REGULATION REFORM
Co-pilot instrument ratings
– transition to new rules
Learn about new rules for instrument ratings for
co-pilots during the transition period to the new
flight crew licensing regulations. These rules came
into effect on 1 September 2014.
The full rules are contained in Part 61 of the Civil
Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).
Who should read this information sheet?
› Pilots who held a co-pilot instrument rating that was
issued before 1 September 2014.
› Approved testing officers (ATOs) and flight examiners.
What is a co-pilot instrument rating?
Co-pilot instrument ratings were available under the
Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988) and authorised
the holder to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR) as the
co-pilot of a multi-crew operation.
Compared to the command rating, the co-pilot instrument
rating was restricted because the training and flight test
standards were not as extensive. The main differences were
in the handling of emergency conditions such as engine
failure on departure and in the approach profile.
› Operators employing pilots who hold co-pilot
instrument ratings.
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Are there co-pilot instrument ratings under
Part 61?
Part 61 does not provide for a co-pilot instrument rating or
co-pilot aircraft ratings.
Under the CAR 1988, pilots qualifying for a co-pilot
instrument rating didn’t need to complete all of the training
required for the old command rating.
Under Part 61, captains and co-pilots are expected to be
fully competent operating the aircraft under IFR. The same
applies to aircraft class and type ratings.
What are the transition rules for co-pilot
instrument ratings?
A pilot who held a co-pilot instrument rating on 31 August
2014 is entitled to an instrument rating with the equivalent
endorsements under Part 61. However, the pilot’s Part 61
instrument rating includes a condition stating the holder is
not authorised to act as pilot in command under the IFR.
According to the transition rules, if a pilot held a copilot (aeroplane or helicopter) instrument rating and a
command (same category as co-pilot rating) instrument
rating under CAR 1988 they are entitled to a Part 61
instrument rating without the co-pilot limitation.
How do the instrument proficiency check
rules apply to the co-pilot instrument rating?
Case 1
Ivy held a CAR 1988 co-pilot (aeroplane) instrument
rating and a Saab 340 co-pilot type endorsement.
She completed her instrument rating renewal in the
Saab 340 on 17 March 2014. Ivy is deemed to hold a
Part 61 instrument rating, however, the rating will include
a limitation on the licence that states she is not authorised
to act as pilot in command under the IFR.
According to the transition rules, Ivy is taken to meet
the instrument proficiency check requirements specified
in Part 61 until her co-pilot instrument rating expires on
31 March 2015.
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Is there a co-pilot instrument proficiency
check available?
Yes. A special co-pilot instrument proficiency check
(IPC-CP) standard has been specified in the Part 61
Manual of Standards (MOS) to support pilots who hold
CAR 1988 co-pilot instrument ratings. The standard reflects
the co-pilot instrument rating renewal standard under CAR
1988 (Civil Aviation Order 40.2.1).
The IPC-CP is only available to pilots who held a current
CAR 1988 co-pilot instrument rating before 1 September
2014. The IPC-CP will cease to be available after the end of
the transition period on 31 August 2018.
When you complete an IPC-CP the flight examiner (ATO)
will include that detail on your instrument proficiency check
notification and on your licence to ensure the limitation
continues to apply to you.
What if I held a current co-pilot instrument
rating and a current command instrument
rating on 31 August 2014?
Case 2
Fred is entitled to a multi-engine aeroplane class rating
and a Falcon 900 (DA50/900) type rating (limited to co-pilot).
He completed a co-pilot instrument rating renewal in the
Falcon on 7 July 2014 and a command instrument rating
renewal in a C402 on 13 April 2014.
Fred can continue flying IFR in the Falcon 900 as co-pilot
until 31 July 2015 and he can fly as pilot in command in
class-rated single and multi-engine aeroplanes until
30 April 2015. From 1 May 2015, Fred could continue
flying IFR as co-pilot in class-rated single and multi-engine
aeroplanes and the Falcon until 31 July 2015.
If Fred passes the instrument rating flight test in the Falcon
900, the co-pilot limitation on his licence will be removed.
However, until then, he will still only be able to operate as
co-pilot in the Falcon 900.
Case 3
Rohan is a helicopter and aeroplane pilot and held
instrument ratings for both categories under CAR 1988.
Transitioning to Part 61, Rohan will be entitled to the
following:
How do I remove the co-pilot limitation from
my instrument rating?
You have to pass the instrument rating flight test for
the category and at least the 2D instrument approach
endorsement. When this is done, the flight examiner (ATO)
will enter the details on your licence and the notification
to CASA will be used to remove the limitation on the
instrument rating record.
The old limitation won’t be printed on your licence the next
time it is printed. You should obtain an updated version of
your licence once you have passed the flight test.
› CPL(H) and CPL(A)
› helicopter ratings:
– BK117/EC145 type rating (co-pilot limitation)
– single-engine helicopter class rating
› aeroplane ratings:
– multi-engine aeroplane class rating
– single-engine aeroplane class rating
› instrument rating:
– multi-engine helicopter endorsement (co-pilot
limitation)
– multi-engine aeroplane endorsement.
CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY © 2014
Rohan completed the following instrument rating renewals
before 1 September 2014:
Want to know more?
› Co-pilot helicopter in BK117 on 23 March 2014
Visit the Licensing Regulations section on the CASA
website.
› Command multi-engine aeroplane in BE76 on
15 January 2014.
The new rules for aircraft ratings are contained in
Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations.
Based on the above, Rohan can continue operating under
the IFR in the BK117 as co-pilot until 31 March 2015. He
can complete an IPC-CP in the BK117 and that would allow
him to continue as co-pilot on the BK117 for another year.
›› Regulation 61.887 – removal of instrument
rating condition about acting as pilot in
command under IFR.
Rohan can also continue operating under the IFR in
class-rated single and multi-engine aeroplanes until
31 January 2015. From 1 February 2015, Rohan can’t
operate aeroplanes IFR because he doesn’t have a current
IPC for aeroplanes even though he has a current IPC (with
co-pilot limitation) for helicopters.
›› Subregulations 202.266 (5) and (6) –
removal of conditions on certain continued
authorisations.
›› Subregulations 202.267 (5) and (6) – flight
review and proficiency check requirements
›› Subregulations 202.276 (3) and (4) – flight
review and proficiency check requirements for
certain new authorisations.
The standards for the co-pilot instrument
proficiency check IPC-CP are in the CASR Part 61
Manual of Standards, Schedule 5, Appendix 1A
for aeroplane pilots and Appendix 2A for
helicopter pilots.
This information sheet was updated 10/9/2014
REGULATION REFORM | TRAINING AND LICENSING
CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY © 2014