Instrument number CASA 267/13
I, JOHN FRANCIS McCORMICK, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, make this instrument under regulation 11.160 and paragraph 139.185 (3) (c) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998).
[Signed John F. McCormick]
John F. McCormick
Director of Aviation Safety
06 December 2013
Approval — means of providing surface wind information
Exemption — provision of a wind direction indicator
1          Duration
          This instrument:
(a)   commences on the day of registration; and
(b)   expires at the end of 30 November 2016, as if it had been repealed by another instrument.
2          Application
          This instrument applies to the operator (the aerodrome operator) of a certified aerodrome or a registered aerodrome (the aerodrome).
3          Approval
          I approve a wind direction indicator as a means of providing surface wind information to the pilot of an aircraft approaching a runway at the aerodrome in the following circumstances:
(a)   the runway is used in non-precision approach operations; and
(b)   no wind direction indicator is near the end of the runway at which instrument non-precision approach operations can be conducted; and
(c)   the wind direction indicator is installed and maintained in accordance with regulation 139.180 of CASR 1998; and
(d)   the automatic weather observing system (AWOS) or the weather information broadcast unit at the aerodrome is unserviceable; and
(e)   there is no approved observer who has a communication link with pilots through which timely information about surface wind can be clearly passed to pilots; and
(f)    the pilot is performing a circling approach to the runway; and
(g)   the pilot is able to observe the wind direction indicator before the final approach leg.
4          Exemptions
(1)     The aerodrome operator of a certified aerodrome is exempt from compliance with subregulation 139.185 (1) of CASR 1998.
(2)     The aerodrome operator of a registered aerodrome is exempt from compliance with Subpart 139.C of CASR 1998 to the extent that that Subpart requires the aerodrome operator to ensure that there is a wind direction indicator near the end or ends of a runway at which instrument non-precision approach operations can be conducted.
5          Conditions
          The exemptions in section 4 are subject to the conditions set out in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1          Conditions
        1     An AWOS must be installed at the aerodrome that:
(a)   is compatible with the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather observing system; and
(b)   provides surface wind information through an aerodrome weather information broadcast that is available to the pilots of aircraft approaching the runway.
      2     The aerodrome operator must ensure that:
(a)   the AWOS continues to operate in broadcast mode; and
(b)   the AWOS is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; and
(c)   the serviceability of the AWOS is monitored during each aerodrome serviceability inspection by the reporting officer of the aerodrome; and
(d)   the aerodrome manual for the aerodrome includes procedures to tell aerodrome users if there is a fault in the AWOS.
        3     If the AWOS or the weather information broadcast unit is unserviceable, the aerodrome operator must ensure that:
(a)   a NOTAM to that effect is issued; and
(b)   either:
             (i)  surface wind information is passed to pilots of aircraft approaching the runway by an approved observer who has a communication link with pilots through which timely information about surface wind can be clearly passed to pilots; or
            (ii)  a NOTAM is issued notifying pilots that:
(A)  the straight-in instrument approach procedure minima are not available; and
(B)   a circling approach is only available if the pilot is able to observe the aerodrome’s wind direction indicator before the final approach leg; and
(c)   the AWOS or unit is repaired as soon as reasonably possible.