Aviation industry groups wary over CASA revamp on rule changes - Creedy
Further developments.
The Australian Award Winning Aviation Editor, Steve Creedy, wrote the following in the Fri 13 Nov '15 edition:
Aviation industry groups wary over CASA revamp on rule changes
CASA director of aviation safety Mark Skidmore is working on a revamp of controversial rule changes. A Civil Aviation Safety Authority move to put more resources behind revamping controversial rule changes and set up an advisory panel representing key aviation groups has been cautiously welcomed by the industry.
CASA director of aviation safety Mark Skidmore announced this week that a 26-member taskforce would work fulltime on addressing issues with controversial rule changes that have troubled the industry. Mr Skidmore also invited aviation groups to nominate members to take up positions on the advisory panel, which will work with the taskforce to sort out the problems.
The authority said the taskforce would begin work immediately, reviewing transition arrangements and prioritising responses while making sure safety issues are addressed. It would ensure the regulations did not impose unnecessary costs or impede the ability to participate in aviation or future growth.
Flight training organisations have been given a 12-month extension to August 31, 2018 to the switch to new rules.
The moves come after The Australian Aviation Associations Forum issued a strongly worded statement expressing concern at the slow pace of reform and the ongoing cost of new impositions from new regulations.The forum warned that recently introduced CASA regulations were threatening the viability of the industry, particularly general aviation, with millions of dollars needed to be invested with no particular safety gains.
It singled out Civil Aviation order 48.1 and Civil Aviation safety regulations parts 61 (pilot licensing), 141 (recreational, private and commercial pilot training) and 142 (integrated and multi-crew pilot training and checking) as areas that urgently needed addressing.
The new taskforce will examine Parts 61, 141, 142 and 64 (unlicensed personnel authorisations) and the advisory panel will comprise TAAAF members as well as representatives from flying schools, public transport, tertiary education, mustering sectors and training schools.
Mr Skidmore said he would implement “real solutions to the issues’’ as quickly as they could be delivered.
“CASA has already addressed many concerns that have been identified in the new licensing regulations but I understand more needs to be done,” Mr Skidmore said. “This is a priority and that’s why I need a dedicated team of people within CASA working fulltime on the issues. “Just as importantly we need advice and guidance from the aviation community to prioritise actions and verify that successful solutions have been found.
“The advisory panel will meet formally as required and at other times I expect its members to be in close contact with the CASA taskforce as work progresses.’’
TAAAF chairman Greg Russell welcomed the new developments as “almost in line with the key issues which we put to them’’. He believed the moves were a sign that the CASA board was exercising more influence on the organisation. “Yes, we’ve said some things that needed to be said but I think there’s been a pleasing response so far. There’s more work to do though,’’ Mr Russell said.
But Regional Aviation Association of Australia chief executive [B]Paul Tyrrell was less convinced. “CASA’s policy words have been good for some time,’’ he said. “It’s increased action on the Forsyth recommendations and new senior managers under the CEO that we need.’’
CASA says 98 issues have so far been raised about new rules and more than half have been addressed. It said the move to extend the deadline for parts 141 and 142 would give it more time to provide the industry with more guidance materials, sample manuals and example syllabuses.
END
AHIA - Our thanks to Steve.