducted	8	9	32
Licences issued	135	116	192
Current licences at 30 June	8,913	9,028	9,218
Average age of licence holder	51.2	52.0	52.6

Table A.11 Airworthiness authorities, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of authority	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Maintenance	10	19	4
Non-destructive testing	8	11	2
Weight control	4	20	4
Welding	6	8	4

Airworthiness

Table A.12 Airworthiness certificates, authorisations and approvals issued, 2017–18 to 2019-20

Type of permission	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Type certificate^a
Aeroplanes	5	5	4
Lighter than air	2	1	1
Rotorcraft	0	0	1
Engine	0	0	0
Propeller	0	0	0
Total	7	6	6
Type acceptance certificate^a
Aeroplanes	13	15	18
Lighter than air	2	2	1
Rotorcraft	3	2	3
Total	18	19	22
Other authorisations, certificates and approvals
Supplemental type certificatea	15	28	18
Certificate of airworthiness	491	488	412
Special flight authorisation	16	16	20
Special flight permit^b	443	296	296
Experimental certificate^c	159	157	160
Simulator certification (flight simulator training devices)	54	55	63
Design advice	74	75	77
Flight manual supplement	3	0	6

a Includes amendments to supplemental data, including type certificate data sheets and type certificate holder details.

b Includes all permits issued by CASA and industry delegates.

c Includes certificates issued for devices located overseas.

Table A.13 Aircraft registrations, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of registration	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial registration	422	402	336
Change of registration holder	1,313	1,263	1,428
Cancellation of registration	306	311	235
Change of registration mark	51	52	47
Reservation of registration mark	913	870	808
Reissue of certificate of registration^a	64	54	79
Aircraft registered at 30 June	15,529	15,620^b	15,721
Marks reserved at 30 June	577	546^b	556

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

b The 2018–19 annual report showed the total number of registered aircraft as 15,617 and cancellations as 311. Those figures have been corrected this year.

Table A.14 Average age of the Australian fleet of civil aircraft at 30 June 2020

Aircraft group by airframe and propulsion characteristics					> 56 yrs	56–47 yrs	46–37 yrs	36–27 yrs	26–17 yrs	16–7 yrs	6–2 yrs	< 2 yrs	Total by group	% of total fleet
Gliders					80	223	400	127	91	54	23	1	999	6.35
Powered gliders					0	25	43	49	60	71	36	5	289	1.84
Balloons					0	0	19	55	106	131	109	20	440	2.79
Airships					0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0.01
Remotely piloted aircraft systems					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	18	84	158	407	532	181	49	1,430	9.10
				Turboprop	0	0	0	0	4	0	1	0	5	0.03
				Jet	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	1	4	0.02
				Rotary	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0.01
		Multi-engine		Piston	0	0	0	2	4	2	3	1	12	0.08
		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	6	33	39	6	0	86	0.55
				Turboshaft	0	0	0	0	0	6	8	1	15	0.10
				Electric engine	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0.01
Production aircraft	Helicopter	Single-engine		Piston	13	64	29	154	222	671	156	29	1,338	8.51
		Single-engine		Turboshaft	6	77	196	119	73	121	28	8	628	3.99
		Multi-engine	Up to 5,700 kg MTOW	Turboshaft	0	0	40	49	40	44	11	1	185	1.17
		Multi-engine	Over 5,700 kg MTOW	Turboshaft	0	0	2	3	0	29	42	5	81	0.52
	Aeroplane	Single-engine	Up to 5,700 kg MTOW	Diesel	0	0	0	0	1	5	0	0	6	0.04
				Piston	1,436	1,484	2,708	302	501	642	176	75	7,324	46.58
				Turboprop	1	3	26	66	122	124	36	7	385	2.45
				Jet	9	9	19	10	0	0	0	0	47	0.30
			Over 5,700 kg MTOW	Piston	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0.02
				Turboprop	0	0	0	2	24	45	16	1	88	0.56
				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	7	1	0	8	0.05
				Piston	59	288	680	37	26	54	27	5	1,176	7.48
				Turboprop	0	7	107	24	18	38	6	0	200	1.27
				Jet	1	5	5	1	11	11	3	0	37	0.23
			5,701 to 20,000 kg MTOW	Piston	22	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	25	0.16
				Turboprop	3	0	8	83	90	26	9	2	221	1.41
				Jet	1	0	33	17	34	21	4	3	113	0.72
			20,001 to 50,000 kg MTOW	Piston	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0.03
				Turboprop	2	0	1	3	3	44	5	0	58	0.37
				Jet	1	1	0	65	48	20	6	0	141	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	7	52	192	24	2	278	1.77
			Over 100,000 kg MTOW	Jet	0	0	0	1	11	48	17	3	80	0.51
Total by age bracket					1,651	2,208	4,402	1,340	1,983	2,981	936	220	15,721	100.00
% of total fleet					10.50	14.05	28.00	8.52	12.61	18.96	5.95	1.41	100.00

MTOW = maximum take-off weight

Table A.15 Appointments of airworthiness delegates and authorised persons, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of appointment	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Appointments excluding Civil Aviation Safety Regulations subpart 21M
Initial issue	21	8	6
Subsequent issue	52	44	5
Variation	9	4	61
Active at 30 June	133	173	132
Appointments under Civil Aviation Safety Regulations subpart 21M
Initial issue and variation	18	26	23
Active at 30 June	35	37	33
Total appointments active at 30 June	168	210	165

Table A.16 Production authorisations, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of authorisation	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Production certificate
Initial issue	0	0	0
Variation	3	1	5
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	4	4	4
Active as 30 June	7	8	8
One-off production certificate
Initial issue	2	1	1
Variation	0	10	3
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	3	2	2
Active at 30 June	35	36	36
Australian parts manufacturing approval
Initial issue	1	0	1
Variation	9	5	7
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	12	2	5
Active at 30 June	35	36	34
Australian Technical Standard Order authorisation
Initial issue or variation	0	4	4
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	3	3	4
Active at 30 June	9	8	7
Parts approval under CASR 21.305A
Initial issue or variation	1	2	3
Under voluntary suspension at 30 June	3	3	3
Active at 30 June	9	9	9

Table A.17 Airworthiness directives and bulletins, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of directive/bulletin	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Australian Airworthiness Directive
Issued	30	40	1
Cancelled	41	33	9
Amended	33	29	14
Current	7,962	7,886	7,834
State of design airworthiness directive	635	642	478
Exclusion from airworthiness directive	72	72	99
Review of airworthiness directive	8	12	7
Airworthiness Bulletin
Issued or amended	22	22	6
Current	376	384	384

Table A.18 Aircraft defect reports, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Report status	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Received during the year	1,734	1,814	1,157
Closed during the year	875	1,201	n/a^a
Open as at 30 June	1,495	2,108	n/a^a

n/a = not applicable

a As a result of new defect reporting procedures implemented in 2019–20, defect reports no longer have a status of open or closed.

Aerodromes

Table A.19 Aerodromes at 30 June, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Aerodrome status	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Certified	194	197	199
Registered	130	126	129
Total	324	323	328

Training

Table A.20 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 141 flight training certificates, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of application	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial issue^a	17	17	16
Subsequent issue	16	31	55
Variation	53	47	43
Total	86	95	114
Current certificates at 30 June^b	n/a	237	250

n/a = not applicable

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

b A 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 from 2018–19.

Table A.21 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 142 flight training certificates, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of application	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial issue^a	0	1	3
Subsequent issue	3	5	12
Variation	5	4	10
Total	8	10	25
Current certificates at 30 June^b	n/a	62	65

n/a = not applicable

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

Table A.22 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 147 maintenance training organisation certificates, 2017–18 to 2019–20

Type of application	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20
Initial issue^a	1	2	4
Variation	40	56	57
Total	41	58	61
Suspended certificates	0	0	1
Surrendered certificates	1	2	1

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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