About the ASF
The Aviation Safety Forum is a special consultative body helping the aviation community and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority work effectively together to improve aviation safety in Australia.
The ASF is comprised of experienced aviation specialists who advise CASA on important strategic issues.
These people have worked in every area within aviation, including passenger transport, aviation medicine, engineering, aerial agriculture and general aviation. The fixed wing and helicopter sectors of the industry are both represented.
There is also an aviation consumer representative and representation from Airservices Australia, the Department of Defence, and the Department of Industry, Transport, Regional Development and Local Governement.
The ASF provides strategic advice directly to the CASA CEO after each meeting. The ASF meets at least four times a year in Canberra.
ASF issues
The ASF looks at specific issues CASA is addressing to improve aviation safety in Australia.
These include:
- regulatory reform planning;
- simplifying regulations;
- consistent interpretation and enforcement of regulations;
- encouraging industry to take safety responsibilities;
- effective safety promotion;
- efficient delivery of regulatory services;
- making CASA's costs more transparent; and
- pro-active management of information.
The ASF also advises CASA on internal issues such as organisational cultural change.
This includes the appointment of staff with strong industry backgrounds who are trained in regulatory administration and service delivery.
CASA needs input
The ASF's charter recognises that CASA must make decisions about aviation safety reform and administration and be accountable for its actions.
At the same time, CASA needs input from the aviation industry to ensure the best decisions are taken for the good of all the industry and the safety of travelling public.
Only through joint efforts will Australian aviation grow to its full potential while improving on an already strong safety record.
How industry participates
The ASF is one part of a strategy to ensure the aviation industry participates in the development of a better regulatory and safety environment.
The work of the ASF complements that of another CASA and industry consultative body the Standards Consultative Committee.
The Standards Consultative Committee is made up of aviation industry technical specialists.
It provides line-by-line advice to CASA on detailed proposals for change to the aviation regulations.
The ASF then considers the broad effects these detailed regulatory changes will have on the Australian aviation industry.
In total, this means the aviation industry has a structured opportunity to take part in the changes being proposed and made in Australian aviation.
The end result is better advice for CASA from a true cross section of the aviation industry.