New W&B rules for RAA

[Kyle Communications]

As a owner builder for a 19 rego aircraft you are now not allowed to submit your own W&B.

Now you have to get a Casa WCO (Weight Control Officer) to do it .

So the rate seems to be $1200 from chasing this up and thats if you have someone reasonably local to do it.

Just another excess cost in my opinion. More red tape regulation again. The system was fine before.

I asked the question of the Tech dept at RAA and this is what I got back

 

Hi Mark,

 

Thank you for your enquiry, and I hope your build is going well.

 

Section 10.1 outlines the requirements for aircraft weight and balance, and states that CASA CAO 100.7 is applicable.

 

I would recommend reading the complete CAO for weight and balance, however Section 4 of the CAO outlines weight procedure and who can do the report.

(Reports do need to be conducted by a CASA Weight Control Officer or verified weight control authority).

 

Link to CAO 100.7 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2015L01127/latest/text

 

4 Weighing procedure

 4.1 Aircraft weighings must be carried out under the control of a weight control officer whose appointment covers the activity, or a person referred to in paragraph 4.1A.

Note   Subject to compliance with paragraphs 4.1 and 4.7, a person, other than a weight control officer, may carry out the weighing of an aircraft.

 4.1A A person may carry out the weighing of aircraft and prepare a weighing summary for aircraft (other than power-assisted sailplanes, powered sailplanes or sailplanes) that are to be certified under regulation 21.190 and 21.195A of CASR for a purpose mentioned in paragraph 21.191 (g), (h) or (j) of CASR if the person:

(a) has successfully completed an aircraft weighing procedures course approved by CASA within the last 2 years; and

(b) has had practical experience in setting the aircraft up in the levelled or flying position for the purpose of conducting symmetry checks, rigging angles and control surface travels, if applicable; and

(c) weighs the aircraft on scales that are approved by CASA or an organisation that has been approved by CASA for the purpose of this subparagraph; and

(d) ensures flight tests are conducted in accordance with paragraphs 91.875 (2) (f) to (j) of CASR with the aircraft at maximum and minimum permitted take-off weights and loaded so that it is tested at forward and aft CG limits; and

(e) complies with any other condition that CASA deems necessary.

 4.2 Aircraft must be weighed on scales that:

(a) have an accuracy over the temperature range for which the scales are designed of:

 (i) ±0.2% of the applied load; or

 (ii) ±2 kg;

 whichever is the greater; and

(b) are of a type suitable for the purpose.

 4.3 A scale mentioned in paragraph 4.2 may be used to weigh an aircraft only if it was calibrated, within the 12 month period ending on the date the scale is used to weigh the aircraft, by:

(a) the manufacturer of the scales; or

(b) an organisation that is approved by the National Measurement Institute for a purpose that covers the purpose of calibrating the scales; or

(c) an organisation using a reference standard in respect of which there is:

 (i) a valid certificate of calibration (however described) issued by an accredited organisation; or

 (ii) a valid certificate of verification issued under regulation 13 of the National Measurement Regulations 1999.

 4.3A For subparagraph 4.3 (c):

(a) a certificate of calibration or verification for a reference standard is valid:

 (i) during any period of effect stated on the certificate; or

 (ii) until any date stated on the certificate by which the reference standard must be recalibrated or reverified;

(b) accredited organisation, in relation to a certificate of calibration for a reference standard, means an organisation holding an accreditation to calibrate the reference standard issued by:

 (i) the National Association of Testing Authorities Australia; or

 (ii) an entity that is a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation.

 4.4 Sufficient personnel and equipment, including scales, must be provided to satisfactorily carry out the weighing.

 4.5 The empty weight and empty weight CG must be determined from the results of 2 consecutive and independent weighings. The load must be completely removed from the scales between each weighing.

 4.6 If the difference between the first 2 weighings exceeds 0.2% of the mean weight or 10 kg, whichever is the greater, further weighings must be performed until the results of 2 consecutive and independent weighings agree within that tolerance.

 4.7 The empty weight and empty weight CG must be certified as correct by a weight control officer whose appointment covers the activity, or a person referred to in paragraph 4.1A. Weighing details and the determination of the empty weight and empty weight CG must be entered in an aircraft weighing summary approved by CASA.

 4.8 A list of equipment included in the empty weight must be prepared for each aeroplane and rotorcraft.

[440032]

Nothing super new - has been in the RAAus Tech Manual since at least DEC 2024. (I have no details as to why the change etc)

[skippydiesel]

1 hour ago, 440032 said:

Nothing super new - has been in the RAAus Tech Manual since at least DEC 2024. (I have no details as to why the change etc)

Agreed - nothing new.

 

"So the rate seems to be $1200 from chasing this up and thats if you have someone reasonably local to do it"

 

As with all commercial services, its up to you the customer to shop aground for the best deal. My Sonex cost (from faulty member) about $700.00, 3 years ago.

 

Try - Aircraft Weighing Australia Pty Ltd https://aircraftweighingaustralia.com.au/

 

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