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In this subpart:

61.701 Eligibility

(a) To be eligible for the issue of a Grade 2 agricultural rating (Aeroplane or Helicopter) a person must—

(1) hold at least a current class 2 medical certificate issued under the Act and a private pilot licence for the appropriate category of aircraft; and

(2) have a minimum of 200 hours flight time experience as a pilot, including a minimum of 100 hours as pilot-in-command in the appropriate category of aircraft, before commencing training for an agricultural rating; and

(3) successfully complete a course of agricultural ground and flight training; and

(4) Reserved

(5) Reserved

(6) hold a pilot chemical rating; and

(7) successfully complete a training course in one or more of the following ratings:

(i) aerial topdressing rating:

(ii) aerial spraying rating:

(iii) aerial VTA rating; and

(8) successfully demonstrate competency in agricultural aircraft operations to a flight examiner holding an appropriate current agricultural flight examiner rating.

(b) To be eligible for the issue of a Grade 1 agricultural rating (Aeroplane or Helicopter), a person must—

(1) hold at least a current commercial pilot licence for the appropriate category of aircraft; and

(2) have a minimum of 1000 hours productive flight time experience dispensing agricultural chemical or other substance directly affecting agriculture, horticulture or forest preservation, including a minimum of 200 hours as pilot-in-command of the appropriate category of aircraft; and

(3) successfully demonstrate competency in agricultural aircraft operations to a flight examiner holding an appropriate current agricultural flight examiner rating.

(c) The training required by paragraph (a)(3), and the demonstration of competency required by paragraphs (a)(8) and (b)(3) must be conducted under the authority of—

(1) an agricultural aircraft operator certificate issued under Part 137 that authorises the operator to conduct the training or competency assessment; or

(2) an aviation training organisation certificate issued under Part 141 that authorises the organisation to conduct the training or competency; or

(3) an organisation that employs, contracts or engages a person who holds a delegation from the Director to conduct the competency assessment.

61.703 Issue

(a) If the flight examiner who conducted the competency demonstration required by rule 61.701(a)(8) or (b)(3) is satisfied that the person is competent to perform agricultural aircraft operations, the flight examiner must—

(1) submit a copy of the flight test report to the Director; and

(2) enter the following statement in the pilot’s logbook:

I certify that on [date of assessment] [name of pilot and licence number] demonstrated competency in agricultural aircraft operations in accordance with rule (61.701(a)(8)* (61.701(b)(3)*) of the Civil Aviation Rules for the issue of a (Grade 2)* (Grade 1)* agricultural rating (aeroplane)* (helicopter)* with an (aerial topdressing rating)* (aerial spraying rating)* (aerial VTA rating)*. [date of entry, full name, signature and licence number of flight examiner].

* delete as applicable

(b) Reserved

(c) A person who has a logbook entry made in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) must apply to the Director under rule 61.11(a) for the issue of the agricultural rating before exercising the privileges of the rating.

(d) On receipt of an application under paragraph (c) and payment of the applicable fee, the Director may endorse the pilot licence with the agricultural rating.

61.705 Privileges and limitations

(a) Subject to paragraph (b), Part 137, and the privileges and limitations of the holder’s pilot licence, a holder of a current agricultural rating may act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft performing an agricultural aircraft operation.

(b) A holder of a Grade 2 agricultural rating must not act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft performing an agricultural aircraft operation if, under Part 137, there is a third party risk.

61.707 Currency requirements

(a) Subject to paragraph (d), a holder of an agricultural rating must not exercise the privileges of the rating unless—

(1) within the preceding 12 months the holder has –

(i) successfully demonstrated, to a holder of a category E flight instructor rating or a holder of an agricultural flight examiner rating, competency to perform an agricultural aircraft operation in an appropriate aircraft category and applicable to the agricultural ratings being exercised; and

(ii) holds a current class 1 or class 2 medical certificate issued under the Act; and

(2) the flight instructor or flight examiner who conducted the competency demonstration has entered the following statement in the pilot’s logbook:

I certify that on [date of assessment] [name of pilot and licence number] demonstrated competency in agricultural aircraft operations in accordance with rule 61.707(a)(1) of the Civil Aviation Rules for continued currency of a (Grade 2)* (Grade 1)* agricultural rating (aeroplane)* (helicopter)* performing (aerial topdressing)* (aerial spraying)* (aerial VTA)*. Next competency demonstration due on [enter date 12 months from date of assessment or 12 months from due date in accordance with paragraph (c) whichever is later]. [enter date of log book entry, and full name, signature and licence number of flight instructor or flight examiner].

* delete as applicable.

(b) A pilot who successfully completes the competency demonstration within 60 days before the date on which the demonstration is required is deemed to have completed the demonstration on the required date.

(ba) The flight instructor or flight examiner who conducted the competency demonstration must complete the approved CAA form and submit a copy of the completed form to the Director and to the pilot.

(c) A holder of a Grade 1 agricultural rating must not act as pilot-incommand of an aircraft performing an agricultural aircraft operation if, under Part 137, there is a third party risk unless—

(1) the holder has at least 25 hours flight time experience as a pilotin- command on the type of aircraft being used; and

(2) 10 of the required hours have been accumulated within the immediately preceding 12 months.

(d) Despite paragraph (a), a holder of an agricultural rating must not dispense an agricultural chemical from an aircraft on an agricultural aircraft operation unless they hold a current pilot chemical rating.

61.709 Reserved

61.710 Validation permit

A person who holds a current validation permit for a foreign pilot licence equivalent to a pilot licence required by rule 61.701(a) or (b) and who holds a qualification that the Director accepts as equivalent to an agricultural rating under rule 61.701 may apply to the Director under rule 61.11(a) to have the equivalent agricultural rating endorsed on the validation permit.

 

Subpart N

Subpart OA