ASIC processing time?
The process is now not just about trying to find out whether you've changed careers to terrorist. It's also about trying to find out things like whether you have any associations with people and organisations in the business of importing and distributing illegal drugs.
Since its inception, the scheme has been subject to a number of changes. While initially applicants were only subject to criminal record checks, following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the scheme was expanded to cover a greater number of airports and airport staff. It was also strengthened through the introduction of tighter criminal history checks and an Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) security assessment.
There is nothing like a bit of mission creep. A bit better security required and we are now heading down the 'Minority Report' road. Originally created under Department of Transport and Regional Services, the ASIC was then handled by:
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government which existed between December 2007 and September 2010,
The Department of Infrastructure and Transport formed in September 2010,
The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development that existed between September 2013 and December 2017, and
The Department of Home Affairs which was officially established on 20 December 2017, bringing policy responsibilities and agencies from the Attorney-General's Department, Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development
In the mean time, Joe, our average pilot, has lived in just two places and worked at the same airline for 20 years doing the same thing, getting his ASIC renewed every two years. Now tell me again why it takes 10 weeks and $250?
Because the AI reading your faded and coffee-stained Birth Certificate (you did include a copy, didn't you?!?) couldn't quite match up your middle initial with the typo on your application form and bounced it back to an underpaid, overworked "Administrative Assistant" in the bowels of a Canberra building somewhere... and you were unlucky enough that at the precise moment your application landed on their desk they got up for a toilet break and never came back. FWIW, I got mine in 3 weeks. 
The question I'd be asking when you do finally receive it is what the expiry date is, 'cause I'll bet it ain't 24 months from your application date!
The question I'd be asking when you do finally receive it is what the expiry date is, 'cause I'll bet it ain't 24 months from your application date!
Because the AI reading your faded and coffee-stained Birth Certificate (you did include a copy, didn't you?!?) couldn't quite match up your middle initial with the typo on your application form and bounced it back to an underpaid, overworked "Administrative Assistant" in the bowels of a Canberra building somewhere... and you were unlucky enough that at the precise moment your application landed on their desk they got up for a toilet break and never came back. FWIW, I got mine in 3 weeks.
The question I'd be asking when you do finally receive it is what the expiry date is, 'cause I'll bet it ain't 24 months from your application date!
The question I'd be asking when you do finally receive it is what the expiry date is, 'cause I'll bet it ain't 24 months from your application date!
If there is a difference in the names on the documents and the application it won't get as far as the Auscheck system. That's one of the things checked for at the interview. Any discrepancies in name require a formal change of name certificate, yes even for one letter.
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The expiry is the end of the month two years after you get the clearance from Auscheck. eg if the clearance comes through on 5 Jan 2024, it will be valid until 31.1.26 and will say JAN 26
ASICS are needed at Security Controlled airports at the times they state in their Transport Security Program and an aerodrome employee can ask to see it.
ASICS are required by pilots to exercise the privileges of their licence under this regulation AVIATION TRANSPORT SECURITY REGULATIONS 2005 - REG 6.55 Exercise of privileges of flight crew licences etc (austlii.edu.au)
ATSR 6.55 is nothing to do with CASA and a CASA officer doesn't have the authority to ask to see your ASIC. The only time they want to see it is at licence application.
The reason having third parties in the process can make it take longer is if for example the issuing body requires that you go to Australia Post to have the documents checked, or another third party to do the printing.
Alleging that the issuing bodies are entering fraudulent information into Auscheck is a serious one and something that would get picked up striaght away anyway.
If you are unhappy about having an ASIC then rather than abusing the issuing bodies and their agents go and see your Federal MP. Being belligerent at the ID check raises a lot of red flags so things like swearing and being aggressive or accusing the agent of fraudulent activity without any evidence are not going to help your application.
Other countries often have a separate card for each aerodrome which is a lot more onerous.
There are lots of people who have ASICs that know nothing about aeroplanes, people who do runway works, mow the grass etc
Many of the larger airports (I won't say all, because I am only familiar with procedures at MEL, SYD, BNE and PER) have site-specific inductions workers doing runway works, mowing the grass etc have to sit through as part of getting an ASIC through them as the Issuer - not that anyone checks that afterwards, but they might... you just never know.
At small uncontrolled airports, you don't - and you don't need one to fly a plane either. ...but at larger airports it's for Security. Airport Security.
You can't just allow any Joe Public wander around a busy tarmac unsupervised (props and turbines are expensive to fix after someone walks into one) so the implication is that someone who holds an ASIC has at least some amount of knowledge to know where they can and can't go - for their own safety and the safety of other people's aircraft.
Sure.. and I wonder how many ground incidents they have compared to Oz? I get airport security asking to see mine daily (granted, that's every time I try to go airside) and for that reason I doubt you could get a counterfeit one programmed to let you go anywhere you please at any major airport in this country.
You can't just allow any Joe Public wander around a busy tarmac unsupervised (props and turbines are expensive to fix after someone walks into one) so the implication is that someone who holds an ASIC has at least some amount of knowledge to know where they can and can't go - for their own safety and the safety of other people's aircraft.
Sure.. and I wonder how many ground incidents they have compared to Oz? I get airport security asking to see mine daily (granted, that's every time I try to go airside) and for that reason I doubt you could get a counterfeit one programmed to let you go anywhere you please at any major airport in this country.
Security at airports before ASIC (9/11) worked fine - feel free to link the human FOD you refer to in your reply.
I have worked at a place even the janitor needed an ASIC - they did not provide him of ANY aircraft precautions during his application or approval - again please provide why an ASIC = safety or aircraft/airport knowledge.
If you get asked near daily for your ASIC, you must have that face - THE VAST most of us do not ever get asked to produce it.
Many places use just a airport access card to get airside, costs minimal requires the company to be responsible and issued immediate for a temp or about a week - even the Airforce 1 use these airports & not an ASIC in site.
Hey, after I've gone to all this trouble begging and pleading to get one, I'd like to think that if Airport Security found some pleb wandering around airside without a valid ASIC, they'd have some explaining to do (and maybe that fine they speak of on the airside fence). Bah humbug!
Yes you NAILED IT the ASIC is a JOKE.
An expensive bureaucratic one, that I expect has NEVER found an "offender" & just wastes time and effort.
Time it became like the CASA DAMP guys an quietly vanished - and no safety was lost!
Just another failed experiment (sadly a gold mine for some kick back persons in government)
An expensive bureaucratic one, that I expect has NEVER found an "offender" & just wastes time and effort.
Time it became like the CASA DAMP guys an quietly vanished - and no safety was lost!
Just another failed experiment (sadly a gold mine for some kick back persons in government)
I'm not familiar with the word "sponsor" being in the act so a link would be helpful.
Also even freight forwarders who are ever alone in the workplace have to have a white ASIC. They don't have to be anywhere near the airport or have some kind of induction to airside.
Rort.
Shoukd be a renew 2 months before and no change to expiry date like your medical, IPC etc.
Like I said, if you don't like it tell your local Federal MP, no point in shooting the messenger or posting here, I'm just trying to explain and put straight some of the misconceptions.
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ASICS are required by pilots to exercise the privileges of their licence under this regulation AVIATION TRANSPORT SECURITY REGULATIONS 2005 - REG 6.55 Exercise of privileges of flight crew licences etc (austlii.edu.au)
The reason having third parties in the process can make it take longer is if for example the issuing body requires that you go to Australia Post to have the documents checked, or another third party to do the printing.
Alleging that the issuing bodies are entering fraudulent information into Auscheck is a serious one and something that would get picked up striaght away anyway.
If you are unhappy about having an ASIC then rather than abusing the issuing bodies and their agents go and see your Federal MP. Being belligerent at the ID check raises a lot of red flags so things like swearing and being aggressive or accusing the agent of fraudulent activity without any evidence are not going to help your application.
Other countries often have a separate card for each aerodrome which is a lot more onerous.
There are lots of people who have ASICs that know nothing about aeroplanes, people who do runway works, mow the grass etc
The reason having third parties in the process can make it take longer is if for example the issuing body requires that you go to Australia Post to have the documents checked, or another third party to do the printing.
Alleging that the issuing bodies are entering fraudulent information into Auscheck is a serious one and something that would get picked up striaght away anyway.
If you are unhappy about having an ASIC then rather than abusing the issuing bodies and their agents go and see your Federal MP. Being belligerent at the ID check raises a lot of red flags so things like swearing and being aggressive or accusing the agent of fraudulent activity without any evidence are not going to help your application.
Other countries often have a separate card for each aerodrome which is a lot more onerous.
There are lots of people who have ASICs that know nothing about aeroplanes, people who do runway works, mow the grass etc
(3) For paragraph (2)(a), a person's aviation security status check is current at a particular time if:
(a) it was carried out no more than 5 years before that time; or
(b) he or she has requested that a new check be carried out; or
(c) within the previous 2 years, he or she underwent a background check for the issue of an ASIC.
(a) it was carried out no more than 5 years before that time; or
(b) he or she has requested that a new check be carried out; or
(c) within the previous 2 years, he or she underwent a background check for the issue of an ASIC.
Don't get me wrong, an initial issue of an ASIC has to be thorough but why reinvent the wheel for renewals? How hard is it to figure out if you've had any criminal offences in the last two years? (which, by the way, the law states you must declare)
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Don't get me wrong, an initial issue of an ASIC has to be thorough but why reinvent the wheel for renewals?
I just think it's hilarious that the very, very important ASIC, which requires you to jump through all these hoops to get (including showing a Birth Certificate) is then not accepted as the form of identification for a renewal. For a known candidate!
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But the alleged 'known candidate' could be some kind of 'face off' terrorist who's 'stolen' the face of an ASIC holder. It's happened in the movies, so it's possible.
When it comes to aviation security, one cannot be too careful.
When it comes to aviation security, one cannot be too careful.
Absolutely agree with this!
I just think it's hilarious that the very, very important ASIC, which requires you to jump through all these hoops to get (including showing a Birth Certificate) is then not accepted as the form of identification for a renewal. For a known candidate!
I just think it's hilarious that the very, very important ASIC, which requires you to jump through all these hoops to get (including showing a Birth Certificate) is then not accepted as the form of identification for a renewal. For a known candidate!
From the link you posted -
Don't get me wrong, an initial issue of an ASIC has to be thorough but why reinvent the wheel for renewals? How hard is it to figure out if you've had any criminal offences in the last two years? (which, by the way, the law states you must declare)
Don't get me wrong, an initial issue of an ASIC has to be thorough but why reinvent the wheel for renewals? How hard is it to figure out if you've had any criminal offences in the last two years? (which, by the way, the law states you must declare)
As Clare said earlier, make the most of it whilst the commercial issuing bodies are processing the applications. Believe it or not, they share a lot of the concerns raised here and strive hard to get the cards out as quickly as possible. I doubt that the Department will have the same level of customer service focus.
Since the powers that be aren't just going to take someone's word for it that they need an ASIC, someone (an Australia-registered company) somewhere has to support your application. The requirements are even greater if (eg. as a Pilot) you need an AUS (Australia-wide) ASIC. That's who I was referring to. If you look on the back of your ASIC, you'll see who your "sponsor company" is. You don't get an ASIC without their backing and they are held directly responsible under the Act if you don't use it properly and/or return it when asked to.
But wait, it get's worse: If you look at the list of commercial issuing bodies posted up-thread, you'll see the vast majority are Airport Security at a local airport. These exist to, among other things, issue baggage handlers, ground staff, etc. with a local (non-AUS) ASIC or VIC. If not directly employed on-airport (eg. outside contractors), these folks need not only an Approval from their boss via the ASIC Online system, but supporting approval from the on-airport company they contract to. To get an AUS ASIC they also need a supporting letter from another airport or on airport operator in another state - that's up to three different Approvals just to get airside!!! Bureaucracy to the max...
As pilots we don't need to jump through that many hoops - yet. But we will - just wait.
On the back of your ASIC is the Issuing Body and the address to return the card to on expiry. Not a "sponsor" which is a completely different thing and not applicable to ASICs at all. I think you are confusing this with working visas, where a sponsor takes responsibility if the visa holder breaches their visa conditions or commits a crime. I know this as I have been a sponsor for 420 visas. There is no regulatory requirement for anything to be printed on the back of the card.
Ground staff only get an ASIC for the airport they are working at, they don't need an AUS one. It is possible to have more than one ASIC if they do work at more than one airport. (The same background check applies)
All a pilot needs for their "operational need" for an AUS ASIC is to show their pilot licence. A student pilot needs a letter from their school to say they are currently undergoing training, these do get checked.
Be careful what you wish for, in some countries the pilots DO need to have a security card for each airport they go into. So having one for the whole country is better than that.
Ground staff only get an ASIC for the airport they are working at, they don't need an AUS one. It is possible to have more than one ASIC if they do work at more than one airport. (The same background check applies)
All a pilot needs for their "operational need" for an AUS ASIC is to show their pilot licence. A student pilot needs a letter from their school to say they are currently undergoing training, these do get checked.
Be careful what you wish for, in some countries the pilots DO need to have a security card for each airport they go into. So having one for the whole country is better than that.
On the back of your ASIC is the Issuing Body and the address to return the card to on expiry. Not a "sponsor" which is a completely different thing and not applicable to ASICs at all. I think you are confusing this with working visas, where a sponsor takes responsibility if the visa holder breaches their visa conditions or commits a crime. I know this as I have been a sponsor for 420 visas. There is no regulatory requirement for anything to be printed on the back of the card..
The company name used to appear on the front of the ASIC, but apparently that confused too many poor, overworked, security people so they're all plain-jane now.
As for the rest, we do agree.
