The CASA Briefing
Your monthly CASA update

 Civil Aviation Safety Authority

May 2008

From CEO Bruce Byron

CEO Bruce Byron

This month I released a report which identified the local and international trends expected to influence Australian aviation safety over the next three to five years. The trends identified in the report relate to unprecedented demand for aviation services, manufacturing and technological developments, increased security and greater environmental awareness. Issues identified in the report will feed into industry/CASA working groups that will be created and will contribute to the development of the Government’s National Aviation Policy or White Paper which was announced in April by the Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese.

I have repeatedly stated it is no longer acceptable to rely solely on incident or accident data in an attempt to predict future risks to aviation safety. This report demonstrates CASA’s commitment to taking a broader look at the issues impacting on the aviation industry, regulators and other departments that will influence safety outcomes in the future. While it is appropriate for CASA to address some of the risks identified in the report, a number of issues will require an industry-wide approach. The business of identifying real safety solutions – where action is not already underway – will be the focus of future work. While Australia continues to enjoy a world-class aviation safety record, we must stay vigilant to ensure this remains the case.

Read the Assessment of Trends and Risk Factors in Passenger Air Transport

On-line tool now open for business

Service delivery for the aviation industry has entered a new era following the introduction of the first stage of the CASA Self-Service Portal. The new service provides a significant reduction in service delivery times and a more efficient and streamlined way of conducting business with CASA. Individuals can now view a range of their own personal details including residential and postal addresses, contact phone numbers, exam and medical information and subscriptions. In addition to viewing personal details, individuals can now also instantly update some information including contact details, new aircraft engines or propellers, new major modifications and subscriptions. The portal will be introduced and expanded in various stages over 2008 and 2009, with the ability to complete forms and make payments online expected to become available later this year.

Connecting with CASA has never been easier. Create your own self-service account at: www.casa.gov.au/selfservice/

New human factors standards for pilots

CASA has become one of the first regulators in the world to specify a requirement for all pilots to be trained and assessed in the practical application of human factors in every flight they undertake. The new human factors standards were introduced into pilot training for all licences issued from 1 March this year, with formal assessment of these skills to begin on 1 July 2009. Flight training organisations will be required to develop and implement training methods that ensure pilots meet the human factors standards. The move recognises the need for skills such as human performance and lookout, situation awareness, decision making, workload management and communications to be delivered through structured training. This innovative step has been taken after consultation with flight training and testing experts from industry and human factors specialists. Guidance material will be produced by CASA to help flight training organisations and assessors meet the new requirements.

The standards are available on the CASA website in the Day VFR Syllabuses for aeroplanes and helicopters

Get involved at transport forum

Members of the aviation industry are invited to attend a special transport forum being held to discuss a range of issues relating to Australian transport and infrastructure policy. The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics 8th Transport Colloquium will be held at Parliament House in Canberra on 18 and 19 June 2008. The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, will attend as guest speaker. Topics up for discussion include aviation growth, supply chain efficiency, urban transport, skills shortages, transport security and climate change policy for international transport emissions.

For further details on the program, speakers and sponsors or to register for the event visit the event website

Avalon aeronautical study released

CASA has published an aeronautical study into airspace in and adjacent to Avalon Airport. The study found that to meet changes in the predicted growth of operations at the airport, controlled airspace and air traffic control services should be activated at appropriate times to accommodate passenger transport operations. CASA CEO Bruce Byron says passenger-carrying operations are CASA’s number one priority and changes to airspace arrangements at the airport will ensure the continued safety of passengers as air traffic increases. In conducting the study, CASA consulted extensively with airlines, local industry, service providers and airport management and publicly invited input from other interested parties. CASA will be working closely with Airservices Australia and Avalon Airport management to ensure the changes are implemented safely in a structured and timely manner.

Read the full Aeronautical Study of Avalon

New resource to improve the non-technical skills of pilots

CASA is currently developing a new resource designed to help reinforce the non-technical skills of pilots. The resource will help support low capacity regular public transport operators and flying schools in providing ‘top-up’ training to their staff on issues such as flight discipline, situational awareness and threat and error management. The resource will also provide support on issues relating to health (such as alcohol, drugs and fatigue), safety and error reporting, communication, stress and workload considerations and other human performance topics such as perceptions and illusions. The product will be modelled on the successful CASA ‘Briefing in a Box’ concept and will provide operators with an educational package for both individual and class-based instruction. It will consist of a DVD of case studies and examples, a booklet, checklists and a set of presentations and instructor notes. The final product is expected to be freely available to industry in early August.

Aerodrome safety under the spotlight

Aerodrome safety, including events such as runway incursions, has been identified around Australia as a safety risk. As part of the approach to improving aerodrome safety, both CASA and Airservices Australia have been developing elements of an ongoing education and communications program. This program will include posters, a booklet and accompanying DVD on runway markings and the specific hotspots around the GAAP aerodromes in Australia. There is also an online resource in the form of a ‘Runway Challenge’ hosted by Airservices Australia on their website. In the future, elements of the materials will also be available online. These resources will be available towards the end of July.

More information on runway incursions can be found in the latest edition of Flight Safety Australia

Selection of chairperson for cabin air quality panel underway

The selection of a chairperson for an Expert Panel on Aircraft Air Quality is currently underway. While overt smoke and fumes incidents are a rare event onboard Australian aircraft, the panel is being formed in response to concerns about the potential for long term health effects of hypothesised low level chronic exposure to contaminants. The panel will be chaired by an independent professional and include expert industry representation. Additional representation will include specialists from fields such as chemical safety, toxicology, immunology and occupational health. The panel’s mandate is to review current evidence in relation to the issue of cabin air quality, to recommend any immediate actions required and advise if further research should be undertaken.

The first meeting of the panel is expected to take place in the second half of 2008, following selection of the chairperson and panellists.

Warning on helicopter accelerator pump systems

Operators and maintainers of Robinson 44 helicopters have been warned that difficulties in starting the helicopter’s engine may indicate a malfunctioning accelerator pump system. Piston powered helicopters using a carburettor incorporating an accelerator pump in the fuel delivery circuit may also be affected. Engines with faulty accelerator pumps may suffer either a ‘hesitation’ or stop when the engine is accelerated from idle to hover power, typically upon rapid throttle application at the bottom of a practice autorotation. Loss of control of the helicopter may result if the engine hesitates or stops instead of delivering commanded power for flight during autorotative practice.

Read the Airworthiness Bulletin

Broome, Kununurra and Adelaide airspace under review

A series of special briefings for Broome and Kununurra aerodrome users are being held as part of an airspace review commissioned by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The reviews are being conducted to ensure airspace arrangements remain safe and meet air traffic demand and will assess the type and frequency of operations at the aerodromes, with particular emphasis on passenger transport operations. The reviews will also provide future recommendations for the airspace and associated air traffic/air navigation services and facilities. The final Kununurra session will be held on Friday, 30 May from 6pm to 7pm at the Old FIS Building, near Kununurra Airport Terminal Building. The Broome sessions will be held on Tuesday 3 June from 10am to 11am and Thursday 5 June from 3pm to 4pm at the Boardroom, Broome International Airport Terminal Building. All interested parties are invited to attend.

CASA is also currently reviewing Adelaide airspace. While some briefings have already been held, Adelaide airspace users who have not already contributed to the review are still welcome to provide their input by contacting CASA's Office of Airspace Regulation.

Read more about the Broome and Kununurra airspace review briefings

Drug and alcohol testing information coming soon

CASA is currently developing new online information to help support aviation organisations with the introduction of new rules relating to drug and alcohol management plans (DAMPs) and testing. The information will be provided via an Alcohol and other Drug Virtual Resource Centre on the CASA website and will include educational and training material for both employees and DAMP supervisors. The resource centre will also contain information for individuals who undertake safety sensitive aviation activities and are not under a DAMP. All information provided will be available on request in hard copy form, with guidance material packs to be provided to every DAMP organisation. The centre is expected to be launched online in the second half of 2008.

The release of the guidance material will coincide with a national series of awareness workshops. These workshops will provide the aviation industry with information on the new testing rules for both organisations and individuals. Additional information will also be provided on the development, dissemination, implementation and maintenance of organisational DAMPs. A second series of workshops will be conducted specifically to assist DAMP organisations develop their plans.

Information on dates and venues will be made available once workshop details have been finalised.

Rules relating to flight data recorders to be reviewed

CASA has proposed a review of the Civil Aviation Order relating to Flight Data Recorders and other matters (CAO20.18). The proposed amendments recognise that some elements of CAO 20.18 are now out of date and the Order imposes unacceptable costs or unreasonable compliance measures on some aircraft imported into Australia. CASA intends to review the CAO for machinery changes that need to be made to reduce industry compliance effort, while preserving the safety intent of the legislation. The aim is to eliminate the requirement for costly modification measures for certain imported general aviation aircraft simply to comply with the CAO.