Lead balloon and others
With regard to the applications for bases. These applications were substantial. They included,
A cover letter that very clearly identified the exact nature of the structure.
A Significant Change application. A very comprehensive CASA form requiring high levels of detailed information.
The BPM or Base Procedures Manual. These manuals did not control Company Procedures. That information was in the Group Exposition. The BPM was a “differences manual”. These included such “unique” information geographical dependent information including;
· The ERP. Emergency Response Plan tailored for that location.
· Drug and Alcohol testing procedures after an accident or incident, with local testing centres and contacts.
· Aerodrome procedures for that aerodrome.
· Fuelling procedures tailored to the nature of fuel delivery at the base.
· Any pertinent safety information to that base.
· Etc
Importantly, and perhaps relevant. A comprehensive risk assessment and supporting safety case. These were comprehensive submissions, and to a very high quality. I make that Statement because that was the exact wording that CASA used. They were very impressed. These risk assessments included attending to scenarios that Lead Balloon has put forward and also the more mundane risks.
Tomorrow morning, I intend to make a Freedom of Information Request for those submissions. Noting that CASA has 30 days to respond, I suggest CASA will make me wait 30 days. Once I receive that application and the risk assessment, I will post it up here. The scenario that Lead Balloon put forward was discussed as part of our risk assessment, and discussed at length with CASA.
We had applied for bases earlier and they had been approved by CASA. In August and October of 2017, I submitted two further applications. These applications were far more comprehensive applications that the earlier ones. These two applications are slightly over one year before CASA “first became aware” of my structure, but they are our first applications as a Part 141 and 142 Organisation. The legislation required far more comprehensive applications than in the CAR 5 regulations.
I appreciate that it will have no legal point to posting that document. What it will do is demonstrate that due consideration was put into these risks and they were considered and addressed.