FAA and #casa use of the AC [Advisory Circular] process

Question is: Do Advisory Circulars improve knowledge or are these documents being used by #casa to “bash GA” as another tool for this purpose.

The easy comparison is the indexing system used by the #FAA, which starts at the Parts [see below, after you scroll through the #casa example], then directs [as a good index system should] to the relevant AC’s.

In the #casa system, all the AC’s are listed [you can do a search] together with no reference to the Parts at all [see below]. This is, again despite Australia moving towards this system!!

A slow and laborious process.

Let’s use an example – ADSB

Both #casa and #FAA have a single entry.

#FAA – ADSB – AC_90-114A_

#casa ADSB AC-021c45

The #casa version comes in at 33 pages and it’s references [current version – June 2015] lists a cancelled #FAA AC 90-114, with no indication of the replacement [90-114A – Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Operations with Change 1 Date Issued October 28, 2014]

The #FAA AC, is at 47 pages, but which show how the system works, rather than what #casa provides which is a separate micro-management version.

Let’s use a simple comparison of the US-FAA Ac for:

and the #casa AC for a similar purpose.

Definitions first:

#FAA –Advisory circular (AC) refers to a type of publication offered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide guidance for compliance with airworthiness regulations. They define acceptable means, but not the only means, of accomplishing or showing compliance with airworthiness regulations.

#casa – Advisory Circulars (ACs) provide advice and guidance to explain particular regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) or associated Manual of Standards (MOS).

An AC should always be read in conjunction with the referring regulations. It should still be read as guidance material even if referred to in a ‘Note’ below the regulation.

A full list of the #casa current AC’s are below:

Operational

Aircraft Registration & Marking

Airworthiness

Note:  Advisory guidance on specific aircraft, aircraft systems and maintenance techniques can be found in the Airworthiness Bulletins (AWB)

Aerodromes & Airspace

General

And for #faa:

00 General

11 General Rule-Making Procedures

13 Investigation and Enforcement Procedures

20 Aircraft

21 Certification Procedures for Products and Parts

23 Airworthiness Standards: Normal, Utility, and Acrobatic Category Airplanes

25 Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes

27 Airworthiness Standards: Normal Category Rotorcraft

29 Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Rotorcraft

33 Airworthiness Standards: Aircraft Engines

34 Fuel Venting and Exhaust Emission Requirements for Turbine Engine Powered Airplanes

35 Airworthiness Standards

36 Noise Standards: Aircraft Type and Airworthiness Certification

39 Airworthiness Directives

43 Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding and Alteration

45 Identification and Registration Marking

60 Airmen

61 Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors

63 Certification: Flight Crewmembers Other Than Pilots

65 Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers

70 Airspace

73 Special Use Airspace

90  Air Traffic and General Operating Rules

91 General Operating and Flight Rules

97 Standard Instrument Approach Procedures

99 Security Control of Air Traffic

103 Ultralight Vehicles

105 Sport Parachuting

107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

108 Airplane Operators Security

109 Indirect Air Carrier Security

120 Air Carriers, Air Travel Clubs, and Operators for Compensation or Hire Certification and Operations

121 Certification and Operations: Domestic Flag, and Supplemental Air Carriers and Commercial Operators of Large Aircraft

125 Certification and Operations: Airplanes Having a Seating Capacity of 20 or More Passengers or a Maximum Payload Capacity of 6,000 Pounds or More

129 Operations of Foreign Air Carriers

133 Rotorcraft External-Load Operations

135 Air Taxi Operators and Commercial Operators

137 Agricultural Aircraft Operations

140 Schools and Other Certificated Agencies

141 Pilot Schools

145 Repair Stations

147 Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools

150 Airports Series

• Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)
• Airport Compliance/Obligations
• Airport Design, Construction, and Maintenance – General
• Airport GIS
• Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
• Airport Lighting
• Airport Pavement Design
• Airport Planning
• Airport Safety
• Certification of Airports (Part 139)
• Design, Construction, and Maintenance – General
• Environmental
• Federal Aid to Airports
• Passenger Facility Charge (PFC)
• Pavement Design
• Surplus Airport Property Conveyance Programs

170 Navigational Facilities

210 Flight Information

211 Aeronautical Charts and Flight Information Publications

413 Applications

440 Financial Responsibility for Licensed Launch Activities