Download the PDF consolidation of Part 61 [PDF 497 KB]
(a) To be eligible for a parachute drop rating, a pilot must—
(1) be the holder of at least a current private pilot licence; and
(2) have at least 200 hours flight time as a pilot, including at least 100 hours as pilot-in-command of the category of aircraft being used for the parachute drop operation; and
(3) have satisfactorily completed a course in dropping parachutists conducted by a parachute organisation if the organisation’s Part 149 certificate authorises the holder to conduct the course; and
(4) have demonstrated competence in the dropping of parachutists to an appropriately authorised person within a parachute organisation if the organisation’s Part 149 certificate authorises the holder to conduct the assessment.
(b) A pilot who holds a current parachute drop rating issued by an ICAO Contracting State is deemed to have met the requirements of paragraph (a)(3).
(a) If the authorised person who conducted the competency demonstration required by rule 61.651(a) is satisfied that the pilot complies with rule 61.651, the authorised person may issue the parachute drop rating by entering the following statement in the pilot’s logbook:
I certify that on [date of assessment] [name of pilot and client number] satisfied the requirements of Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Rules for the issue of a parachute drop rating for (aeroplanes)* (helicopters)*. [enter the date, full name, signature, and licence number of the flight instructor issuing the rating].
* delete as applicable
(b) The holder of a parachute drop rating issued under paragraph (a) may apply to the Director to have the rating endorsed on the holder’s pilot licence.
(c) On receipt of an application under paragraph (b) and payment of the applicable fee, the Director may endorse the pilot licence with the parachute drop rating.
(d) To avoid doubt, a statement of endorsement made in a pilot’s logbook prior to 15 April 2016 is deemed to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (a) of rule 61.651.
A current parachute drop rating authorises the holder to act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft on parachute drop operations subject to the privileges and limitations of the holder’s pilot licence.
(a) A holder of a parachute drop rating must not exercise the privileges of the rating unless,—
(1) within the previous 12 months, the holder has performed at least 6 parachute drop flights; or
(2) within the previous 12 months, the holder has successfully demonstrated their continued competency in accordance with the requirements of rule 61.651(a)(4); and
(3) the authorised person who conducted the competency demonstration certifies the successful completion of the check in the pilot’s logbook in accordance with rule 61.29.
(b) A pilot who successfully completes the competency demonstration within 60 days before the date on which it is required is deemed to have completed the demonstration on the required date.
