Creampuff. "...at least the General Counsel understands what the regulator's supposed to do, and how it's supposed to do it."
Time for a reality check. I recommend Bex and a long rest...
"Those are skills that are sadly lacking elsewhere in the authority." Generally because the competent and experienced regulators with significant aviation operational experience have long since left CASA due to frustration with incompetent management.
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Australian government took direct control of the national air safety regulator and introduced reforms to enforcement procedures against operators in a move to make the authority more accountable and ease industry concerns. Transport and Regional Services Minister John Anderson announced the sweeping reforms Monday, saying they will improve the aviation sector's confidence in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
One of the key components of the package is the abolition of the CASA board from July 1, 2003, with the minister assuming responsibility for setting policy and performance standards for the body. The government will appoint the CEO--a role previously undertaken by the board. Current Director of Aviation Safety Mick Toller will take up the CEO position and report directly to the minister.
The reform program flows from a review of the structure and reporting arrangements for CASA that began in Feb. Measures also are being introduced to do away with CASA's much-criticized ability to act as "judge, jury and executioner" in cases involving safety breaches. This situation came under the spotlight with action taken by the authority following the Whyalla Airlines crash in 2000 and last year's grounding of Ansett's 767-200s.
Under the new system, operators can contest any decision to suspend or cancel operating licenses in the Federal Court within five days. If there is no immediate risk to air safety, the airline involved will be granted an automatic stay of the decision until the case has been heard by the court. The government also is establishing an air standards advisory body to ensure that the views of the industry are considered fully in enactment of new safety regulations.
"These reforms will only improve and strengthen CASA's ability to regulate our skies effectively, and boost the traveling public's faith in the aviation industry," Anderson said.