CASA will expand access to controlled airspace for sport and recreation pilots from 2025.

[skippydiesel]

So I am correct - all this rabbit hole talk of aircraft registration, in relation to CTA entry, has no substance.

 

The principal factor, for entry to CTA, is the appropriate & current qualifications of the PIC. 

 

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

😈

Edited December 12, 2025 by skippydiesel

[jackc]

11 hours ago, T510 said:

I recently enquired about Group G and was told they are currently working on the training required to add a group G RPC, so you will need a separate group G RPC if you want to fly Group G aircraft

 

RAAus are also working on the CofA requirements to move a VH reg plane to RAAus reg.

 

It's just a pity that only Part 66 licenced LAME's will be able to maintain Group G aircraft unless you are the builder

Well  if you move your RAAus Aircraft to VH rego, do the SAAA MPC and get that certificate, you take it to CASA, get your Authority to maintain your  aircraft, even if you were NOT the builder. Fly away happy on your RPL with 5? Hours training on your RPC. 🤩

[T510]

9 hours ago, jackc said:

Well  if you move your RAAus Aircraft to VH rego, do the SAAA MPC and get that certificate, you take it to CASA, get your Authority to maintain your  aircraft, even if you were NOT the builder. Fly away happy on your RPL with 5? Hours training on your RPC. 🤩

I currently own a RAAus reg aircraft and a VH reg aircraft. I plan on doing the MPC as soon as it is available. Do you know when it will go live?

[skippydiesel]

10 hours ago, jackc said:

Well  if you move your RAAus Aircraft to VH rego, do the SAAA MPC and get that certificate, you take it to CASA, get your Authority to maintain your  aircraft, even if you were NOT the builder. Fly away happy on your RPL with 5? Hours training on your RPC. 🤩

I think you might need to qualify this statement with  -  (VH) only applies to experimental/home built. As far as I am aware VH pilot/owner maintenance of certified aircraft is limited to a few routine activates eg oil change. I don't know how this translates for factory built (non certified) aircraft.😈

[jackc]

Just now, skippydiesel said:

I think you might need to qualify this statement with  -  (VH) only applies to experimental/home built. As far as I am aware VH pilot/owner maintenance of certified aircraft is limited to a few routine activates eg oil change. I don't know how this translates for factory built (non certified) aircraft.😈

That’s the one, VH Experimental  🤩

[jackc]

6 hours ago, T510 said:

I currently own a RAAus reg aircraft and a VH reg aircraft. I plan on doing the MPC as soon as it is available. Do you know when it will go live?

First mainstream course is late first quarter of 2026 a being held in Narromine  NSW. You need to be SAAA member to participate.  The CASA Legislative Instrument has been  finalised to meet that deadline.  It will be a CASA qualification run by SAAA.

Further updates as they come to hand. 

 

[Moneybox]

After flying in controlled airspace for half of my training I'd consider a radio endorsement the most important requirement.

[Blueadventures]

A friend at Mackay did his RAAus  bfr on Thursday and the instructor mentioned that in about 4 weeks the endorsement to access controlled air space will be available.  So must be getting close now.

[skippydiesel]

5 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

A friend at Mackay did his RAAus  bfr on Thursday and the instructor mentioned that in about 4 weeks the endorsement to access controlled air space will be available.  So must be getting close now.

I hope so.

 

Sydney airspace changes are imminent (early June). The VFR lanes of entry/exit to the North, that we currently use, will change to access by lodged Flight Plan only and under Air Traffic Control,  so no RAA pilots until they get their Controlled Airspace Endorsements.

 

I have no idea by whom or when, such training may be offered - may have to go GA training establishments??????

 

😈

 

 

[BurnieM]

Can I just point out that if you have a RPL/PPL then you need a current CASA flight review to enter controlled airspace in your RAA plane.

 

Having a current RPC is not enough (at least until the RAAus controlled airspace endorsement comes into being).

 

 

[BirdDog]

Yep!  As Bernie mentioned above.

 

Current arrangements are, if you convert your RPC to RPL (Not that hard to do actually) you will need to get CTA/CTR endorsements, and you will need to complete a BFR (in a GA machine) every 2 years to keep it.

[skippydiesel]

".......complete a BFR (in a GA machine) ....."

 

Why a "GA machine".?😈

 

[BurnieM]

11 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

".......complete a BFR (in a GA machine) ....."

 

Why a "GA machine".?😈

 

A CASA flight review must be done in a CASA registered plane.

 

A CASA PPL or RPL with controlled airspace endorsement is currently the only way to fly in controlled airspace.

You need a current flight review to legally fly on this license (regardless of whether you are flying a CASA registered or RAAus plane).

 

Edited Sunday at 11:37 PM by BurnieM

[turboplanner]

3 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

".......complete a BFR (in a GA machine) ....."

 

Why a "GA machine".?😈

 

I would think bcause of its equipment. Also I'm not sure of the frequency of flights required, that may be the most expensive part.

[Blueadventures]

38 minutes ago, BirdDog said:

Yep!  As Bernie mentioned above.

 

Current arrangements are, if you convert your RPC to RPL (Not that hard to do actually) you will need to get CTA/CTR endorsements, and you will need to complete a BFR (in a GA machine) every 2 years to keep it.

That’s right; but will likely be allowing endorsement to RAAus quals, which suits me better as won’t have to gain an RPL.  Such may be available in July.

Edited Sunday at 11:31 PM by Blueadventures

[skippydiesel]

Just now, BurnieM said:

 

A CASA flight review must be done in a CASA registered plane.

 

A PPL or RPL with controlled airspace endorsement is currently the only way to fly in controlled airspace.

 

Doesn't sound corrcet.

 

You are mixing the aircraft requirement with the pilot requirement.

 

My limited understanding-

• The aircraft must be equipped to fly in controlled airspace - working radio and transponder
• The PIC must have a current controlled airspace endorsement

😈

 

[BurnieM]

31 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

My limited understanding-

• The aircraft must be equipped to fly in controlled airspace - working radio and transponder
• The PIC must have a current controlled airspace endorsement

😈

Currently there is no RAAus controlled airspace endorsement.

 

To fly in a RAAus registered plane in controlled airspace you need;

- a current RPC to fly a RAAus plane

- A current PPL or current RPL with controlled airspace endorsement (as this is the only current controlled airspace endorsement)

 

While it would be nice to think you could start a RAAus controlled airspace endorsement in a month I am not holding my breath.

 

It may still be worthwhile to convert to RPL and get controlled airspace and controlled aerodrome endorsements on this license. Every Casa flight school in Australia can currently do this.

 

I am expecting RAAus to recognize Casa controlled airspace endorsements and add them to your RPC with a fee (but no further training or review).

RAAus already do this if you have a Casa constant speed prop on your RPL/PPL or want group G.

You need to have a current Casa flight review.

 

Once you have this added to your RPC you can chose not to do further Casa flight reviews,

 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:04 AM by BurnieM

[skippydiesel]

Hi BurnieM,

 

You are not answering my question, regarding these similar statements -

 

".......complete a BFR (in a GA machine)..."

"A CASA flight review must be done in a CASA registered plane."

 

Why a "...CASA registered / GA plane" ?

 

😈

 

[Garfly]

 

 

Why not, Skippy?

 

Anyway, let's hope it's a moot point soon.

I recently came across one guy with considerable industry experience who reckoned it'd never happen because ATC folks wanted no part of allowing swarms of amateurs to invade their airspace.  But then, the other day, I heard an RAAus instructor say that the Syllabus for the endo was all done and dusted (by RAAus) and was now just awaiting final approval by the authorities.   

Edited yesterday at 12:10 AM by Garfly

[skippydiesel]

40 minutes ago, Garfly said:

 

 

Why not, Skippy?

 

 

I agree, why not an RAA registered aircraft fitted with transponder & radio?????

 

😈

[facthunter]

Just ONE radio? A transponder has to Be checked regularly by a qualified person and the work entered in the log book.  IF anytime you go to enter CTA the transponder must read correctly OR you don't get a clearence. IS the electrical system LOAD CHECKED?  Nev

[BurnieM]

1 hour ago, skippydiesel said:

Hi BurnieM,

 

You are not answering my question, regarding these similar statements -

 

".......complete a BFR (in a GA machine)..."

"A CASA flight review must be done in a CASA registered plane."

 

Why a "...CASA registered / GA plane" ?

 

😈

 

A flight review for a Casa license must be done in a Casa registered plane.

This is a Casa requirement and has been so for a long time.

 

Just like a flight review for a RAAus certificate must be done in a RAAus registered plane.

This is a RAAus requirement and has been so for a long time.

 

[skippydiesel]

27 minutes ago, BurnieM said:

 

A flight review for a Casa license must be done in a Casa registered plane.

This is a Casa requirement and has been so for a long time.

 

Just like a flight review for a RAAus certificate must be done in a RAAus registered plane.

This is a RAAus requirement and has been so for a long time.

 

Well, thats a bit odd - I have done a BFR in a GA (CASA) registered aircraft and it was accepted by RAA - just lucky I guess.

 

I bow to your more exact understanding of the regulations however I repeat my understanding of the requirements to enter Controlled Air Space:

 

• The aircraft must have a radio and transponder
• The pilot must have a CTA endorsement

 

I have no recollection of there being a requirement that the aircraft be GA  registered and at present the CTA endorsed pilot must have a current GA license. This may change in the future, with RAA getting up to speed with RAA CTA training for instructors.😈

Edited yesterday at 01:44 AM by skippydiesel

[BurnieM]

Skip perhaps you do not realise it but you keep changing the question.

 

Yes, you can do a flight review in a Casa registered aircraft and then advise RAAus and they will reset your RPC BFR expiry to the same as the Casa flight review.

 

If you do a RAAus flight review your RPC BFR expiry date resets.

If you advise Casa of this RAAus FR they will take no action and advise that you still need a FR in a Casa registered plane.

 

You can fly either a Casa registered or RAAus registered plane into CTA with the required radio and transponder.

The pilot must have a current PPL or current RPL with controlled airspace endorsement. 

If the pilot does not have a current Casa flight review then the pilots RPL/PPL is not current.

 

[BurnieM]

If, for example, a pilot had a current RPC but a non-current PPL then they could not legally fly into controlled airspace in any aircraft.

 

This is not something new, it has been this way for a long time.

 

Edited yesterday at 03:06 AM by BurnieM