The CASA Briefing
Your monthly CASA update

December 2006

From CEO Bruce Byron

CEO Bruce Byron

Plans for continued improvements to CASA during the next year are being finalised, with a focus on changes to our operational areas. Currently CASA has an Air Transport Operations group, a General Aviation Operations group and the Manufacturing, Certification and New Technologies office. The plan during 2007 is to create a new Operations group and an Airworthiness, Engineering and Infrastructure group. The Operations group will cover all holders of air operators certificates, as well as sports aviation. The Airworthiness, Engineering and Infrastructure group will cover all certificate of approval holders, manufacturing and engineering organisations, aerodromes and airways functions.

We believe these arrangements will more closely align CASA’s activities with the way the aviation industry functions, which will drive improvements in efficiency and safety effectiveness. In essence, this is another step in the program of improvements to CASA we have been making over the last two years. In the short term people in the aviation industry will notice little change in their dealings with CASA as implementation will be phased during 2007. However, once the new arrangements are in place benefits will flow to both industry and CASA.

Over the next year CASA will also be focusing on a range of other improvements, mostly in the operational areas. These will include improving industry safety oversight, strengthening entry control procedures, reducing some regulatory services by devolving responsibility to industry, focusing flying training oversight on the quality of training and ensuring consistency in decision making across CASA while further improving service delivery.

Industry complaints

CASA’s Industry Complaints Commissioner received 350 complaints during this year, with 141 requiring some form of investigation. The office of the Industry Complaints Commissioner was established in February as a central coordinating point for all complaints against CASA. The services of the Industry Complaints Commissioner are available to anyone who has a genuine complaint about the action or behaviour of a CASA employee which they have been unable to resolve with that employee or that employee’s manager. Not all complaints will be investigated – only those where there is genuine reason to believe injustice has been done or an unacceptable mistake may have been made.

Some of the issues investigated this year include matters in connection with: the suspension/cancellation of air operators certificates, delays in the delivery of CASA services, the interpretation of a Civil Aviation Order, the issuing of a maintenance authority, unsafe aviation practices and flying instructor training.

If you need to contact the CASA Industry Complaints Commissioner:
complaints@casa.gov.au
02 6217 1717
http://www.casa.gov.au/corporat/complaints.htm

General aviation self administration

Key groups and individuals interested in the idea of self administration for the general aviation sector met in Canberra at the end of last month. This was the second ‘summit’ meeting CASA convened on the issue. CASA outlined a range of functions and activities that could be either simplified or devolved to industry, as long as appropriate safety checks are in place. One example of how CASA could step back from involvement in general aviation was the approval of chief pilots or chief flying instructors. CASA could approve training courses for these positions and when people passed a course they would qualify to take up approved positions - subject to a check that they met relevant operational requirements.

CASA stressed it was looking for ways to reduce the administrative burden of regulations and to get the focus on safety and risk management. On-line reporting of administrative responsibilities in general aviation could streamline regulatory processes. It was agreed the best way to progress self-administration was to establish small industry working groups to concentrate on specific initiatives. This means additional ‘summit’ meetings are not planned, with industry and CASA to now focus on specific initiatives.

Laser advice

CASA is developing measures to protect pilots against laser beam strikes in the vicinity of aerodromes.  A draft advisory circular has been published setting out guidance on the use of lasers in entertainment, light displays or advertising.  The draft advisory says there should be four laser flight zones: laser-free, laser-critical, laser-sensitive and normal.  Different restrictions on laser lights are proposed for each flight zone.  The laser-free zone could extend up to 9300metres from the ends of runways, while the laser-critical zone could extend up to 18,500 metres from an aerodrome central reference point.

Public comment on the draft advisory circular is open until 2 January 2007.  Read the draft at:
http://rrp.casa.gov.au/drafts/DRAFTac139-023(00)_061205.pdf

Make comments at:
http://rrp.casa.gov.au/ors_draftac139-23.asp

New fee proposals

There’s still plenty of time to have your say on CASA’s proposals for changes to fees and charges in 2007.  A new set of proposed fees was released last month for industry comment and CASA wants to hear from people across the aviation industry.  Consultation on the proposed new fee structure closes on 12 January 2007.  The new charging regime will begin on 1 July 2007.  Key changes in the proposed regime are four hourly rates of $100, $130, $160 and $190, a cut in the medical processing fee to $75 and new arrangements for the recovery of CASA’s travel costs.

To read the full details and have your say:
http://www.casa.gov.au/corporat/fees/index.htm

Perfume can be dangerous

A spate of perfume being shipped as undeclared dangerous goods has been uncovered by CASA.  In the run-up to Christmas some on-line retailers in Australia have been importing perfume without the ensuring proper safety precautions are being taken during shipping.  Large quantities of perfumes that have not been packaged or marked properly have been identified during spot checks at major freight centres.  Perfume is a flammable liquid and if the unmarked boxes containing the liquid were crushed, or the bottles leaked during flight, an aircraft could be at risk.

CASA has contacted overseas safety regulators at the ports of origin to ask for help in stopping the practice, has warned freight forwarders of the need to be vigilant and is carrying out more spot checks.  Undeclared dangerous goods can be confiscated or at least delayed while investigations are undertaken.

LAME scholarships

CASA has issued a last minute call to anyone training to become a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer to consider applying for a 2007 scholarship.  Under CASA’s scholarship to help LAME students, $2000 is available over the first two years of an apprenticeship.  This money can be used to pay for tools, textbooks or travel needed for full-time theory training.  There is one scholarship available for each state and territory.  A selection process is applied to all applicants for the scholarship which requires evidence of employment with a Certificate of Approval holder and other relevant conditions.

To find out more and lodge an application go to:
http://www.casa.gov.au/ame/engschol.htm

New head of GA

Greg Vaughan has been appointed the new general manager of CASA’s General Aviation group.  Greg takes over from the recently retired Rob Collins.  Greg started his aviation career in Canada, working as a design and development engineer after completing an aero-engineering degree in California.  He also worked as manager of air safety investigations for Pratt and Whitney, before coming to Australia.  In Australia he worked for Ansett and Kendall airlines, as well as being involved in an aircraft distributorship and an aviation management company.

New switchboard hours

CASA’s switchboard is now closing an hour earlier – at 19:00 eastern summer time.  This has been triggered by the move to daylight saving in Western Australia.  The switchboard opens at 08:00 eastern summer time and operates Monday to Friday.  Outside the switchboard hours a CASA duty officer can be contacted through the usual 131 757 number by following the prompts.

Christmas shutdown

CASA, like many organisations, will be shutdown between Christmas and New Year.  Normal business ceases at COB Friday 22 December and restarts on Tuesday 2 January 2007.  A duty officer will be available during the shutdown for urgent aviation safety business.  Simply ring the switchboard number – 131 757 – and follow the prompts.  CASA will not be providing regulatory services such as licence or certificate renewals during the shutdown – so if you need a service act now!

US agreement

Australia has signed an important bilateral aviation agreement with the United States.  The Minister for Transport, Mark Vaile, and the US Ambassador to Australia Robert McCallum formally ratified the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement at a ceremony in Canberra late last month.  The agreement will free up aviation trade between Australia and the US and provide important advantages to the Australian aviation manufacturing industry.  Australian manufacturers will find it easier to have their products exported to the US, as CASA’s certifications and approvals will now be accepted without the need for further review processes.

Read more about the Australia-US bilateral aviation agreement.