RAAus Passenger Endorsement: What you need to know.

The Passenger Carrying Endorsement (PAX) is what allows you to take someone else flying with you. Without it, even with an RPC or RPL in your pocket, your passenger seat stays empty. Here's what the RAAus Flight Operations Manual requires to get it — and what you'll need to know for the flight check.

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The PAX endorsement at a glance

The PAX endorsement is an additional qualification applied to your Pilot Certificate. Per Section 2.05, paragraph 4 of the RAAus Flight Operations Manual:

In order to carry passengers in a recreational aircraft a Pilot Certificate holder must hold a Passenger Carrying (PAX) Endorsement, and the aircraft must meet the requirements of CAO 95.55 or CAO 95.32.

Item	Group A/B (three-axis)	Group D (weight-shift)
Minimum PIC time	10 hours total PIC	25 hours total time in Group D
Two-seat requirement	2 hours PIC in a two-seat aircraft of same group, type, and design features	5 hours PIC + 10 full stop landings in the specific two-seat Group D type
Flight check	With an RAAus Examiner	With an RAAus Examiner
Recency	3 take-offs and 3 landings in 90 days in same group/type/design	3 take-offs and 3 landings in 90 days + 5 hours PIC + 10 full stop landings in same type
FOM reference	Section 2.07, paragraphs 6 and 10	Section 2.07, paragraphs 30 and 34

If you already hold a CASA licence or a recognized overseas qualification, you may be able to meet the requirements through Subparagraph 10(d) or 34(d) — submit written proof to the Head of Flight Operations.

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Prerequisites

Group A/B

You need at least 10 hours as pilot in command total, with 2 of those hours in a two-seat aircraft of the same group, type, and design features you'll use for passenger carrying. Then pass a flight check with an RAAus Examiner.

Group D

You need 25 hours total experience in Group D aircraft, with 5 hours as PIC and 10 full stop landings in the specific two-seat Group D aircraft type you'll use to carry passengers. Then pass a flight check with an RAAus Examiner.

Both pathways require you to hold a valid RAAus Pilot Certificate and meet the medical fitness standard (equivalent to a driver's licence medical). If you haven't passed your RPC theory exams yet, start with the RAAus RPC exam guide.

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Recency: what you need before each passenger flight

Getting the endorsement is one thing. Staying current to carry passengers is another. Before every flight with a passenger on board, you must meet these recency requirements.

Group A/B

3 take-offs and 3 landings in the previous 90 days in an aircraft of the same group, type, and design features.

Group D

The same 3 take-offs and 3 landings in 90 days in a Group D aircraft, plus 5 hours flight time and 10 full stop landings as PIC of the same aircraft type you're flying.

These are in addition to your biennial flight review (BFR) requirement. A current BFR does not replace recency.

If you lose recency — for example, you haven't flown passengers in six months — you can regain it by completing the required take-offs and landings (and the 5 hours + 10 landings for Group D) before carrying a passenger again. No re-test is required, but your logbook must show the recent activity.

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The flight check: what the examiner will look for

The PAX flight check is a practical assessment, not a written exam. The examiner will want to see that you can manage a passenger safely from the moment they step out of the car to the moment they step back into it.

Expect the examiner to role-play as your passenger — they may be nervous, distracted, or unfamiliar with aircraft. They're testing how you handle that, not just whether you can fly the plane.

Key areas the examiner will assess:

Your school's Chief Flying Instructor or an RAAus Examiner from the school directory will conduct the check. Make sure you're familiar with the aircraft type you'll be using.

• Briefing the passenger on the ground — apron safety, aircraft hazards, approaching and exiting the aircraft
• Seatbelt and harness operation — including emergency release
• Door or canopy operation — opening, closing, securing, and emergency exit
• Headset and intercom use
• Passenger-side flight controls — explaining why they move with yours and that the passenger must not touch them
• Baggage stowage and loose object security
• Emergency equipment — fire extinguisher, PLB, life jackets (if equipped), first aid kit
• Brace position briefing
• Pre-takeoff and pre-landing checks with a passenger (seat upright, belt secure, loose objects stowed)
• Managing in-flight issues — motion sickness, nervous passenger, unruly behavior
• Abnormal and emergency procedures with a passenger — engine failure after take-off, precautionary landing, evacuation

The examiner is not testing your ability to recite regulations. They're testing whether a real passenger in your care would be safe and well-managed.

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Passenger briefings: a practical guide

This section gives you the actual briefings you can use. Memorize the flow, not the exact words — adapt them to your aircraft and your passenger.

Before you walk out to the aircraft

• "Stay with me at all times on the apron. Aircraft are moving around us and their propellers are hard to see when they're spinning."
• "Walk around the back of the wings, never under the nose. I'll guide you."
• "Don't touch anything unless I say it's OK."

At the aircraft, before boarding

• "See the propeller? Never walk near it — even when it's stopped, assume it could start."
• "Watch your step getting in. Put your foot here, use this handhold."
• "Here's how the door (or canopy) works. To open it from inside, you pull this handle. If we need to get out quickly, this is how it opens."

Once seated, before engine start

• "This is your seatbelt. It works like a car belt but here's the release — push this button. Make sure it's snug and not twisted."
• "These controls on your side move with mine. Please keep your hands and feet clear of them, especially during take-off and landing."
• "This is your headset. It lets us talk to each other and lets you hear the radio. The microphone works when you speak — keep it close to your lips."
• "Baggage goes here. Nothing loose on your lap or on the seat. If it's not stowed, it becomes a projectile."

Safety briefing essentials (must cover, per CASR 91.565)

• When and how to use seatbelts (they must be fastened for taxi, take-off, landing, and whenever you say so)
• Location and operation of emergency exits
• Location and use of emergency equipment (fire extinguisher, PLB, first aid kit)
• Brace position: "If I call 'BRACE BRACE BRACE,' put your head down, cross your arms over your head, and keep your feet flat on the floor. Stay braced until the aircraft stops completely."
• No smoking (if applicable)
• Follow my directions immediately — I may need to give short, sharp instructions

Before taxi, take-off, and landing

• "Check your seatbelt is tight."
• "Seat upright, please."
• "Is everything stowed? Nothing loose?"

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Scenario questions examiners use

These are the kinds of scenarios you might be given during the flight check. The examiner describes a situation and asks what you'd do.

Scenario 1: Your passenger starts sweating and taking rapid, shallow breaths.

They're getting motion sick. Tell them you've noticed and you're taking steps. Reduce abrupt maneuvers, open air vents, suggest they look at the horizon. Offer a sick bag. If it gets worse, head for the nearest suitable airport.

Scenario 2: Your passenger is angry and won't stop touching the controls despite being asked.

As pilot in command, you have the authority to direct a person not to do something (CASR 91.220). If they persist and it threatens safety, you can restrain them or use reasonable force. Squawk 7600, advise ATC of unlawful interference, and plan for the nearest suitable landing area.

Scenario 3: You realize you won't make it to your destination before last light.

Do not press on. Brief your passenger on the situation and your plan. Confirm fuel, secure seatbelts, advise ATC/FIS (PAN PAN). Set up for a precautionary search and landing while VMC remains. Brief the brace position. Land in a suitable field before last light. Do not attempt to push the flight.

Scenario 4: Your passenger brings a 6-pack of beer.

You, as PIC, can allow a passenger to drink alcohol provided you supplied it and the passenger doesn't become intoxicated (CASR 91.780). But you cannot consume any alcohol yourself. Best practice: avoid alcohol inflight entirely — it complicates the passenger's ability to follow your directions in an emergency.

Scenario 5: Your passenger has a physical disability that makes entering and exiting difficult.

Give them an individual briefing on emergency evacuation procedures — which exit to use, when to move to it, and what assistance is available. Ask them about the most comfortable and safe way to assist them without causing pain or injury.

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What the regulations say

RAAus Flight Operations Manual

• Section 2.05, paragraph 4 — PAX endorsement requirement and CAO 95.55/95.32 aircraft requirements
• Section 2.07, paragraph 6 (Group A/B) — Recency: 3 take-offs and 3 landings in 90 days
• Section 2.07, paragraph 10 (Group A/B) — PAX prerequisites: 10 hours PIC, 2 hours in two-seat, flight check
• Section 2.07, paragraph 30 (Group D) — Recency: 3 take-offs and 3 landings in 90 days + 5 hours PIC + 10 landings
• Section 2.07, paragraph 34 (Group D) — PAX prerequisites: 25 hours total, 5 hours PIC + 10 landings in type, flight check

CASR references that apply to RAAus passenger carrying

• CASR 91.155 — Manipulation of flight controls (only the PIC or an authorized instructor may manipulate controls)
• CASR 91.565 — Passenger safety briefings and instructions
• CASR 91.570 — Safety directions by pilot in command
• CASR 91.575 — Passenger compliance with safety directions
• CASR 91.560 — Restraint of infants and children (under 2 = infant, 2-12 = child, 13+ = adult)
• CASR 91.780 — Alcohol — PIC may supply alcohol to passengers but may not consume
• CASR 91.790 — Prohibiting intoxicated persons from boarding
• CASR 91.220 — PIC power to direct and restrain persons

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Key questions, short answers

Do I need a PAX endorsement for each aircraft type I fly?
For Group D, yes — the prerequisites and recency are tied to the specific aircraft type. For Group A/B, you need recency in the same group, type, and design features.

Can I take passengers at night?
No. RAAus operations are day VFR only unless you hold specific endorsements and operate under applicable CAOs.

Can I carry more than one passenger?
Only if your aircraft is designed for it and the requirements of CAO 95.55 or 95.32 are met. Most RAAus aircraft are two-seat only.

What counts as a "full stop landing" for Group D recency?
A landing that brings the aircraft to a complete stop, as distinct from a touch-and-go.

Do I need a flight review (BFR) AND recency to carry passengers?
Yes. They're separate requirements. The BFR is every 2 years. Recency is every 90 days specifically for passenger carrying. You need both.

What if I let my recency lapse?
You can regain it by completing the required take-offs, landings, and (for Group D) flight time before carrying a passenger again. No re-test needed.

Can I use touch-and-go landings to satisfy recency?
For Group A/B, yes — a touch-and-go counts as a take-off and landing. For Group D, the FOM specifies full stop landings with a positive stop.

Do I need a separate PAX endorsement letter on me when flying?
Your Pilot Certificate shows your endorsements. Carry it (or have it accessible) when exercising the privileges of your certificate.

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Ready to fly further? The Cross Country Endorsement lets you fly beyond 25 NM from your departure point — the next milestone after PAX.

Reference: RAAus Flight Operations Manual Issue 7.1.2 (17 July 2024), Sections 2.05 and 2.07.