For those interested here is a link for today's Senate RRAT Committee Proceedings:
Also for those interested from the QON index -
First on the subject of the TSBC peer review of the bureau - these are Senator Xenophon's written questions to the bureau:
239/ATSB/XENOPHON/Canadian TSB:
1. Does the ATSB have a date for the Canadian TSB to complete and table its report?
a. At what stage is the investigation?
b. Has a draft report been completed?
2. In response to a question I placed on notice last estimates (Q. 258), the ATSB provided a list of documents that it had given the TSB. Is this a complete list of all documents provided?
a. Has the TSB requested any further information since?
b. The response to this question states that the TSB obtained a copy of this committee’s inquiry into the Pel-Air incident ‘of its own initiative’. Did this occur before or after the ATSB provided documents?
c. Why didn’t the ATSB provide the committee report?
3. In response to a line of questioning from Senator Fawcett in February estimates this year, Mr Dolan stated that three incidents were referred to the TSB as part of its review – the Pel-Air incident, the Canley Vale incident, and the winching accident at Bridal Veil Falls. Why was no documentation relating to the last two incidents included on the list you provided to me on notice?
a. What documentation relating to these incidents has been provided to the TSB? When did this occur?
b. Why wasn’t this information included in the response to my question on notice?
From the CAsA QONs some of Senator Fawcett's written QONs of interest:
249/CASA/FAWCETT/Personnel:
1. In 2010 CASA identified a need for additional funding which was provided for by an increase in the excise on aviation fuel. Part of this funding was for 97 personnel. Taking into consideration that 50 of the 97 positions identified in 2010 were already filled, have all the qualified personnel now been recruited to fill the 97 positions identified in 2010?
2. Since July 2010, as at 30 June 2014, CASA has recruited 153 new employees. Why has an additional 106 employees above the 47 identified in 2010 (a 226% increase from that identified in 2010) been recruited by CASA?
3. Of the additional 153 employees recruited by CASA since July 2010 at least 91 (59%) of these appear to be in support roles associated to Corporate Services. Why has Corporate Services increased while operational staff has decreased?
4. In 2010 CASA indicated that specialists in certain specific areas are difficult to recruit. Is CASA still having problems attracting experienced personnel and if so, for what roles?
5. In the Portfolio Budget Statements provided in May 2014 CASA indicated that they are forecasting a $9.6m loss for the 2013/14 financial year (a net change of 9.8m). On cross referencing the 2014/15 Portfolio Budget Statements with the 2013/14 Portfolio Budget Statements it shows that Employee Benefits have increased by $7m from that anticipated or 75% of the net $9.8m change. Why has there been an increase of $7m for employee benefits to that anticipated last year?
6. The 2012/13 annual report for CASA shows that they made a profit last year of $12m. With the changes now forecast by CASA this will provide a $21.6m turnaround into the red. Most of this turnaround appears to be due to a $17.2m increase (80% of the net turnaround) in employee benefits. Taking into consideration that the number of personnel employed by CASA only increased by 5 over the financial year why is there such a significant increase in employee benefits since 30 June 2013?
250/CASA/FAWCETT/Medicals:
1. What is CASA’s policy on retention of pilots’ medical documents? How long are these retained, are any retained for auditing purposes and what is the policy for disposal? Please make particular mention in regard to 162A forms.
2. What is CASA’s policy for timely responses to correspondence from aviation personnel? Does this policy vary for letters, emails, phone calls?
3. Does CASA at times require specialists’ reports to support an aviation medical? How many reports does CASA usually require? Does CASA assist in the cost of obtaining these reports?
4. Does CASA at times require specialists’ reports to support an aviation medical? How many reports does CASA usually require? Does CASA assist in the cost of obtaining these reports?
One short, sharp written QON from the Heff gave me a chuckle...
:
247/CASA/HEFFERNAN/Definition of Airworthiness:
What is CASA’s definition of airworthiness?
Hmm...wonder where he is going with that??
MTF...
