Mr Skidmore Letter on Part 61 - Don’t Mention the Cost!
I and many others have received a letter entitled, “Update on New Flight Crew Licensing Regulations” from the Director of Aviation Safety, Mark Skidmore AM, in relation to Part 61.
Twice Mr Skidmore asks for feedback in relation to “what is working well and what is not”, however at no stage does Mr Skidmore mention that they are looking for comments on whether costs have increased because of Part 61. It’s almost as if the code within CASA says, “whatever you do, don’t mention cost”.
In his letter Mr Skidmore says, “I want open and honest feedback on what is working and what is not” - once again, no mention of cost. Presumably Mr Skidmore and the “Iron Circle” don’t want any comments on cost even though cost is the main problem with Part 61. That is, a substantial increase in costs when there was no safety issue to be addressed.
In Australia we share the wealth a lot better than most countries which means our average wage and our minimum wage are far higher, especially compared with places like the USA, Canada, the UK and New Zealand. For us to be able to compete in the international marketplace it means we have to be very much smarter and do things very much more efficiently.
Part 61 is, in fact, the opposite. It has substantially increased costs to many people in the industry and this means they will be less competitive in their businesses.
More to the point, money will be shifted from real safety issues to the Part 61 compliance costs when safety was not an issue.