AHIA Events - week ending 19 Sep ’15.
A very busy week - a new Prime Minister and hopefully more attention to aviation matters, especially helicopter issues.
New Prime Minister – new aviation minister?? Canberra certainly has been in turmoil over the past week due to the election of our fifth Prime Minister in as many years. An enormous amount of publicity has been given to the election of new ministers and their roles. Some within the aviation industry would be watching to see if there was a change of the minister responsible for aviation. It would appear Warren Truss, the Deputy Prime Minister, is remaining in this capacity? Now the WA by-election has passed, perhaps problems facing the regulatory reform process could be brought forward once more for re-consideration. Of major concern for Truss is the need to extend the deadline for the rolling out of new rules from the year’s end.
Industry is really becoming a casualty of regulation fatigue.
Unsettling news of rejected Part 142 applications. The aviation industry was disappointed to note two leading Australian helicopter schools had their CASR Part 142 applications rejected by CASA. One industry commentator, stated both schools had probably spent around twelve months on the document preparation; only to be told that the guidance material supplied by CASA was incorrect and therefore their submissions were not acceptable. As a result significant amendments will be required. Hopefully this situation, is just the ‘learning curve’ of the reform processes.
Hunter Region SLSA Rescue Helicopter turns 40! AHIA member is about to celebrate their 40th Anniversary with a function at Wests Mayfield on Fri 6 Nov ’15 starting at 6.30pm. This is for current and former staff, directors, volunteers, flight paramedics, police and retrieval staff. The cost per person is $30 for finger food & a complimentary drink on arrival. If you would like to attend please contact
Barry Walton, Community Liaison & Media, M: 0428 846 720 or
[email protected].
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service
CASA changes. CASA Executive Manager Standards Division,
Peter Boyd, will leave the regulator on 2 Oct ’15. Peter has been with CASA since 1999, filling several roles until taking over Standards Division in 2005. CASA has indicated Senior Manager Operations Strategy, Roger Weeks, will temporarily fill the position as head of Standards Division starting 6 Oct ’15. Since John McCormick's contract as DAS expired last year, Principal Medical Officer Pooshan Navathe; Deputy Director, Terry Farquharson and Executive Manager Permissions, Peter Fereday have all left CASA.
CEO RAAA, Paul Tyrell, resigns. After seven years with the Regional Aviation Association of Australia, CEO Paul Tyrell has decided he needs a ‘sea change’. Paul will be missed by his industry segment as he was well respected and a very capable leader when times were tough. Also, a good friend of the AHIA.
ATPL and MCC still work in progress. AHIA has been researching the impasse with ATPL issues. It seems very few have been issued. The oddity is a helicopter pilot can do a SE VFR ATPL in a single engine turbine helicopter fitted for NGT VFR, as a day test; without an IREX, but the MCC is still required and CASA has only approved a Boeing B737 simulator for the certificate.
Needs two students and costs around AUD $9,000 each. See CASA Form 61 – 1AH now needed for the application. It will explain more. To date, it has been alleged CASA have not received any ATPL(H) applications over the past year or so. AHIA is following this situation closely as the airlines have a similar problem and everyone is looking at international pilots holding a 457 visa as stop gap as the expected delay will probably run to mid-2017, at the end of the Part 61 transition?
New Part 61 MoS due out by end of September. At a Senate Enquiry, on 28 May ’15, it was indicated by CASA standards staff the rewrite of the Part 61 MoS was nearing completion and would be released in September. According to our
Ray Cronin, our Part 61 team leader, this situation has not changed and the anxiously awaited MoS in on schedule as previously stated.
Updates on Rotortech 2016. From Fri 27 to 29 May ’16 at Novatel Twin Waters Resort, Sunshine Coast. Booths now number 36 up from 25 last year. Exhibitors will have access to nearby large carpark to display their helicopters.
Free parking for visitors on grass areas near resort HQ. (Same as last year). An extra day for the trade show folks. Booths (3m X 2.4m) are $2,700 ($2,600 for AHIA members). Past exhibitors have first option until 30 Sep ’15; when all booths will be offered to around 41 EOI on file.
Free entry to trade show pavilion. Conference delegates need to register - fee applies.