28-04-2017, 11:35 AM
Visiting Amateurs, and overseas Amateurs who are residents in Australia are granted an Australian licence based on their overseas qualification in accordance with the 'Table of Equivalent Qualifications and Licences', which is published on the ACMA website. Previously, a holder of a US General Class operator licence was generally granted an Australian Advanced Licence.
The ACMA has advised the WIA that the equivalency of the US General Class operator licence to an Australian Advanced amateur licence is now under review. Applications for Advanced amateur licences, or for transfers of such licences, received by the ACMA after 26 April 2017, and applications for amateur certificates of proficiency or callsign recommendations received by the WIA after the 26 April, 2017, made on the basis of the equivalence of the US General Class operator licence to an Australian Advanced amateur licence, may be affected by the outcomes of this review.
Any person considering making such an application is invited to make submissions to the ACMA on whether a US General Class operator licence ought to continue to be treated as equivalent to an Australian Advanced amateur licence.
The amended table is on the ACMA website. http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/australia...ns-table-a
In September last year, following a period of public consultation, the ACMA amended the licence eqivalency table to align the US Technician Class licence to the Australian Foundation licence.
See also this excerpt for those who weren't already aware of it: (From http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Spectrum...ustralia#Q )
"Class licences are open, standing authorities that allow anyone to operate particular radiocommunications equipment provided that the operation and the device comply with the conditions of the class licence. Class licences do not have to be applied for and no licence fees are payable.
Overseas amateurs visiting Australia may operate an amateur station under the Radiocommunications (Overseas Amateurs Visiting Australia) Class Licence 2015 (the Class Licence).
The Class Licence authorises operation for up to 90 days after each entry to Australia. If the operation of the amateur station starts or finishes more than 90 days after the overseas amateur enters Australia, that operation must be authorised by an apparatus licence. For example: If an overseas amateur visits Australia for a period of 91 days, that person may operate an amateur station for the first 90 days under the Class Licence and not operate the amateur station on the 91st day. Alternatively, that person may apply for an apparatus licence to cover the entire 91 days.
The Class Licence sets out conditions that apply to operation of an amateur station. The Class Licence provides for five different levels of operation. Each of these levels corresponds to the qualification or licence held by the overseas amateur.
The level of operation permitted under a particular overseas qualification or licence has been determined following comparative assessments of the qualifications and licences listed in the tables of equivalent qualifications and licences.
The Class Licence applies in Australian territories in the same way it applies to mainland Australia."
If a person operates an amateur station under the Class Licence, the person must meet all the relevant conditions, otherwise the operation of an amateur station is unauthorised and is subject to the offence provisions of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
The ACMA has advised the WIA that the equivalency of the US General Class operator licence to an Australian Advanced amateur licence is now under review. Applications for Advanced amateur licences, or for transfers of such licences, received by the ACMA after 26 April 2017, and applications for amateur certificates of proficiency or callsign recommendations received by the WIA after the 26 April, 2017, made on the basis of the equivalence of the US General Class operator licence to an Australian Advanced amateur licence, may be affected by the outcomes of this review.
Any person considering making such an application is invited to make submissions to the ACMA on whether a US General Class operator licence ought to continue to be treated as equivalent to an Australian Advanced amateur licence.
The amended table is on the ACMA website. http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/australia...ns-table-a
In September last year, following a period of public consultation, the ACMA amended the licence eqivalency table to align the US Technician Class licence to the Australian Foundation licence.
See also this excerpt for those who weren't already aware of it: (From http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Spectrum...ustralia#Q )
"Class licences are open, standing authorities that allow anyone to operate particular radiocommunications equipment provided that the operation and the device comply with the conditions of the class licence. Class licences do not have to be applied for and no licence fees are payable.
Overseas amateurs visiting Australia may operate an amateur station under the Radiocommunications (Overseas Amateurs Visiting Australia) Class Licence 2015 (the Class Licence).
The Class Licence authorises operation for up to 90 days after each entry to Australia. If the operation of the amateur station starts or finishes more than 90 days after the overseas amateur enters Australia, that operation must be authorised by an apparatus licence. For example: If an overseas amateur visits Australia for a period of 91 days, that person may operate an amateur station for the first 90 days under the Class Licence and not operate the amateur station on the 91st day. Alternatively, that person may apply for an apparatus licence to cover the entire 91 days.
The Class Licence sets out conditions that apply to operation of an amateur station. The Class Licence provides for five different levels of operation. Each of these levels corresponds to the qualification or licence held by the overseas amateur.
The level of operation permitted under a particular overseas qualification or licence has been determined following comparative assessments of the qualifications and licences listed in the tables of equivalent qualifications and licences.
The Class Licence applies in Australian territories in the same way it applies to mainland Australia."
If a person operates an amateur station under the Class Licence, the person must meet all the relevant conditions, otherwise the operation of an amateur station is unauthorised and is subject to the offence provisions of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.