DASR 139 establishes the Authority’s requirements for the regulatory oversight of Defence certified Aerodromes and Aerodrome Operators (AD OPR). Aerodrome Operators are ADF organisations approved by DASA through the issue of an AD OPR Certificate (AD OPRC). Each Service is responsible for selecting which organisation(s) shall be AD OPR(s).
Authority approval provides the Defence AA assurance that the AD OPR will provide effective management of aerodrome design, OIP, and personnel competencies in order to support safe flight operations.
Accountability. The commander of an AD OPR organisation nominated by a Service is the AD OPR Accountable Manager (AM). The DASR place specific requirements on the AM. While delegation of the execution of these requirements is permissible, accountability for DASR compliance remains with the AM — as part of their command responsibilities — and cannot be delegated.
The AM appointment establishes an accountable officer responsible for the implementation of the DASR within the organisation and subordinate units. However, the Defence Act 1903 provides the authority for the Commander to implement the DASR. The AM appointment establishes — within the DASF — accountability for DASR 139 compliance.
Chain of command. DASR compliance does not alter the chain of command. An AD OPR’s higher commander may elect to retain or direct implementation of DASR compliance at their level. In this event, the higher commander and the AD OPR-AM become shared duty holders and are accountable for their respective implementation of, and compliance with, the DASR11. The AD OPR Compliance Statement (CS) should reflect any such specific circumstances, and DASA will conduct oversight and enforcement appropriate to the context of the organisations.
Defence operations and exercises may impose a temporary variation to the chain of command. For example, an AD OPR expeditionary squadron may be force assigned to an operational commander for activation of a Certified Aerodrome bare base (such as RAAF Scherger) during an exercise. In such circumstances, a shared duty arises out of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act 2011, s. 16. Both the AM and operational commander are considered ‘Officers’ for the purposes of the WHS Act, and must individually discharge their duties to the extent that they have capacity to influence and control these duties. The AM will retain responsibility for the operation of the aerodrome including continued compliance with DASR 139, and conformance with the DASR 139 compliant processes as described in the AD OPRC. In practice, this responsibility is discharged through deployment of aerodrome operations personnel who are suitably trained, competent and /or qualified to perform their role, and will operate the aerodrome in accordance with approved DASR 139 procedures.
Initial issue of AD OPRC and OpSpec. To gain an initial organisational approval, the AD OPR must first develop a system of management that meets DASR 139 requirements for the proposed scope and level of aerodrome operations.
The applicant organisation must apply to DASA for an initial organisational approval. The application must include a CS, with AM Attestation and evidence supporting compliance with the regulation.
DASA will award an AD OPRC when satisfied that the organisation complies with the requirements of DASR 139. DASA also issues an Operations Specification (OpSpec) to accompany the AD OPRC. The OpSpec details the scope of operations with any specific DASA approvals, conditions or limitations. Annexes to the OpSpec contain details of each Certified Aerodrome22 operated by the AD OPR.
The organisation is to provide a CS — approved by the AM — that details how the organisation achieves compliance with the DASR 139. The AD OPR must review the CS to capture changes to the organisation, the aerodromes and operating systems. The AM is to approve each version of the CS.
The CS must demonstrate readiness to operate an aerodrome in accordance with the requirements of DASR 139. The CS details the organisation’s compliance with DASR 139 through the provision of evidence and artefacts demonstrating suitable systems for the maintenance and operation of the aerodrome. Artefacts include Orders, Instructions and Publications (OIP) related to Safety Management Systems (SMS), Quality Management Systems (QMS), aerodrome manual, aerodrome maintenance programs, personnel competency frameworks and other aerodrome-specific management plans. DASR 139.30 details the content of the AD OPR CS.
The CS records essential information about the proposed operations and limitations and provides traceability to relevant OIP, to establish the means of compliance withDASR 139. The CS should contain a compliance matrix — which references/hyperlinks the evidence supporting compliance.
AD OPR AM Attestation. The CS must contain an AD OPR AM attestation, attesting that:
The AM is accountable for the Organisation’s compliance with DASR
The CS is complete and correct
Appropriate arrangements are in place to support the scope of operations contained in the OpSpec.
The AD OPR-AM attestation is a significant part of the AD OPR approval process. Work completed during the applicability, planning and documentation stages should all support the AM attestation. Furthermore, at the time the AD OPR AM makes the attestation, all documentation should be completed and available for their review.
Key personnel. Entries in the ‘Key personnel’ list are by appointment. An individual posted to the appointment becomes accountable for the duties of that appointment. A commander may determine the duties of the appointment. When an individual is temporarily conducting ‘Key personnel’ appointment duties, they become accountable for those duties for the duration of the appointment unless there is a limitation specified in the promulgation.
Limitations or conditions (if required). DASA may prescribe limitations or conditions to assure safe operations of a particular aerodrome of the AD OPR. The intent of an operational limitation is not to replicate limitations contained in documents such as the Aerodrome Certificate or aerodrome manual. A limitation will typically reference a plan and timeline to remove the limitation by the closure authority.
The AD OPR must operate in accordance with the DASA approved system, ie the system DASA approved, in order to maintain the AD OPRC. The AD OPR-AM is accountable for ensuring DASA-issued approvals remain current for their organisation and aerodrome operations.
The AD OPR must seek DASA approval for:
updates to the level or scope of the organisational approval
introduction of new capabilities
changes to DASR
significant changes to the organisational management system.
When an AD OPR identifies the need for an amendment to the AD OPRC and/or OpSpec, they must apply to DASA with an updated CS containing documented evidence to support the proposed amendment. An updated AM attestation is required with each updated CS.
Changes that may require CS updates include:
substantial changes to the AD OPR organisation
changes to an aerodrome’s Statement of Operating Intent and Usage (SOIU)33
change or withdrawal of a condition or limitation
addition or withdrawal of an aerodrome by the AD OPR
changes resulting from a regulation update
change or withdrawal of a regulation-based requirement.
The AD OPR must submit the application to the DASA Registry. Upon notification, DASA staff will review the application and conduct a desktop audit of the evidence to confirm whether the AD OPR management system is suitable for the proposed scope of operations. DASA may also conduct other safety assurance activities such as an on-site audit. DASA will prepare and approve AD OPRC and/or OpSpec when satisfied that the AD OPR has implemented suitable measures to comply with DASR 139.
Once DASA issues an Aerodrome Certificate44, the AD OPR may submit an application to update the AD OPRC OpSpec to include the Certified Aerodrome. On determining that the Certified Aerodrome operations meet all DASR 139 requirements, DASA will amend the AD OPRC OpSpec, thereby approving the AD OPR to operate the DASR 139 Certified Aerodrome. Figure 1 provides an overview of the process.
Figure 1: Addition of Certified Aerodrome to the OpSpec
DASPMAN Volume 3 Section 5 contains further guidance on regulatory oversight and enforcement activities.