RPL Air Law & Regulations: CASA Rules You Must Know for the Exam

Regulations questions in the RPL exam are pure knowledge — there's no calculation or interpretation shortcut. The good news is that the scope is well-defined: CASA tests the same core rules every exam. This guide maps out exactly what you need to know.

RPL privileges and limitations (CASR Part 61)

Know these cold — they're directly tested and also relevant to the practical component of your training.

What an RPL allows

• Fly as pilot in command (PIC) of a single-engine, non-turbine aircraft up to 1,500 kg Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW)
• Fly day Visual Flight Rules (VFR) only
• Fly within 25 nautical miles (nm) of the departure aerodrome
• Carry passengers (after meeting flight time requirements)
• Fly aeroplanes of the category, class, and type endorsed on the licence

RPL limitations

• No night flying (unless a night VFR rating is added)
• No controlled airspace operations (Class C, D) without appropriate endorsement
• 25 nm radius restriction from departure aerodrome
• No cross-country navigation (beyond 25 nm)
• Non-turbine only — turboprop and turbine aircraft are excluded
• Aircraft must be registered VH- or be a recreational aircraft on the RA-Aus register (with appropriate endorsement)

To carry passengers

An RPL holder must have completed at least 2 hours of pilot-in-command time on the category/class before carrying passengers.

Airspace classification

Australia uses ICAO airspace classes A through G. Memorise the key characteristics of each class that pilots encounter:

Class	Type	ATC clearance	VFR allowed?
A	Controlled	Required	Only with approval under CASR 91.285
C	Controlled	Required	Yes (with clearance)
D	Controlled	Required	Yes (with clearance)
E	Controlled	IFR only	Yes (no clearance required)
G	Uncontrolled	Not required	Yes

Class A note: VFR flight in Class A airspace is not outright prohibited — it requires specific approval under CASR 91.285. In practice, this is rarely granted, but the exam distinction matters: it's "approval required," not "prohibited."

RPL holders without endorsements typically operate in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace. Most training areas and recreational flying are in Class G.

Transponder requirements

• Mode C transponder required in Class C and Class D airspace
• Mode C required within the Mode C veil around major capital city airports
• Mode S transponder required in certain high-traffic areas

Common exam question: "When entering the Mode C veil of Sydney, what transponder code should be squawked?" — Answer: 1200 (VFR code) unless ATC assigns a specific code.

VFR flight minima (VMC)

Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) define the minimum visibility and cloud clearances required for VFR flight. These are critical exam topics — memorise each bracket.

Class G airspace — at or below 3,000 ft AMSL or 1,000 ft AGL (whichever is higher)

• Flight visibility: 5,000 metres (5 km)
• Cloud clearance: Clear of cloud
• Additional requirement: In sight of ground or water

Class G (and Class C/E) — above 3,000 ft AMSL / 1,000 ft AGL but below 10,000 ft

• Flight visibility: 5,000 metres (5 km)
• Cloud clearance: 1,500 m horizontal, 1,000 ft vertical

At or above 10,000 ft AMSL

• Flight visibility: 8 km
• Cloud clearance: 1,500 m horizontal, 1,000 ft vertical

Class D airspace — all heights

• Flight visibility: 5,000 metres (5 km)
• Cloud clearance: 600 m horizontal, 1,000 ft above cloud, 500 ft below cloud

Exam trap: Don't confuse the Class G "clear of cloud" rule (below 3,000 ft / 1,000 ft AGL) with the specific cloud distances required at higher altitudes or in Class D. The numbers change depending on both altitude and airspace class.

Minimum height rules

Minimum height rules are frequently tested. Know the two key scenarios.

Over populous areas (CASR 91.265, MOS 12.01)

• 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within a 600 m radius of any point on the ground directly below the aircraft

Over non-populous areas (CASR 91.267, MOS 12.02)

• 500 ft above the highest obstacle within a 300 m radius of any point on the ground directly below the aircraft

Exam tip: Remember the pairing — populous = 1,000 ft / 600 m, non-populous = 500 ft / 300 m. The numbers scale together.

Right-of-way rules

Memorise the priority order — CASA tests both the hierarchy and specific scenarios.

1. Aircraft in distress — always has right of way
2. Balloons
3. Gliders
4. Airships
5. Aircraft towing (towing aircraft and the tow)
6. Powered aircraft

Between two powered aircraft

• Converging: aircraft to the right has right of way (give way to aircraft on your right)
• Head-on: both alter course to the right
• Overtaking: overtaking aircraft gives way and passes to the right
• Landing: aircraft on approach has right of way over aircraft in flight. Lower aircraft on final has priority.

Wake turbulence

Wake turbulence avoidance is tested in scenario-based questions. Key rules to remember:

• When departing behind a larger aircraft, you should lift off before the larger aircraft's lift-off point and climb above their flight path to avoid the wake vortices sinking behind them.
• When landing behind a larger aircraft, aim to touch down beyond their touchdown point.

Air traffic services

CASA tests the different types of air traffic services and when each applies:

• Air Traffic Control (ATC): provided in controlled airspace — separates IFR traffic, sequences arrivals
• Flight Information Service (FIS): provided in Class G — gives traffic and weather information, does NOT provide separation
• Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF): used at uncontrolled aerodromes. Pilots broadcast intentions, no clearance required. Use the published CTAF frequency for the aerodrome.

Fuel and pre-flight requirements

Legal fuel requirements for day VFR (piston or turboprop aircraft ≤5,700 kg) under CASR Part 91:

• Sufficient fuel to reach destination, plus alternate (if required), plus 30 minutes reserve at cruise power for day VFR
• Night VFR reserve is 45 minutes — don't confuse the two

Exam trap: The 30-minute day reserve and 45-minute night reserve distinction is a common trick question. Memorise both.

Pre-flight inspection is the PIC's legal responsibility. The phrase "the PIC is responsible for ensuring the aircraft is airworthy before flight" appears in multiple CASA exam questions.

MTOW and the certificate of airworthiness

The Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) of an aircraft is specified in the certificate of airworthiness, not the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) or Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). This is a tested distinction.

Maintenance release

For day VFR operations within 50 nm of the departure aerodrome, the aircraft is exempt from requiring a maintenance release.

Alcohol and drugs

CASR Part 91 prohibits acting as a crew member:

• Within 8 hours of consuming alcohol (the "8-hour rule" — "8 hours from bottle to throttle")
• While under the influence of alcohol
• With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more
• While using any drug that impairs performance

Trap: the 8-hour rule is a minimum. Residual impairment can persist well beyond 8 hours depending on intake.

Mandatory reports

Pilots must report certain occurrences to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) under the Transport Safety Investigation Act:

• Accidents (any injury to a person or damage to aircraft/property)
• Serious incidents (engine failure, near-collision, forced landing, uncommanded control input)

CASA also has reportable occurrences under CASR Part 5 — know that ATSB handles accident investigation, not CASA directly.

Identification requirements

When presenting for your exam or for flight operations, know that an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) is accepted as photographic ID per the VFRG.

About the RPL exam

A few key facts about the exam itself:

• The RPL exam is administered by CASA (via PEXO/Aspeq) — not by individual flight schools
• Duration: 2 hours
• Pass mark: 70%
• Cost: $189.53 ($124.53 invigilator fee + $65 CASA fee)
• The number of questions is not publicly specified by CASA

Study strategy for regulations

Unlike aerodynamics or performance, regulations questions don't reward "working it out." They reward memorisation. The most effective approach:

• Use flashcards for specific numbers: 25 nm, 30 min day VFR reserve (45 min night), 8 hours, 0.02 BAC, 1,500 kg MTOW limit
• Memorise VMC minima for each airspace class and altitude bracket — these are high-frequency exam questions
• Know the minimum height rules: 1,000 ft / 600 m (populous) and 500 ft / 300 m (non-populous)
• Practise airspace classification with a VNC chart — visual memory is more reliable than lists
• Work through right-of-way scenario questions until they become automatic (give way to the right, powered gives way to glider, etc.)

Run through regulations-only question sets on The Pilot Exam until you're consistently above 80% before moving on.

Related Resources

• Regulations Study Guide
• VFR Flight Rules Guide