Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has opened an industry consultation on a proposed shift to annual digital registration for all VH-registered aircraft. The requirement is set to take effect in July 2027. Submissions close on 13 August.
Under the current system, registration is granted once and remains valid indefinitely, supplemented by periodic data updates. CASA describes that approach as inefficient and unreliable in practice, and links the move to an annual scheme with improved data accuracy in the register and, in turn, with safety outcomes.
A fee would follow a year after the requirement itself, starting on 1 July 2028. The levy is intended to cover administration of the scheme and upkeep of the digital registration system, with cost-recovery arrangements to be settled once the consultation closes.
Three fee structures are on the table. The first is a flat levy of $72 applied to every VH-registered aircraft. The second is a weight-based levy of between $50 and $250 per aircraft, calculated on maximum take-off weight. The third combines weight and aircraft category, ranging from $40 to $500 per aircraft.
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Under the current system, registration is granted once and remains valid indefinitely, supplemented by periodic data updates. CASA describes that approach as inefficient and unreliable in practice, and links the move to an annual scheme with improved data accuracy in the register and, in turn, with safety outcomes.
A fee would follow a year after the requirement itself, starting on 1 July 2028. The levy is intended to cover administration of the scheme and upkeep of the digital registration system, with cost-recovery arrangements to be settled once the consultation closes.
Three fee structures are on the table. The first is a flat levy of $72 applied to every VH-registered aircraft. The second is a weight-based levy of between $50 and $250 per aircraft, calculated on maximum take-off weight. The third combines weight and aircraft category, ranging from $40 to $500 per aircraft.
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