EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2026
Download the new 2026 Regulations from the Publications page or here:
These new regulations are binding on all members of the APF and apply to parachuting activities conducted or undertaken under the auspices of the APF. As usual, an Amendments table in each document lists significant changes since the previous issues. All changed text is also highlighted throughout each document by a vertical line in the left-side margin adjacent to changed text. Here is a summary of key points relevant to your title/group:
All Jumpers and Group Members
- OR 5.1.4 - Replace historical wording 'Recreation, Sports Aviation and Warbird' with 'Part 103 aircraft' to align with Part 105 wording
- OR 7.1.1 - Allow a Rigger or DZSO to complete equipment inspection (DZ level inspection)
- RS 60 6.2.2 - Change 3nm to 5nm radius of the drop zone for any topographical features for descents through cloud (per CASA AC 105-02.
- Member Protection Policy (includes Code of Conduct) - Include what may not be included in the scope of APFs complaints authority.
- Throughout - Change term "Sporting Licence" to "Annual Recency Certificate" and remove any reference to a 'licence'.
- Exposition 1.3.2 - Remove requirement for APF Safety Manager to be a Board member
Chief Instructors, Instructors and Coaches
- Training Operations Manual - Remove the word 'training' from Restrictions on Aircraft Occupants to include all operations in restrictions
- RS 53 9.1 - Allow a Senior Instructor to be appointed as Chief Instructor based on competency rather than 2 year time period
Display Organisers and Display jumpers
Course Trainers and Examiners
- RS 53 10.2 - Changing the requirement for instructor rating and endorsement candidates who are assessed as not competent during formal assessment to wait 28 days before being eligible for re-assessment, to a period to be determined by the examiner.
- RS 53 6.6 - Allow instructors from overseas, who hold a comparable and equivalent DZSO and/or Course Trainer qualification, to obtain such in the APF system
- OR 4.3.2 - Allow for packers and riggers to convert their overseas ratings to APF through a conversion process