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

[rodgerc]

From my point of view, it’s nothing more than a turf war….A bit like being a Ford or Holden supporter….There are disadvantages/advantages in both schools and don’t see an overwhelming reason to consider one any better than the other. 

 

Personally I maintain both licences and fly my amateur built RA-AUS registered taildragger on Saturdays and VH registered experimental RV on Thursdays. 
 

The costs are comparable in either camp and eventually I’ll be forced to drop one of the two options….It’s a toss-up at present, but if RA-Aus get CTA access over the line it’ll likely be my Part 61 license/VH aircraft that will go, simply because I’m finding my local RA flying community a lot more “relaxed” and “convivial”….And I find the folk at RA-Aus generally helpful and easy to approach. 
 

Happy to accept though that others’ experience may be different….No doubt the turf wars will continue until natural selection determines the dominant species. 

[Love to fly]

4 hours ago, BurnieM said:

Don't forget one years membership of SAAA as well so a little over $800 to do MPC for your CASA reg amateur built.

 

Class 5 medical is actually 2 small coffees 🙂 

 

Class G pretty much became a waste of time when CASA announced class 5 medical shortly after.

This was CASA tho after delaying class G several times then introducing class 5 med.

 

Logical thing would have been for RAAus to abandon class G and immediately put effort into driving controlled airspace endorsement.

This did not happen and here we are.

 

For us MPC waa done years ago. Pre CofA, along with weight and balance certificate. We remain SAAA members but it isn't mandatory to do so.. Just like the friends and social aspect.   

[Love to fly]

1 hour ago, sfGnome said:

That price is about to more than double. Will be published shortly. 

Is that for the MPC, or the new hands on course to enable non builders to do their own maintenance? 

[Moneybox]

[BurnieM]

That happened in May.

Ops Manual still not approved and RAAus are saying Q3 of this year (earlier they said 2025).

 

[sfGnome]

12 hours ago, Love to fly said:

Is that for the MPC, or the new hands on course to enable non builders to do their own maintenance? 

The MPC. They noted that after holding the price steady for many years, it had to be increased. Big jump, but cheaper than paying someone to do my maintenance. 

[BurnieM]

Will there be any difference in pricing between the MPC builder and non-builder course ?

I believe the non-builder course will be 2 days longer.

 

[BurnieM]

SAAA paper on RAAus to VH aircraft conversion

 

[Love to fly]

2 hours ago, sfGnome said:

The MPC. They noted that after holding the price steady for many years, it had to be increased. Big jump, but cheaper than paying someone to do my maintenance. 

Sure. But if you didn't build you still need to do the other course as well. MPC just about paperwork etc. 

[Reynard]

The training module for CTA access has now been issued to RA AUS instructors. The revised ops manual still needs to be approved however.

[Roundsounds]

On 6/6/2026 at 9:46 AM, BurnieM said:

That happened in May.

Ops Manual still not approved and RAAus are saying Q3 of this year (earlier they said 2025).

 

The never ending story. 
GFA pilots have always had CTR/CTA access and on a self certified medical. I know a class 5 is only $10, but that will become $100. 

[facthunter]

Gliders don't go to Major Airports or have to  comply with other requirements you will be asked to do. Nev

[Kyle Communications]

[facthunter]

The Vid has you flying over tall Buildings . Why would you want to do that in a single engined Plane? Nev

[Moneybox]

2 minutes ago, facthunter said:

The Vid has you flying over tall Buildings . Why would you want to do that in a single engined Plane? Nev

I guess it's better than crashing into them? 🤪

[Garfly]

55 minutes ago, facthunter said:

The Vid has you flying over tall Buildings . Why would you want to do that in a single engined Plane? Nev

That's not a vid, that's a 'composite image' to illustrate the article.

 

 

CLICK FOR FULL REZ.

 

 

Regulatory changes clear CTA path for RAAus - Australian Flying

WWW.AUSTRALIANFLYING.COM.AU

---

Last month, CASA amended the Civil Aviation Orders to permit Recreational Pilot Certificate (RPC) holders to access controlled airspace.

 

Edited yesterday at 09:39 AM by Garfly

[walrus]

Ahhhh yes, the old bait and switch trick. You require a class 5 medical certificate. Given the age of RAA aircraft owners, how many are going to clear that little hurdle?

 

 

Begging of course the question of the relevance of medical certification to light aircraft safety....

Edited 23 hours ago by walrus

[Love to fly]

1 hour ago, walrus said:

Ahhhh yes, the old bait and switch trick. You require a class 5 medical certificate. Given the age of RAA aircraft owners, how many are going to clear that little hurdle?

 

 

Begging of course the question of the relevance of medical certification to light aircraft safety....

My understanding is that the Class 5 isn't that onerous, but if you have ever been rejected for a Class 2 you are ineligible for a Class 5.  Given that's why many change to raaus..... 

 

[BurnieM]

Nope. I have a class 5.

It is pretty much the same as RAAus declaration just CASA want you to have a ARN and record your declaration in their system.

And take $10. While this could always go up I do not believe it is in their interest to raise it too high.

Will be interesting to see if they loosen the things you can do after the review.

 

Class 4 will also be interesting.

Anybody have any details on requirements/activities you can perform on this medical ?

 

Edited 22 hours ago by BurnieM

[T510]

Class 5 = Do a 1 hour online course with assessment questions at the end, complete online declaration on the MyCASA portal, pay $10 and you are done.

 

 

[Love to fly]

1 hour ago, T510 said:

Class 5 = Do a 1 hour online course with assessment questions at the end, complete online declaration on the MyCASA portal, pay $10 and you are done.

 

 

Wonder what's in the detail of the declaration, and think there is a document you're saying you've read and that you meet the requirements of?   

[T510]

I did mine a couple of weeks ago.

 

The declaration covers the usual stuff:

Any impairments that would stop you getting a car licence

Have you failed a class 1 or 2 previously

Heart disease/conditions

Neurological disorders

Mental health

Medications 

 

It's all done through the MyCASA portal

 

 

 

[Love to fly]

9 minutes ago, T510 said:

I did mine a couple of weeks ago.

 

The declaration covers the usual stuff:

Any impairments that would stop you getting a car licence

Have you failed a class 1 or 2 previously

Heart disease/conditions

Neurological disorders

Mental health

Medications 

 

It's all done through the MyCASA portal

 

 

 

Sorry I misunderstood. It's the previous failure of a Class 2 or Class 2, and the other ineligibilities that I think some are missing. 

[BurnieM]

I love the mental health declarations/drugs declarations on anything.

Does anybody with a problem (obviously not me or you) ever answer these honestly ?

 

[BurnieM]

26 minutes ago, Love to fly said:

Sorry I misunderstood. It's the previous failure of a Class 2 or Class 2, and the other ineligibilities that I think some are missing. 

 

This is one of the things the the Technical Review group recommended be changed.

Maybe it happens, maybe not. If it does happen I expect lots of conditions.