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Ageing Aircraft Management Plan (AAMP)

CASA’s AAMP was initiated in response to the Australian Government’s Aviation White Paper - Flight Path to the Future (December 2009).

The White Paper encourages CASA to continue its focus on the safety of ageing aircraft in Australia.

CASA has since reviewed the current status of the ageing aircraft fleet and compiled a comprehensive report as well as a strategy to address the ageing aircraft issue in Australia.

CASA is also developing a range of proposals to address the identified concerns.  

Plan stages

The AAMP consists of the following stages:

Stage     Description Status
Stage 1
  • Articulate the scope of the ageing aircraft issue in Australia using independent, objective engineering data and analysis.
  • Consider strategies to address those aspects that require priority attention.
Completed in February 2011.
Stage 1+
  • Provide feedback to industry on the findings of Stage 1.
  • Deliver an aircraft owner awareness program on the science of aircraft ageing.
Delivered in 2011 via nationwide seminars.
Stage 2
  • Standard consultation process around the implementation of the approved Stage 1 recommendations.
Currently underway to be completed by late 2013
Stage 3
  • Ongoing annual review of the Stage 2 recommendations to ensure the AAMP is continuing to achieve the desired outcomes.
TBA

Stage 1

As part of the Stage 1 review, CASA conducted:

  • a comprehensive literary search, and
  • a series of site visits around Australian airports during the second half of 2010

to analyse and review the way ageing aircraft are currently being maintained.

Read the broad findings of the Stage 1 Final Report.

Stage 1+

The CASA Ageing Aircraft Awareness & Industry Feedback Program was conducted between September and November 2011.

It included a series of seminars designed for aircraft owners, but also applicable to operators and maintenance personnel.

The record of seminar dates and locations appear at Awareness & Industry Feedback Program seminars.

Stage 2

The consultation phase of CASA’s Ageing Aircraft Management Plan initiatives commenced in January 2012 and is due to be completed by late 2013. CASA intends to undertake the following activities including:

  • Increased ageing aircraft education and information aimed at target demographics including Industry Delegates, Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Registered Operators and the wider industry in general.
  • Trialling initiatives to better access and analyse ageing aircraft data from industry involving the use of an web-based ‘Matrix Tool’ capable of providing users with relevant feedback and advice as to the likelihood that their aircraft might be affected by ageing aircraft issues.
  • Reviewing current maintenance practices to determine a minimum acceptable level of maintenance activity to address ageing aircraft related issues in the Australian fleet.
  • Reviewing current regulations with regard to maintenance activities.
  • Encouraging further industry engagement in respect of the future management of ageing aircraft fleets.
  • Encouraging industry awareness for the discovery of new or unknown failure modes.  

More information

For more information on the AAMP, please contact either: