What distance must a PWC driver traveling over 8 knots when not in freestyle mode maintain from other moving vessels?

Image of aerial freestyle device attached to a jetski

Varieties of Aerial Freestyle devices, such as jetpacks, hover-boards and fly-boards are devices which can be connected to a Personal Water Craft (PWC) and use the water pressure to propel the device to aid propulsion of a person at the surface of the water, into the air and/or underwater.

Safe use of Aerial Freestyle devices

The Department of Transport permitted the use of Aerial Freestyle devices for recreational and commercial use in Western Australian (WA) navigable waters in 2013. Marine Safety approves this activity by way of a notice made under section 66 of the Western Australian Marine Act 1982 published in the Government Gazette.

For information including where the activity may be conducted, who may participate and what conditions must be met view Western Australian Marine Act 1982: Closed Waters Order - Aerial Freestyle Devices.

Users of Aerial Freestyle devices should also be familiar with the safety advice and instructions from the device's manufacturer. Particularly regarding advice on the weather conditions which the device has been designed to operate in, such as specified swell and wind conditions. Operating the device in conditions which are not in line with the manufacturer's advice could raise the risk of injury or incident.

Commercial operation

Commercial operation of Aerial Freestyle devices is regulated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012. Commercial operators with a PWC in service category Class 2C, 2D or 2E used in aerial freestyle operations may be eligible for an exemption from conditions attached to their certificate of operation under Exemption 03. For more information on requirements for commercial operators please see the AMSA website.

If you have any questions about the use of Aerial Freestyle devices in WA please contact Marine Safety.