MA000046Fully builtFair Work syncedEffective 1 July 2025

Air Pilots Award

Occupational award covering air pilots and helicopter aircrew throughout Australia (cl 4.1). Standard rate = Captain Single Engine UTBNI 1360 kg annual salary ÷ 52 = $1,068.96/wk (cl 2 def). Distinctive: FIVE sector-specific schedules (Airlines/General Aviation, Regional Airlines, Aerial Application, Helicopter Pilots, Helicopter Aircrew) - each with distinct pay structure, hours rules, leave, and allowance treatment. Pilots paid on annual salary (Schedules A-D); helicopter aircrew on weekly rates. Hours of work governed by CASA (CAO 48 / CAO 48E / approved FRMS) - no traditional 38h/wk × 5×8 structure. NO overtime concept for pilots; only Helicopter Aircrew (Schedule E) has award-defined OT. AL = 42 days per year (incl Sat/Sun/PH) with loading on first 28 days only; aerial application gets no AL loading. PH compensation absorbed into base - NO separate PH penalty rate.

Fully built. Rates, allowances, penalties and any required apprentice / junior rates are all wired to the rate resolver and have been verified against the consolidated award text and the latest pay guide.

Official Fair Work rates. This award’s minimum pay rates are synced directly from the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database and updated automatically when the Commission changes them - including the annual wage review - so payroll always uses the current legal minimums without a manual update.

What's built

All five sector schedules (D1) with representative classifications across A.1.1/A.1.2 (Airlines/General Aviation), Schedule B (Regional Airlines - 10 aircraft groups), Schedule C (Aerial Application - 4 industry-experience tiers + commission), Schedule D (Helicopter Pilots - on-shore 9-year service progression / off-shore 12 × 28-day cycles), Schedule E (Helicopter Aircrew - 4 levels + supervisory). Standard rate anchor: Captain Single Engine UTBNI 1360 kg = $55,586/yr.
Annual-salary pay basis (D3) for pilots; weekly-rate basis for helicopter aircrew. Casual hourly basis: pilots = annual ÷ 800 + 25% loading (D4, cl 10.2/10.4); aircrew = weekly ÷ 38 + 25% loading; aerial application = $287.40/day flat (D16, cl C.9.3 - distinct from hourly mechanism).
5 pay conditions: Full-Time, Part-Time (D22 - min 2 consecutive flying hours per cl 9.6), Casual Pilot (cl 10.6 - min 2h ≤4h duty / min 4h >4h duty), Casual Helicopter Aircrew, Casual Aerial Application.
All cl 20 allowances: loss of pilot's licence ≤$2,963/yr (D19, cl 20.3(c)); NVG single-pilot-command ≤$10,642.14/yr + multi-pilot $7,092.12 + co-pilot $5,316.26 + aircrew lower $67.15/wk + higher $107.30/wk (D20, cl 20.2(c) / E.4.1(b)); accident insurance - death benefit $122,085 aerial app / $439,498 other / $392,067 aircrew (D18, cl 21.11); reimbursement caps $1,221 / $732.48.
Helicopter Aircrew (Schedule E) overtime - 150% first 2h / 200% after (D24, cl E.7.2). Only sector with award-defined OT.
Aerial application commission stack (D13, cl C.9.6): 8% spreading / 10% liquid spraying-seeding-baiting / 12.5% night spraying - of charge-out price of aircraft. Industry-experience progression (D14, cl C.9.1): 4 tiers 0-1000 / 1001-2000 / 2001-3000 / over 3000 flying hours. 6-month rule (D15, cl C.9.2): pilot with >6mo industry experience must be paid at least Tier 2. Chief pilot 5% (cl C.9.8).
8 leave entitlements including 42-day annual leave INCL Sat/Sun/PH (cl 23.4 - replaces NES 4-week base), AL loading on first 28 of 42 days as greater-of 17.5% or actual-salary-inclusive (cl 23.5(b)), AL recall 2-for-1 (cl 23.9(b)), illness during AL substitution (cl 23.10), AL on termination 1/365th per completed day (cl 23.8(b)(ii)), AL loading paid on redundancy (cl 23.8(b)(iii)), URTI leave 6 days/year (cl 25.3 - distinctive additional personal leave for upper respiratory tract infection), aerial-application bespoke personal leave schedule (5/+5/+10/+10/year - D25, cl C.6).
Make-up pay (accident pay - D17, cl 21): 52 weeks max; 5-day waiting; excludes paid leave; aerial-app casual avg 12mo / others 3mo; accrues AL/personal/LSL during top-up; redemption ceases liability.
Tour-of-duty rules (D10, cl 15.8(l)): max 11h normally, 12h extension. 90-hour fortnight cap (cl 15.8(r)) - total duty incl reserve, deadhead, admin, ground training. 2 nights off in 7 embracing 22:00-06:00 (cl 15.8(q)). One weekend off per 28-day cycle where practical (cl 15.8(b)). Tour cancellation rules (cl 15.8(g)/(h)): notification by 1900 prev day = day off; after-1200 tour by 2000 prev day = day off. Tour terminating after 2200 cannot precede a duty-free day (cl 15.8(d)). Rostered duty-free day worked = substitute day within month + $132.55/day extra (D9, cl 15.8(f)).
CASA-governed hours (D6, cl 15.2) - CAO 48 / CAO 48E / approved FRMS. Annual flying caps (D8): 100h/30 days (cl 15.4(a)); 900h/year (cl 15.4(b)); 6h/tour flight instruction (cl 15.4(c)).
Distinctive termination notice tables (cl 33.1) - 3 bands employer notice (under 1y=2wk / 1-5y=4wk / over 5y=4wk; +1wk if 45+ at over 5y) UPLIFT over NES 4-band table; employee notice 2 bands (under 1y=2wk / over 1y=4wk). Job search 1 day on termination (cl 33.4); 1 day/week of notice on redundancy (cl 34.4). Qualification training reimbursable on termination (cl 33.6 - distinctive). Accrued days off paid out on termination (cl 33.7).
Training bond (cl 13.6): max 2 years piston/turbo, 3 years jet. Max 50% of actual cost. Pro-rata monthly. Recoverable ONLY on resignation or serious misconduct - NOT on redundancy/loss-of-medical/employer-termination/training-failure. Cannot be employer-directed.
Permanent transfer 56-day notice + 28-day actual date (cl 14.1(a)) with 5 days off-duty on arrival, relocation reimbursement incl dependent children under 21, up to 2 weeks temporary accommodation. Temporary transfer 48-hour notice (cl 14.2(a)) with 1 day off per week of transfer + family travel reimbursement after 28 days.
Sector-specific super (D23, cl 22.4 substituted PR794744 ppc 23Jan26): pilots → AustralianSuper; helicopter aircrew → AustralianSuper + Australian Retirement Trust. Super continues 52 weeks during workers comp (cl 22.5(b)).
~245 configuration entries (post v2 audit 2026-05-04 round 2) covering 27 distinctive features (D1-D27), full IFA set, dispute NES references, consultation effects, facilitative provisions registry (13 items), expense reimbursement 21-day window, aerial-app consultative mechanism, indemnity clause, NVG categories, training bond detail, AL excessive set in DAYS (post-bug-fix), URTI leave, illness-on-duty package.

Known limitations

Aircraft-type classifications (~30+ in A.1.1/A.1.2 + Schedule B) are seeded as a representative subset for engine lookup; the full schedule lives in `aircraft_classifications` config - resolver must look up by aircraft type + sector, not by enumerated AwardClassification rows alone (D27).
CASA hours regulation (D6) - resolver does NOT apply traditional ord-hours triggers; defers to CASA CAO 48 / 48E / FRMS for compliance. The 100h/30-day and 900h/year caps are HARD limits enforced at the engine level.
Tour-of-duty + 90-hour fortnight cap requires the resolver to track 11h tour limit, 12h extension trigger, AND 90-hr fortnightly aggregate (incl reserve, deadhead, admin, ground training) - not just standard weekly hours.
No-OT for pilots (D7) - resolver does NOT compute OT for Schedules A-D. Schedule E (helicopter aircrew) only: 150/200 split at 2h.
Aerial-application industry-experience promotion (D14 + D15) requires a rolling tally of flying hours; cl C.9.2 forces Tier 2 minimum after 6 months of industry experience regardless of hours - runtime check required.
Helicopter offshore 42-day AL accrual (D12) deviates from standard NES quantum and uses a distinct accrual rate per 28-day cycle - must not fall back to standard NES accrual maths.
AL excessive thresholds are in DAYS not weeks (cl 24.1 = 84 days incl Sat/Sun/PH) - was a v2 audit bug-fix in 2026-05-04. Resolver must use 84/63/42-day values, NOT 8/6/4 weeks.
Illness-while-on-duty package (cl 25.6) requires the resolver to trigger 5 entitlements when the trigger fires (DTA continuation until home base sign-off, accommodation, transport, booked travel home, transport home/doctor on arrival) - hospitalisation pauses DTA.
Training bond enforcement requires recovery-block logic: only resignation or serious misconduct allows recovery; redundancy / medical-loss / employer-termination / training-failure all block.
Distinctive termination notice tier mapping (cl 33.1 - 3-band) replaces standard NES 4-band table for these employees; resolver must use the award table not NES.

Setup & special instructions

Sector classification at engagement is mandatory - must route employee to one of 5 schedules (A-E). Pay structure, OT, leave, and allowances all branch on sector (D1).
Standard rate = Captain Single Engine UTBNI 1360 kg annual = $55,586 (cl 2 def). Annual ÷ 52 = $1,068.96/wk weekly equivalent. Casual hourly via 1/800th annual (pilots) or 1/38th weekly (aircrew).
Aerial application casual = $287.40/day flat (D16, cl C.9.3) - NOT hourly. Min 1 day per attendance (cl C.9.4).
Aerial-application commission stacks ON TOP of minimum salary - 8% / 10% / 12.5% of charge-out price; must be computed separately and added.
Helicopter offshore (D12, cl D.6.5): 12 × 28-day cycles per year (15 days on / 13 days off) + 42 days annual leave/year. Tour max 28 days, 14-day extension. Co-pilot 70% of captain rate.
AL = 42 days/year incl Sat/Sun/PH (cl 23.4) - replaces NES 4-week. Loading on FIRST 28 of 42 days only (cl 23.5(b)). Loading = greater of 17.5% OR actual salary inclusive of allowances/additions. Aerial app = no loading (D21, cl C.5.1).
AL must commence Monday unless mutually agreed (cl 23.6(a)). Grant within 12mo of falling due OR 15mo from preceding period (cl 23.6(b)). Max 2 periods/year unless mutually agreed (cl 23.6(c)). Recall = 2-for-1 substitute days (cl 23.9(b)).
URTI leave (cl 25.3) is 6 days/year separate from standard personal leave - not cumulative. Track separately. Self-assessed severity. Ground-duty option for flying-only impairment.
PH compensation built into minimum wage AND 42-day AL (cl 29.1) - NO separate PH penalty rate. Don't apply PH multipliers.
Cl 18 substituted by PR794744 ppc 23Jan26 - sector-specific default super: pilots → AustralianSuper; helicopter aircrew → AustralianSuper + Australian Retirement Trust (D23).

Industries

• Air pilots
• Airline operations
• General aviation
• Regional airlines
• Aerial application
• Crop dusting
• Aerial spraying
• Helicopter operations
• Helicopter aircrew
• Offshore helicopter
• Search and rescue
• Charter aviation
• Pilot training

Read the consolidated award

MA000046 on Fair Work Library

The consolidated award text is the authoritative source. Always confirm specific obligations against the award itself - Mployr's implementation status reflects what we've seeded; it does not replace legal advice.

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Air Pilots Award

What's built

All five sector schedules (D1) with representative classifications across A.1.1/A.1.2 (Airlines/General Aviation), Schedule B (Regional Airlines - 10 aircraft groups), Schedule C (Aerial Application - 4 industry-experience tiers + commission), Schedule D (Helicopter Pilots - on-shore 9-year service progression / off-shore 12 × 28-day cycles), Schedule E (Helicopter Aircrew - 4 levels + supervisory). Standard rate anchor: Captain Single Engine UTBNI 1360 kg = $55,586/yr.
Annual-salary pay basis (D3) for pilots; weekly-rate basis for helicopter aircrew. Casual hourly basis: pilots = annual ÷ 800 + 25% loading (D4, cl 10.2/10.4); aircrew = weekly ÷ 38 + 25% loading; aerial application = $287.40/day flat (D16, cl C.9.3 - distinct from hourly mechanism).
5 pay conditions: Full-Time, Part-Time (D22 - min 2 consecutive flying hours per cl 9.6), Casual Pilot (cl 10.6 - min 2h ≤4h duty / min 4h >4h duty), Casual Helicopter Aircrew, Casual Aerial Application.
All cl 20 allowances: loss of pilot's licence ≤$2,963/yr (D19, cl 20.3(c)); NVG single-pilot-command ≤$10,642.14/yr + multi-pilot $7,092.12 + co-pilot $5,316.26 + aircrew lower $67.15/wk + higher $107.30/wk (D20, cl 20.2(c) / E.4.1(b)); accident insurance - death benefit $122,085 aerial app / $439,498 other / $392,067 aircrew (D18, cl 21.11); reimbursement caps $1,221 / $732.48.
Helicopter Aircrew (Schedule E) overtime - 150% first 2h / 200% after (D24, cl E.7.2). Only sector with award-defined OT.
Aerial application commission stack (D13, cl C.9.6): 8% spreading / 10% liquid spraying-seeding-baiting / 12.5% night spraying - of charge-out price of aircraft. Industry-experience progression (D14, cl C.9.1): 4 tiers 0-1000 / 1001-2000 / 2001-3000 / over 3000 flying hours. 6-month rule (D15, cl C.9.2): pilot with >6mo industry experience must be paid at least Tier 2. Chief pilot 5% (cl C.9.8).
8 leave entitlements including 42-day annual leave INCL Sat/Sun/PH (cl 23.4 - replaces NES 4-week base), AL loading on first 28 of 42 days as greater-of 17.5% or actual-salary-inclusive (cl 23.5(b)), AL recall 2-for-1 (cl 23.9(b)), illness during AL substitution (cl 23.10), AL on termination 1/365th per completed day (cl 23.8(b)(ii)), AL loading paid on redundancy (cl 23.8(b)(iii)), URTI leave 6 days/year (cl 25.3 - distinctive additional personal leave for upper respiratory tract infection), aerial-application bespoke personal leave schedule (5/+5/+10/+10/year - D25, cl C.6).
Make-up pay (accident pay - D17, cl 21): 52 weeks max; 5-day waiting; excludes paid leave; aerial-app casual avg 12mo / others 3mo; accrues AL/personal/LSL during top-up; redemption ceases liability.
Tour-of-duty rules (D10, cl 15.8(l)): max 11h normally, 12h extension. 90-hour fortnight cap (cl 15.8(r)) - total duty incl reserve, deadhead, admin, ground training. 2 nights off in 7 embracing 22:00-06:00 (cl 15.8(q)). One weekend off per 28-day cycle where practical (cl 15.8(b)). Tour cancellation rules (cl 15.8(g)/(h)): notification by 1900 prev day = day off; after-1200 tour by 2000 prev day = day off. Tour terminating after 2200 cannot precede a duty-free day (cl 15.8(d)). Rostered duty-free day worked = substitute day within month + $132.55/day extra (D9, cl 15.8(f)).
CASA-governed hours (D6, cl 15.2) - CAO 48 / CAO 48E / approved FRMS. Annual flying caps (D8): 100h/30 days (cl 15.4(a)); 900h/year (cl 15.4(b)); 6h/tour flight instruction (cl 15.4(c)).
Distinctive termination notice tables (cl 33.1) - 3 bands employer notice (under 1y=2wk / 1-5y=4wk / over 5y=4wk; +1wk if 45+ at over 5y) UPLIFT over NES 4-band table; employee notice 2 bands (under 1y=2wk / over 1y=4wk). Job search 1 day on termination (cl 33.4); 1 day/week of notice on redundancy (cl 34.4). Qualification training reimbursable on termination (cl 33.6 - distinctive). Accrued days off paid out on termination (cl 33.7).
Training bond (cl 13.6): max 2 years piston/turbo, 3 years jet. Max 50% of actual cost. Pro-rata monthly. Recoverable ONLY on resignation or serious misconduct - NOT on redundancy/loss-of-medical/employer-termination/training-failure. Cannot be employer-directed.
Permanent transfer 56-day notice + 28-day actual date (cl 14.1(a)) with 5 days off-duty on arrival, relocation reimbursement incl dependent children under 21, up to 2 weeks temporary accommodation. Temporary transfer 48-hour notice (cl 14.2(a)) with 1 day off per week of transfer + family travel reimbursement after 28 days.
Sector-specific super (D23, cl 22.4 substituted PR794744 ppc 23Jan26): pilots → AustralianSuper; helicopter aircrew → AustralianSuper + Australian Retirement Trust. Super continues 52 weeks during workers comp (cl 22.5(b)).
~245 configuration entries (post v2 audit 2026-05-04 round 2) covering 27 distinctive features (D1-D27), full IFA set, dispute NES references, consultation effects, facilitative provisions registry (13 items), expense reimbursement 21-day window, aerial-app consultative mechanism, indemnity clause, NVG categories, training bond detail, AL excessive set in DAYS (post-bug-fix), URTI leave, illness-on-duty package.

Known limitations

Aircraft-type classifications (~30+ in A.1.1/A.1.2 + Schedule B) are seeded as a representative subset for engine lookup; the full schedule lives in `aircraft_classifications` config - resolver must look up by aircraft type + sector, not by enumerated AwardClassification rows alone (D27).
CASA hours regulation (D6) - resolver does NOT apply traditional ord-hours triggers; defers to CASA CAO 48 / 48E / FRMS for compliance. The 100h/30-day and 900h/year caps are HARD limits enforced at the engine level.
Tour-of-duty + 90-hour fortnight cap requires the resolver to track 11h tour limit, 12h extension trigger, AND 90-hr fortnightly aggregate (incl reserve, deadhead, admin, ground training) - not just standard weekly hours.
No-OT for pilots (D7) - resolver does NOT compute OT for Schedules A-D. Schedule E (helicopter aircrew) only: 150/200 split at 2h.
Aerial-application industry-experience promotion (D14 + D15) requires a rolling tally of flying hours; cl C.9.2 forces Tier 2 minimum after 6 months of industry experience regardless of hours - runtime check required.
Helicopter offshore 42-day AL accrual (D12) deviates from standard NES quantum and uses a distinct accrual rate per 28-day cycle - must not fall back to standard NES accrual maths.
AL excessive thresholds are in DAYS not weeks (cl 24.1 = 84 days incl Sat/Sun/PH) - was a v2 audit bug-fix in 2026-05-04. Resolver must use 84/63/42-day values, NOT 8/6/4 weeks.
Illness-while-on-duty package (cl 25.6) requires the resolver to trigger 5 entitlements when the trigger fires (DTA continuation until home base sign-off, accommodation, transport, booked travel home, transport home/doctor on arrival) - hospitalisation pauses DTA.
Training bond enforcement requires recovery-block logic: only resignation or serious misconduct allows recovery; redundancy / medical-loss / employer-termination / training-failure all block.
Distinctive termination notice tier mapping (cl 33.1 - 3-band) replaces standard NES 4-band table for these employees; resolver must use the award table not NES.

Setup & special instructions

Sector classification at engagement is mandatory - must route employee to one of 5 schedules (A-E). Pay structure, OT, leave, and allowances all branch on sector (D1).
Standard rate = Captain Single Engine UTBNI 1360 kg annual = $55,586 (cl 2 def). Annual ÷ 52 = $1,068.96/wk weekly equivalent. Casual hourly via 1/800th annual (pilots) or 1/38th weekly (aircrew).
Aerial application casual = $287.40/day flat (D16, cl C.9.3) - NOT hourly. Min 1 day per attendance (cl C.9.4).
Aerial-application commission stacks ON TOP of minimum salary - 8% / 10% / 12.5% of charge-out price; must be computed separately and added.
Helicopter offshore (D12, cl D.6.5): 12 × 28-day cycles per year (15 days on / 13 days off) + 42 days annual leave/year. Tour max 28 days, 14-day extension. Co-pilot 70% of captain rate.
AL = 42 days/year incl Sat/Sun/PH (cl 23.4) - replaces NES 4-week. Loading on FIRST 28 of 42 days only (cl 23.5(b)). Loading = greater of 17.5% OR actual salary inclusive of allowances/additions. Aerial app = no loading (D21, cl C.5.1).
AL must commence Monday unless mutually agreed (cl 23.6(a)). Grant within 12mo of falling due OR 15mo from preceding period (cl 23.6(b)). Max 2 periods/year unless mutually agreed (cl 23.6(c)). Recall = 2-for-1 substitute days (cl 23.9(b)).
URTI leave (cl 25.3) is 6 days/year separate from standard personal leave - not cumulative. Track separately. Self-assessed severity. Ground-duty option for flying-only impairment.
PH compensation built into minimum wage AND 42-day AL (cl 29.1) - NO separate PH penalty rate. Don't apply PH multipliers.
Cl 18 substituted by PR794744 ppc 23Jan26 - sector-specific default super: pilots → AustralianSuper; helicopter aircrew → AustralianSuper + Australian Retirement Trust (D23).