EMMA KELLY / PERTH
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has blocked the use of the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 for commercial-pilot flight training in the country, claiming the aircraft do not meet its constant-speed propeller requirements. The regulator's move is a major setback for Cirrus, which says it has already lost one customer as a result of CASA's action.
CASA says the Cirrus aircraft do not meet requirements for conducting commercial pilot's licence (CPL) tests as they do not have a constant-speed propeller. The manufacturer argues that its aircraft do have a constant-speed propeller unit, but its functionality is different to that of older types as it combines the throttle and propeller pitch control into one lever rather than having separate items.
"You still have the control, it's just a different format," says Steve Maltby, director of Cirrus aircraft sales in Australia.
Despite Cirrus aircraft operating in Australia for three years, the manufacturer only became aware of the problem this month when a potential customer contacted the authority to confirm that the SR20 could be used for CPL and instrument-flight-rules training. The prospective customer was told that it would not be suitable for CPL flight tests because of the constant speed propeller issue.
CASA says its regulations require a commercial pilot to be trained to fly an aircraft fitted with the constant-speed unit found in commercial operations. Using an analogy to describe the difference between flying the Cirrus aircraft and older types, CASA says it is like learning to drive in an automatic car and then getting a job driving a manual one.
Maltby says the manufacturer has sought legal advice on the issue and if it comes to a legal battle, the manufacturer is confident of winning as the CASA regulations merely state that the aircraft must have a constant-speed propeller unit, which the SR20 and SR22 have.
The ban comes as Cirrus was about to start marketing the recently launched SRV, a visual flight rules version of the SR20, at flight schools in Australia. Cirrus has sold more than 20 SR20s and SR22s in Australia.
Source: Flight International
