Some possible thoughts for CASA to get a better visual insight into the industry, and what rules Pilots Engineers and Operators are breaking, is to:
- Make more instant and short-time-notice inspections, in regards to either being present on a training or charter flight in the back seat. Little notice and also not telling people that it is a CASA official in the back would help, as operators/pilots would conduct their ops the same, and maybe catch out the dodgy ones at 'tunipboy' pointed out above.
- Make random and again short-time-notice inspections into maintenance hangars, without the 7 day notice that they are coming, giving time for operators/maintainers to cover up and hide away work that is considered Unservicable.
- CASA to be present at more GA airports at least once or twice a month, for the day, to just observe operations, and to catch up with any people doing the wrong thing, even if just a fine free warning.
The police in every state currently do it, on our roads, inspection spots unannounced, and all in the name to reduce deaths, and improve awareness and safety. Why can't CASA take a greater safety approach to aviation to weed out the individuals that make the industry unsafe. I'm not saying the people that are struggling and trying to make a living (normally they are the ones following every rule, and not cutting safety costs), but the operators, pilots or maintainers that are skipping on every safety to quickly get another charter done or a job out.
Cheers, KP