Meet CASA’s Aviation Safety Advisors
Mark Richardson
I have been involved in aviation for over 26 years, learning to fly as a 16 year old in Perth. After leaving school in 1982, I joined the RAAF serving for 6 years as an Air Surveillance Operator in Darwin. During this time I flew with the local aero club, gliding club and Parachute clubs.
After leaving the RAAF, I completed my CPL, Instrument and Instructor ratings and spent several years travelling around Australia chasing work. I settled back in Perth working in several different aviation roles including fire spotting, instructing and general charter work.
In 1997 I took up a Chief Pilot position with a company in the Torres Straits conducting charter and freight operations in the Torres Straits and PNG. After leaving here I was employed in the far North West of Australia before moving to Alice Springs as the Chief Pilot of a large charter operation.
In 2000 I commenced work as an AERMED pilot with the Northern Territory Aero Medical Service (NTAMS) flying Super Kingair aircraft on 24 hour all weather medical operations. This was by the far the most demanding and challenging flying of my career.
In 2003 I returned to Perth to work as a co-pilot, then Captain on Metro 23 aircraft and later moved companies to fly the EMB120 Brasilia as a training captain and ground school instructor. In 2007 I logged my 10,000 hour on powered aircraft.
I hold an Airline Transport Licence with instrument rating and grade 1 instructor rating, with several approvals including glider towing training and testing, multi-engine training, simulator instructor, aerobatics and formation training. On the ground I have significant experience in writing operations and dangerous goods manuals, preparing and presenting both aviation and non aviation training courses. My main passion is in facilitating and instructing Human Factors and Crew Resource Management training with the aim of increasing knowledge and skills across the aviation industry and in the general public.