Although I think the concept is fantastic, CASA is not the appropriate government agency to be diverting people and money to this.
I think that CASA have finally got involved as the situation is getting desperate.
They (CASA) were very concerned some years ago, but then the situation was relieved by the (albeit sad) demise of Ansett.
Apparently the average age of an LAME in Australia (when Ansett collapsed) was something like 58, many of those now obviously retired or approaching retirement, maybe even faster now with the problems at Qantas.
Something HAS to be done.