Folks,
In all the excitement about the brave new world of the Aviation White Paper, the release of the Airspace Policy Statement has been overlooked.
Those who were hoping to see the end of "NAS" will be profoundly disappointed, and mortified by para. 39.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/avi...APS_081209.pdf
This makes interesting reading. Any of you who had access to one version of the draft of the "new" Airspace Policy statement, mid last year, would have noted that "CASA" had expurgated many of the major points in the then existing policy statement.
Two features missing from that "CASA/OAR Draft" were references to "Risk Management" and, surprise, surprise, NAS. Also the "Class C Radar" directive.
The Minister and his staff, and particularly the "Department" and its new Secretary, are to be congratulated for not falling for such nonsense.
See the policy in general, and note the following:
37 The Government‟s airspace strategy, to be implemented by CASA, involves the adoption of a risk-based approach to determining Australia‟s future airspace needs.
38 The implementation of this strategy requires the identification of risks to aviation safety using both quantitative and qualitative analysis, and ultimately the safety judgment of CASA as the airspace regulator.
39 The Government expects CASA to adopt international best practice in airspace administration. This includes adopting proven international systems that meet our airspace requirements. The Government‟s airspace strategy recognises that international airspace systems (such as the National Airspace System of the United States of America) include a range of characteristics that should be considered, and implemented as appropriate, by CASA.
40 ICAO standards and recommended practices (SARPs) also provide an important basis for airspace administration. The airspace strategy requires any deviations from ICAO SARPs to be well justified, documented, and formally notified to ICAO as a difference.
For those who are multi-lingual, including bureaucratese,
this is a very strong statement. As I am sure you all know, this Airspace Policy automatically forms part of the Airspace Act, it's not just pollywaffle.
Tootle pip!!