The CASA Briefing
Your monthly CASA update

 Civil Aviation Safety Authority

November 2007

From the CEO

CEO Bruce ByronOver the last three years I have spent a lot of time meeting and talking with the chief executive officers of Australia's airlines, maintenance organisations and aerodromes. It is a part of my job that is both important and enjoyable. These aviation organisations make up the bulk of the commercial part of the industry in Australia and employ many thousands of people. Critically, these are the organisations that have the potential to deliver or affect aviation safety hour-by-hour and day-by-day. The reason I have spent time meeting with CEOs is because they, and their fellow senior managers, play a vital role in the delivery of safe outcomes. Aviation technical specialists on the 'front line', such as pilots and engineers, are of course also essential in the safety equation. However, the leaders in aviation organisations have a legal and operational role in the management of risks and the development and oversight of safety systems. In the same way the CEO manages financial performances, the CEO must manage safety performance.

For this reason I have written a small booklet called 'Safety management and the CEO'. This booklet sets out some of the key issues relating to safety management, the role of CEOs, the development of safety management systems, the culture of safety in organisations and human factors. One of my central points in the booklet is that CEOs must see safety management as part of their business, not just a technical 'add on'. In the booklet I say: "If you are involved, and are seen to place safety as a high profile issue, you are more likely to influence the attitudes and behaviours of your management and staff. Attitudes that constantly emphasise the importance of safety must be demonstrated and encouraged. Behaviours that support this approach should be rewarded. Behaviours that undermine this approach should not be tolerated."

I believe this booklet, which is being sent to the CEO of every aviation organisation that holds a CASA certificate, will make an important contribution to safety in Australia. CASA spends a lot of time dealing with the technical levels of aviation through surveillance, education and training, but we have not traditionally focussed on the leaders of aviation organisations. It is a key part of CASA's job to support and assist the aviation industry to meet its safety obligations and the new booklet is yet another resource from the regulator.

CASA's on the tarmac in numbers

The aviation industry responded positively to the second of CASA's unannounced, targeted surveillance exercises focussing on air transport operations. CASA inspectors took to the tarmac at seven large aerodromes across the nation for the day-long exercise earlier this month. Teams of flying operations, airworthiness, aerodromes, cabin safety and air transport inspectors looked at specific safety issues that had been identified through data analysis and risk research. Under the spotlight were airlines, maintenance organisations and aerodromes. The purpose of the exercise is to gather more information on areas of potential safety risk and to take a snapshot of operations at a point in time. CASA's commitment of people, time and resources to the exercise is a demonstration of the high priority given to the oversight of safety in passenger-carrying operations.

The feedback from aviation industry people on the day was positive, with a high level of co-operation being provided to the CASA inspectors at all locations. This co-operation ensured that the high profile exercise had minimal impact on operations on the day. One aerodrome operator told CASA the exercise was a "great idea" and there "should be more of them". Inspections were carried out at Darwin, Cairns, Newcastle, Canberra, Launceston, Hobart and Adelaide.

New aircraft registration survey

Aircraft registration holders will soon be asked to confirm their aircraft's registration details as part of a new CASA survey. The survey will begin in early December and will target aircraft owners on their third anniversary of being recorded as registration holder of their aircraft. CASA is conducting the survey to make sure aircraft registration details are accurate and up-to-date. This is vital so that airworthiness directives and other safety-critical information is sent to the right people.

In December CASA will begin mailing out survey forms asking registration holders to confirm the details CASA holds are correct. This will include checking information such as aircraft ownership, manufacturer, model and serial number - as well as checking contact details. Registration holders will have 28 days to tell CASA if the details are accurate or need amending. It is a regulatory requirement for registration holders to reply to the survey and it will be quick and easy to complete. Registration holders will have the option of mailing, faxing or emailing their completed survey forms.

CASA Christmas closure

CASA offices will be closed from Christmas Day until Wednesday 2 January 2008. This is the usual Christmas-New Year holiday shutdown period and it means some normal regulatory services will not be available for eight days. Changes to air operators certificates or certificates of approval, for example, will not be made during the shutdown. So if you plan to need regulatory services between Christmas Day and 2 January 2008 please get in early with applications to avoid possible delays. CASA people will do their best to get your regulatory business completed before the shutdown, but please remember services do take time to process.

CASA's Licensing and Registration Centre will be provide a 'holiday level' service during the shutdown period for flight crew and maintenance licence renewals, aviation medical renewals and aircraft registration services. While CASA will do its best to deliver all requested services in these areas, reduced staffing levels may mean slightly slower delivery times. Full details of how to access these services during the shutdown period will be published on CASA's web site well before Christmas.

CASA will be ready to assist with emergencies during the shutdown period and important aviation safety issues will continue to be addressed. If you need CASA's help between Christmas Day and 2 January 2007, just call 131 757 and follow the prompts.

Find out more about the Christmas closure.

ASIC processing outsourced

CASA has outsourced the administration and processing of Aviation Security Identification Cards. CASA is one of the largest ASIC issuing bodies, having processed more than 25,000 cards. It was determined the most efficient and effective way to manage the renewal of about 18,000 cards was to outsource the process. A competitive tender was undertaken and Aviation ID Australia in Merimbula in NSW won a three year contract. Aviation ID Australia are an existing ASIC issuing body, are a well established company which has a strong market presence in the general aviation sector and they have already issued thousands of cards in their own right. The company will be required to adhere to CASA's service delivery charter protocols and framework and there will be regular governance and performance audits conducted by respected auditors KPMG.

Currently the average processing time for an ASIC is 28 days and it is expected this will be shortened in the future. CASA remains the official ASIC issuing body for people who renew their cards with the regulator and makes the decision on whether cards will be issued to applicants, after background checks and other requirements are completed.

More information on ASICs.

Have your say on speaking clearly

People in the Australian aviation industry are being urged to have their say on proposed new international language standards for pilots and air traffic controllers. CASA has issued a notice of proposed rule making setting out English language proficiency standards. The aim of the proposed changes is to make sure all communications in the air are clear and accurate. Existing holders of Australian flight crew licenses who fly within Australia will not be directly affected by the proposed changes. However, holders of Australian flight crew licenses who fly internationally will need to obtain at least a level four English language proficiency. CASA will make this as easy as possible for the aviation industry by providing approved language assessors at or close to where pilots work or train.

The new language standards are proposed to take effect from March 2008. Under the international standards there will be six levels of English proficiency, ranging from pre-elementary to expert. It is proposed that all flight crew applying for a private pilots licence or above from 5 March 2008 will need to obtain at least a level four proficiency in English. People applying for a student pilot licence will need to prove their general English proficiency under the proposed requirements. The International Civil Aviation Organization has directed all member nations to assess and certify that all flight crew and air traffic controllers are competent in radiotelephony communications by 5 March 2008. CASA is supporting these international standards and is committed to making the changes as simple as possible for the aviation industry.

Read the language proficiency notice of proposed rule making.

CASA upgrades telephone services

CASA has installed a new state of the art telephone system for people needing help with licensing, medical or aircraft registration services. The new telephone system streamlines the management of calls and makes it easier for people to find the right help quickly. The system provides a menu of options for callers, which should eliminate the need for transferring calls. People calling CASA's Licensing and Registration Centre are asked to follow this menu as it will direct them to the right place for the service they need. Benefits for CASA include being able to determine the number of people who are waiting in a telephone queue, how long they have been waiting, how many calls have been received and whether people have hung up.

The contact number for CASA's Licensing and Registration Centre is 1300 737 032. Find out more about CLARC.

Australia leads the way in Asia Pacific safety

The implementation of sustainable safety management systems and a greater focus on regional cooperation were key initiatives discussed at the latest regional International Civil Aviation Organization conference. More than 200 delegates from the Asia Pacific region attended the 44th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific regions, which was held in the Shaanxi province of Xi'an, China. Australia's delegation was led by CASA CEO Bruce Byron. The annual regional ICAO conference provides an opportunity for Directors General and other senior officials of aviation regulatory authorities in the Asia-Pacific region to come together and exchange information on improving aviation safety and security. Sessions in the meeting in China focussed on emerging issues in aviation safety, air traffic management, aviation security and the environment. Australia presented several papers, including one on achieving sustainable safety management through effective regulation.

Keeping a watch on birds

Almost 100 aviation people got together recently to look at the important issue of bird and animal hazard management. The 2007 Wildlife Hazard Forum attracted a wide range of speakers from CASA, major aerodromes, airlines and scientific organisations. Topics covered included the importance of collecting good data, how to analyse animal hazard data, practical lessons from aerodromes, DNA research, bird and animal management plans and the costs of wildlife strikes on aircraft. Laurie Taylor, the Qantas Airlines 737 fleet manager, told the Forum the cost of wildlife strikes to Qantas Airlines and Express Freighters Australia was more than $2.3 million last year. He said while safety is the paramount concern, costs are incurred by air turn backs, rejected take offs, crew alterations, aircraft rescheduling and engineering and repairs.

The Forum is an annual event organised by the Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group, which was set up more than three years ago following an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into wildlife hazards. The Group provides information and advice to the aviation industry on bird and animal hazards to aviation.

Find out more about the Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group and the 2007 Forum.

Better safety for kids in the air

A CASA research project into child restraint in aircraft has pointed the way to safety improvements for the carriage of children. In Australia infants are required to be restrained in an aircraft at all times, by either a car child restraint seat or by being seated on the lap of an adult with a supplementary lap belt around them. The use of car seats is extremely limited because of a unique feature of Australian safety seats - the top tether strap. Current CASA requirements mean that airlines must use this strap, which causes a range of operational difficulties. The research looked at how effective the top tether strap would be in an aircraft accident, alternatives to the top tether strap and the performance of a new child restraint system for aircraft seats. The new system, allowed by the United States Federal Aviation Administration, has rigid prong attachments for child seats. CASA assessed the safety performance of this system and the effects on other passengers, even though this system is not yet available on any commercial passenger aircraft.

Australian child car seats performed adequately in simulated aircraft tests, but the testing showed the top tether strap would not function as designed in an aircraft accident and alternatives to the tether did provide expected benefits. Tests on the new system showed it can provide an equivalent or better protection than existing adult restraints, although further research is required. The project report concluded that no changes need to be made to Australian regulations covering child safety, however, standards and advisory material should be revised.

Read the full child restraint report.

Be ready for summer flying

Summer time can be a great a time to fly. But pilots need to think carefully about a range of seasonal issues before taking to the skies. CASA Field Safety Advisor Lloyd Mais offers this advice:

"In summer, pilots need to consider heat, turbulence and dehydration and their effect on the human body. When calculating takeoff and landing data, hot and high is hell on aircraft performance and density height is a killer on short runways. The changeability of weather can generate severe phenomena such as thunderstorms from apparently clear skies anywhere across the continent from the Tropics to the Southern Ocean. To enjoy summer flying consider the specific threats posed by the interaction between people, rules, machines and the environment.

"If you haven't flown for a while start with the basics - make sure your medical is valid and you have a current aeroplane flight review. These things can slide under the radar and be forgotten. Make sure all you have up to date documents and charts and you have refreshed yourself with how to do a flight plan and the procedures for the airspace you intend to operate in. Revise the critical numbers needed to takeoff, manoeuvre and land the aircraft. The next problem may come down to pride or ignorance as to whether or not the pilot actually jumps in the aircraft and goes flying. When was the last time you actually flew as pilot in command? In your mind are you proficient enough to fly by yourself or do you get someone to actually check you? Even pilots who fly commercially every day will tell you after a break of 2 or 3 weeks their proficiency level drops noticeably. Knowing when not to fly is the mark of a safe pilot."

Get your new Visual Flight Rules Guide

The very popular Visual Flight Rules Guide has been updated and improved and can now be purchased in hard copy for only $24.95. The Guide is designed for VFR pilots flying within Australia and information is presented in an easy-to-read style. In the 2007 edition there is new information on electronic flight planning and much of the other information is revised and better presented. The VFG takes pilots through everything from licensing and pilot responsibilities to emergency procedures. There are sections on radio procedures, rules of the air, pre-flight planning, operations and meteorology. A rotary wing section sets out specific information for this sector of the industry.

The VFG can be downloaded for free from the CASA website or purchased in hard copy through the Airservices Australia on-line store.

Find out more about the VFG and order your copy.