The CASA Briefing
Your monthly CASA update

 Civil Aviation Safety Authority

February 2008

From CEO Bruce Byron

CEO Bruce ByronWork has begun on implementing CASA's new flying training initiatives. This month a series of meetings were held with approved testing officers in nearly all capital cities and several regional centres to explain what is being done and to get further input from industry. In essence, the initiatives are part of an on-going re-engagement by CASA with the flying training industry, which includes getting the regulator involved in some flight tests and working more closely with approved testing officers. A new national office to oversight flying training is being set up within CASA's Bankstown facilities – to be known as the Flight Training and Testing office. The new office will be staffed by a small group of specialist flying training examiners. The plan is for CASA to conduct the majority of the initial issue grade 3 aeroplane and grade 2 helicopter flight instructor ratings and to sample a range of other flight tests. The new office will also manage the oversight of approved testing officers and support their professional development.

I have been directing CASA to place a greater focus on flying training in recent years, with a number of positive developments already implemented. The new initiatives are a further and important step in this process. I have accepted that many people in the aviation industry believe flying training standards have slipped and this is linked to the time when the regulator stopped being directly involved in flight testing. Personally, I believe the current approved testing officers are doing their best and they simply need more support to reach even higher standards of performance. CASA has no intention of taking over all flight tests, rather these initiatives strengthen the relationship between the regulator and approved testing officers in support of our shared interest in safety.

Find out more about the flying training initiatives.

CASA's functions under the Civil Aviation Act includes a requirement to review the system of civil aviation safety. For some years I have been making the point that 'absolute' safety in air transport is unlikely to be achieved - that is no accidents, ever. In reality, aviation safety is about managing risks. So given our requirement to look at the system in a broad sense, it seemed sensible to try and assess what risks exist that need better management and, most importantly, what are the emerging risks in what is clearly a changing industry. Together with research staff in my office, over recent months I have posed questions relating to strategic risks to many experts in the air transport sector, as well as inviting comment from CASA staff and the industry more broadly. The result of this work will be available in the next month or so along with a number of action items for CASA.

Find out more about the emerging risks project.

Australia starts Indonesian safety training

CASA is making a practical contribution to improving aviation safety in Indonesia. Three CASA inspectors have been working in Jakarta this month with their Indonesian counterparts providing advice and assistance. Next month six Indonesian inspectors will come to Australia for four weeks for classroom and on the job training. Up to 40 Indonesian inspectors will be trained under the transport safety program during 2008. The start of training follows the formal signing by federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and the Indonesian Minister for Transportation, Jusman Syafi'i Djamal, of a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in the Transport Sector. Under the agreement, Australia will provide almost $24 million over three years for training and technical assistance. CASA, Airservices Australia, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government are all involved in the program.

In addition to training Indonesian inspectors, there will be study visits to Australia, industry education workshops in Jakarta, provision of CASA aviation safety promotion material and assistance to the Indonesian Director General of Civil Aviation in improving its management tools. Areas for Indonesian inspectors to study in Australia will include licensing procedures and processes, initial and continuing maintenance certification, manufacturing certification, practical rule making and safety promotion. Mr Albanese said: "It is essential the travelling public of both countries have confidence that transport safety is a priority and that lessons from previous transport accidents are being acted upon."

Read the Minister's statement on Indonesia in full.

New way to maintain amateur built aircraft

Close co-operation between CASA and a sports aircraft group has created a new, cost effective way to carry out and authorise maintenance on amateur built aircraft. An Instrument was issued at the end of 2007 allowing amateur aircraft builders to maintain their aircraft and issue maintenance releases. This means people who have built "the major portion" of their aircraft can choose not to use an approved maintenance organisation to support their aircraft. This can save time and money. People who want to take advantage of the new arrangements must have successfully completed training and assessment provided by the Queensland-based Sports Aircraft Operations Group. This training involves research, eight hours of classroom tuition, a hangar field trip and an assignment.

The new arrangements only apply to aircraft that have been issued a special certificate of airworthiness and are operated privately. The successful adoption of the new arrangements highlights CASA's willingness to work with the aviation industry to find better ways of achieving the right safety outcomes.

Read the Instrument.

Avsafety seminars are a must for pilots

Pilots in regional Australia are being urged to get along to a CASA Avsafety seminar. A total of 24 safety seminars for pilots are scheduled for the first half of 2008, covering a range of important issues. Avsafety seminars focus on topics such as pilot maintenance of aircraft, fuel management, operations in controlled airspace, visual flight rules operations into instrument meteorological conditions, situational awareness and human performance. In coming months seminars will be held in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia. They are free of charge, usually held in the local aero club and start at 6pm.

The Avsafety seminars are run by CASA's aviation safety advisors. Five new advisors have joined the team of operational safety experts, bringing their total number to eleven. As well as delivering seminars, the advisors carry out on site visits to aviation operations, providing assistance with a wide range of issues. The advisors cover areas such as relationships with CASA, local operational matters, safety management systems, understanding the regulations, safety promotion products, flying training and licensing. The new advisors are based in Adelaide, Darwin, Perth and Sydney.

Find out locations and details of Avsafety seminars.

International audit of Australia

An International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit of Australia was carried out this month. The audit covers all organisations involved in the safety oversight of the aviation industry including CASA, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Airservices Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. It was conducted under ICAO's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme and assessed Australia's overall aviation safety oversight capabilities. Nine ICAO auditors carried out the review. ICAO provides preliminary findings at the end of the audit to allow parties to begin addressing any areas that may require change. A final oversight audit report on Australia will be made available to all ICAO member states.

Find out more about ICAO audits.

Aircraft marking gets easier

Aircraft owners who have technical problems in meeting the requirements of the regulations covering aircraft markings have been given some good news. CASA has issued a general exemption relating to some of the aircraft marking requirements. An Instrument was issued last month covering the display of markings and the carriage of identification plates. It applies to Australian fixed wing aircraft and helicopters with a maximum take-off weight of less than 5700 kg, operating within Australia. Under the exemption aircraft will be exempt from displaying markings on the under-surface of the wings, displaying lateral markings of 300mm and carrying an aircraft registration identification plate, provided the aircraft carries a manufacturer's data plate.

Since 2000 Part 45 of the Civil Aviation Regulations have detailed the requirements for the display, location and size of nationality and registration marks, and associated registration identification plates for Australian aircraft. Although there are transitional arrangements in place allowing aircraft registered prior to the introduction of the new rules to retain their previous markings until they are repainted, these arrangements do not apply to newly registered aircraft. Some general aviation aircraft have difficulty complying with the marking requirements and technical restrictions on new generation composite aircraft can cause problems. The exemption has been put in place while CASA consults with the aviation industry on changes to the regulations.

Read the markings exemption Instrument.

Have your say on commercial balloon rules

A new set of one-stop-shop regulations is being proposed by CASA to cover commercial ballooning operations. A notice of proposed rule making has been published setting out how balloon operations will be classified, the format rules will be presented in and how every-day operational regulations will be consolidated into one Part of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. It is proposed that Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 131 will replace existing regulations and orders. This will mean there will be a stand-alone set of balloon-specific rules, which will include an acceptable means of compliance for operators. It will incorporate licensing requirements for balloon pilots and maintainers, with a clearer path for training. The proposed approach to the new balloon rules is based on the European regulatory format, making them well placed in relation to future international developments.

Up to 180,000 passengers are carried in commercial hot air balloons each year for pleasure flights. The proposed new rules have been developed by CASA in conjunction with the Professional Ballooning Association of Australia and a number of smaller commercial balloon operators. CASA is asking for comment on the notice of proposed rule making, with a deadline of 7 April 2008 for submissions.

Read the proposed balloon rules.

New editor for safety magazine

Margo Marchbank is the new editor of CASA's flagship publication, Flight Safety Australia magazine. Margo has a strong background in editing, publishing and communications in a diverse range of industries and organisations. She has worked for the NSW Royal Agricultural Society, ClubsNSW and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service. Margo says she is excited about her new position with CASA as it offers her the opportunity to return to her first love of publishing, to keep learning and to make a difference in the aviation industry. "I work on the theory that if you stop learning, you may as well be dead, and aviation is an interesting and important industry," says Margo. "From my brief time here, I can already see there are a lot of people in CASA who are passionate about aviation, with a wealth of expert knowledge. I will feel I've succeeded if I can be part of making a great magazine even better, and in some small way contribute to improving aviation safety."

CASA staff going to back to 'school'

CASA has strengthened the training and development provided to its employees through the introduction of new tertiary qualifications in aviation safety regulation. Nationally recognised courses in aviation safety regulation have been developed in conjunction with Swinburne University to enhance the existing skills and knowledge of CASA's technical and non-technical staff. Staff will undertake a certificate or diploma in aviation safety regulation, with the diploma focussing on technical skills. Subjects to be covered in the courses include the aviation regulatory environment, service delivery, research and analysis, compliance audits, safety management and surveillance. The courses will take up to 18 months to complete, with study being undertaken part-time.

All new CASA employees who work in a regulatory role will be required to complete the diploma in aviation safety. Existing employees will be assessed for competency, recognising their experience and regulatory expertise. The new qualifications are a key part of CASA's drive to make sure the right people, with the right skills and competencies, deliver the best possible level of aviation safety regulation and regulatory services.

Antarctic flights get green light

CASA's abilities to operate under extreme conditions were tested to the full in recent months by a series of approvals requested for new Antarctic operations. Approval was required for a 'blue ice' runway 70 kms from the Australian Casey base, as well as for regular A319 operations to Antarctica and in the Southern Ocean. The runway alone set all kinds of firsts for CASA – it is built on 500 metres of solid ice, is covered in crushed ice to reduce slipperiness and it moves about 15 metres every year. Two CASA aerodrome inspectors travelled to Antarctica to carry out the final approval checks for the Wilkins runway, signing off on the aerodrome certificate on site in the ice early in January. The aerodrome meets requirements for certification, although there are special conditions due to the environment, and has lighting and navigational aids. CASA also assessed approach designs and procedures.

In addition, CASA had to assess an application by the operator of the Antarctic flights, Skytraders, to operate an A319 to the Wilkins runway, as well as carrying out aerial surveillance in the Southern Ocean. Even though the flights will only operate during warmer months, the extreme conditions and the inability to refuel at the Wilkins runway meant a careful safety assessment by CASA was required. All safety checks were completed by early January 2008, with the first flight to Australian Antarctic Territory under an air operator's certificate successfully completed on 11 January.

Find out more about aviation in Antarctica.

Aircraft registration survey underway

The new survey of aircraft registration holders is underway. People who hold an aircraft registration are being asked to confirm their details so that CASA can be sure its information is accurate and up-to-date. This is vital so that airworthiness directives and other critical safety information is sent to the right people at the right place. Registration holders will be asked to confirm their details every three years by simply filling out an easy-to-use survey form. The form asks for information on aircraft ownership, aircraft model and serial number and contact details. People have 28 days to complete the form and return it to CASA by mail, fax or email.

It is a regulatory requirement to complete the aircraft registration survey form and return it to CASA. The survey form is sent directly to aircraft registration holders by CASA.

Find out more about the registration survey.

Remote air strips get new funding

A total of $2.2 million will be spent on upgrading remote airstrips. The federal government has allocated $1 million, with state and local governments contributing the balance of the funding. The money will be allocated to 25 airstrips in remote and isolated parts of Australia. The funding was announced by the federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese this month. Mr Albanese said: "The Australian Government's $1 million funding will boost airstrip safety and help provide year-round all-weather access for the Royal Flying Doctors and other services through the upgrades of fencing, lighting and the resurfacing of runways."

Read the statement by the Minister.

China looks to Australia to learn

A group of Chinese aviation officials visited Australia recently to learn more about developments in navigational technologies and airspace issues. The delegation from the General Administration Civil Aviation of China was hosted by CASA, Airservices Australia and Qantas. They were given presentations in Canberra by CASA on the ADS-B program, GPS approaches and the use of separation standards, as well as required navigation performance approaches. They then travelled to Sydney and Brisbane to visit Qantas and Airservices Australia to see first hand how these technologies are used in everyday operations. China has a strong interest in the technologies due to their rapid expansion in aviation, with around 40 new airports expected to open next year and another 90 over the next few years. CASA is keen to build long-term connections with the Chinese aviation authority to foster the development of ADS-B, GPS, GLS and RNP.