Introduction
Defence aircraft can be categorised by registration type into either Defence Registered, or Non-Defence Registered Aircraft. Categorisation by registration type is important because it determines which DASR parts apply to operation of the aircraft. In compliance with ICAO Article 18, aircraft will not be on more than one register at any time. Aircraft may transfer between registers.
In Australia, the two Authorities that maintain aircraft registers are the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA). The terminology for equivalent overseas authorities is Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a civil authority and Military Aviation Authority (MAA) for a Military Authority. A nation is not likely to have more than one civil authority although there may be multiple military authorities as is the case in the USA.
A Defence UAS that is not held on the Defence Register must be recorded on a local register in accordance with DASR UAS.10 (d) and (e)—with the exception of UAS operated under DASR NDR. Refer to DASPMAN Vol 3 UAS Part 2 Chapter 2 for local registration of UAS.
Purpose
This chapter provides guidance on how MAOs and Project Offices (POs) request allocation of an Application Identifier (AI), request Defence registration of an aircraft, and request removal of an aircraft from the Defence Register. DASR ARO.60 is applicable to this chapter.
Defence Registration
An aircraft owned or leased by Defence and that continuously operates as a State Aircraft should be Defence registered. Defence registration allows the full flexibility of the DASP to apply to an aircraft. It enables DASA authorisation of military roles, including the release of ordnance, low flying, and formation flying—types of operations that may be heavily restricted or unsupportable under civil regulatory requirements (applicable to civil registered Defence aircraft through DASR NDR.05(a)). Defence registration ensures the aircraft is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the DASR.
The Defence Register
DASA publishes the list of registered aircraft on the DASA website. For each aircraft on the Defence Register the following information is recorded:
an Application Identifier (AI) unique to the aircraft type
an aircraft tail number
an aircraft model number
the manufacturer’s serial number of the aircraft
the aircraft delivery date
the Defence registration date
reference to DASA approval documentation
the operating MAO.
Inclusion of aircraft on the Defence Register
This section describes how MAOs (and SPOs on behalf of a MAO) request DASA to add or remove aircraft from the Defence Register.
Defence Registration is a two-stage process. The first stage is allocation of an Application Identifier (AI) for each aircraft type. The second stage is the addition of each aircraft to the Defence Register following delivery and acceptance.
Application for aircraft type Application Identifier assignment
DASA assigns an AI to aircraft types as a unique identifier. This AI appears on many DASA authorisations including the Military Type Certificate (MTC) and OpSpec. The AI also forms the first component of the registration markings of each aircraft (eg for AI ‘A44’ the tail numbers will be A44-nnn, where ‘nnn’ is the individual aircraft’s unique registration number).
A MAO (or their representative) may apply to DASA for issue of an AI. Ideally, this occurs after the government has provided acquisition approval for the aircraft. The application is normally via minute and should include evidence of government approval and details of the acquisition program including the:
make and manufacturer of the aircraft
number of aircraft sought
anticipated entry-into-service date.
Following receipt of an application for an AI, DASA will review the application. If complete, DASA will allocate the next available AI, and create a record for the new aircraft type in the Defence Register. The MAO will then be notified of their assigned AI.
Assignment methodology. DASA assign all Defence registered aircraft an AI. The first AI assigned A11 was to DH9A in the early 1920s. DASA assigns AI’s sequentially from A1 through to A99. When the allocation reaches A99, DASA starts a new series and issues AI from A1. Army and Air Force aircraft are assigned AI with the prefix ‘A’ whilst Navy aircraft numbering using the prefix ‘N’.
Application for aircraft registration
The second stage of aircraft registration is an application to DASA for registration of each aircraft tail. As aircraft registration is a pre-requisite for the issue of a Military Certificate of Airworthiness (MCoA), normal practice is for the MAO or PO to apply for registration immediately following delivery of each aircraft from the manufacturer.
The application may take the form of a Minute, or by prior agreement with DASA, another document. The application must provide the following information and be supported with evidence:
the desired tail number
evidence that Defence has control of the specific aircraft, through either ownership or lease
evidence that the aircraft is not on another CAA/MAA register.
An applicant may prove control over an aircraft through evidence of ownership such as SG-01, DD1149 or DD-250 forms. For a leased aircraft, an extract from the lease agreement or form where Defence has accepted custody of the aircraft is sufficient.
Prior to delivery, aircraft are usually subject to acceptance flight test activities. Generally, to conduct these activities the manufacturer has to comply with local registry requirements of their national MAA or CAA. For DASA to add the aircraft to the Defence Register, the applicant must provide evidence that the aircraft is not on any other register.
Following receipt of an application for registration, DASA will review the application. If complete, DASA will add the new tail number to the Defence Register. Following registration, DASA will send a letter to the applicant, relevant MAO-AM, Environmental Commander and the CASA Registrar – Civil Register of Aircraft. DASA will send relevant aircraft identification information to Airservices Australia.
Removal of aircraft from the Defence Register
A MAO or SPO must apply to DASA to remove an aircraft from the Defence Register. The application must contain the following:
the reason the aircraft is being removed from the register
confirmation that Defence Registration markings have been removed22
reference to the approved aircraft disposal plans or agreement
where applicable, details for the subsequent owner and registrar.
Following receipt of an application to remove aircraft from the Defence Register, DASA will review the application. If the application is complete, DASA will annotate the Defence Register with removal. Following de-registration, DASA will send a letter to the applicant, relevant MAO-AM, Environmental Commander and CASA Registrar – Civil Register to confirm aircraft removal from the Defence Register.