The AAAA submission is a damning document. Among the specific grievances listed at the end of the 41 page document -
A Selection of Current CASA issues
The following examples provide an evidence trail of why industry is so disappointed in the current performance of CASA. Many more are available.
Agricultural Weights
CASA unilaterally decided in 2012 that the previous long standing
arrangements for the recognition of sensible working
weights for agricultural aircraft
as used in the US, Canada, New Zealand and other countries
would be abolished. The ability of agricultural and
firebombing aircraft to jettison their loads, thereby giving them a safety feature unavailable to other aircraft has been ignored. CASA is now strictly interpreting the certification basis of agricultural aircraft, ignoring the additional rules available in other countries.
This means for example, that Thrush aircraft are now limited to about 300 litres of load compared to the 2000 litres of load they safely carry in every other country in the world. The only way forward is for industry to pursue a
Supplemental Type Certificate for each aircraft type at a cost of approximately $50,000, for no safety benefit whatsoever.
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why wouldn't the poor buggers at the receiving end be tearing their hair out?