From its beginning in 1921, one of the most important roles of the Department has been regulating the airworthiness of aircraft. This includes registering aircraft, regulating maintenance standards, licencing engineers, approval of modifications to aircraft, and type-certification of new aircraft types.
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- Letter re change of registration markings for the Southern Cross (G-AUSU/VH-USU)
- The controversial allocation of VH-SEX
- Dealer's Marks
Examples:
Ground Engineers
Ground Engineer's Licences - the A,B,C,D,X system, including the Syllabus of Examinations for Ground Engineer's Licences (C.A. Form 48) - 1931
Airworthiness-related
Certificates
UK Export Weight Schedule for Auster J.1 Autocrat G-AIBP/VH-ASI - 1951
See a Certificate of Maintenance Approval issued for the ferry of Ansett-ANA's first Viscount 832 VH-RMG - 1958
See a Load Data Sheet for Connair Heron VH-CLV - 1972
See a Certificate of Airworthiness for Departmental Fokker F.28 VH-ATG - 1977
Airworthiness-related
Publications
Index of the 'DCA Technical Information Bulletins' series
General Airworthiness- and Manufacturing-related Material
Read about the Silver Centenary - Western Australia's oldest surviving aeroplane and its airworthiness difficulties.
The Librascope mechanical weight and balance computer - 1930s
Download a 1950s De Havilland Australia booklet Aircraft Manufacturing Activity in Australia
Read about the DCA Operational Research Camera, used to measure aircraft performance c.1950
Read about the grounding of certain wooden glued aircraft - 1960s
Airworthiness certification of amateur-built aircraft - see a photo of the first amateur-built (ANO 100.18) aircraft to fly in South Australia - Druine D.31 Turbulent VH-ULI
Photos of the conversion of Gulfstream II VH-ASG to GIIB standard - 1986
Click on the icon to download the brochure. All files are .pdfs that should open in a separate window.
| Manufacturer, type & date | Source | file size | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Taylor Cub, c.1936 | Importer Julius, Gardiner & Co. via Roger McDonald | 776 kb |
 |
Percival Q.6, August 1939 | CAHS/Eddie Coates collection | details at linked webpage |
 |
Auster J.1 Alpha, c.1955/56 | CAHS/Mac Job collection | 4.65 MB |
 |
Auster J.5 Autocar, c.1954 | CAHS/Mac Job collection | 3.62 MB |
 |
CAC Wallaby regional airliner project, c.1955 | CAHS collection | details at linked webpage |
 |
The Victa Airtourer - 1960s |
CAHS/Tom Webb collecction & Roger McDonald collection | details at linked webpage |
 |
Aero Commander 680E c.1960 (used by DCA) | CAHS collection | 3.5 MB |
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