Commonwealth Numbered Regulations

1988 NO. 158 CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS - REG 169

169. (1) Every aircraft in flight or in process of manoeuvring near the
surface of the water, shall, as far as possible, keep clear of all vessels and
avoid impeding their navigation.

(2) Subject to this regulation, every aircraft on the water shall comply with
the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea as set forth in
Schedule 3 to the Navigation Act 1912.

(3) In conforming with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions
at Sea, aircraft shall give due regard to the fact that in narrow channels
steam vessels cannot manoeuvre so as to avoid collision and shall, as far as
possible, keep clear of such vessels and avoid impeding their navigation.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, aircraft shall observe the following rules with
respect to other aircraft and vessels:

   (a)  when aircraft, or an aircraft and a vessel are approaching one another
        and there is a risk of collision, the aircraft shall proceed with
        careful regard to existing circumstances and conditions including the
        limitations of the respective craft;

   (b)  an aircraft which is converging with another aircraft or a vessel on
        its right shall give way so as to keep well clear of that aircraft or
        vessel;

   (c)  an aircraft approaching another aircraft or a vessel head-on, or
        approximately head-on, shall alter its heading to the right so as to
        keep well clear of that aircraft or vessel;

   (d)  an aircraft or vessel which is being overtaken has the right of way,
        and the one overtaking shall alter its heading to keep well clear of
        the aircraft or vessel being overtaken.

(5) At a water aerodrome which is a controlled aerodrome, the following
additional rules shall apply:

   (a)  an aircraft shall not take-off or alight unless the alighting area has
        been swept and is known to be clear of floating debris dangerous to
        the navigation of the aircraft except that, in an emergency, an
        aircraft may land in the safest part of the alighting area without
        delay;

   (b)  the pilot in command of an aircraft shall ensure that operations are
        conducted on the swept part of a water aerodrome by commencing his or
        her take-off or landing run from such a position that the control
        launch is on his or her left at no greater distance than seventy-five
        yards.

(6) At a water aerodrome which is a controlled aerodrome, the swept part of an
alighting area shall be indicated by the control launch which shall take up
position at the leeward and on the left side of the area and shall head into
the direction of an aircraft taking-off or landing.