The CASA Briefing
Your monthly CASA update

 Civil Aviation Safety Authority

July 2008

From CEO Bruce Byron

CEO Bruce Byron

Most people will know that a Senate inquiry into the administration of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority is under way. Two days of hearings were held early in July, with evidence presented from a range of people and organisations, including CASA. A total of 55 submissions were also made to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport’s inquiry. The Committee will report its findings by Thursday 28 August 2008. CASA answered questions on both days of the hearings and took the opportunity to make a 21 page submission, addressing the key areas of the inquiry. We have seen the inquiry as an opportunity for CASA to spell out clearly the reforms and changes made over the last five years and the benefits for the aviation industry and the Australian community.

CASA’s record of achievement includes:

  • A reinvigorated workforce, with approximately half of CASA’s staff having joined since 2003
  • Recruitment of new expert staff such as safety systems specialists, air transport inspectors and safety advisers
  • An industry-facing organisational structure and a completely new senior management team
  • A new Operations Headquarters in Brisbane
  • Taking a risk-based approach to surveillance and entry control
  • Greater safety oversight of foreign airlines in Australia
  • A new approach to engaging the aviation industry in developing regulations
  • Taking responsibility for regulating and administering airspace
  • Developing on-line solutions for the aviation industry to do business with CASA, such as Cyber-exams and the CASA Portal
  • Setting service delivery standards for CASA’s operational groups and publishing performance results
  • Implementing new enforcement tools and procedures
  • Creating the Office of the Industry Complaints Commissioner and a consistent downward trend in complaints
  • An above average result in the most recent International Civil Aviation Organization audit of Australia’s overall safety oversight capabilities.
  • Increased total surveillance of the air transport industry

Read the full submission to the Senate inquiry.

Get on-line to learn more about alcohol and drug testing

The new alcohol and other drugs testing program for the aviation industry is on its way. It is expected that CASA will release a notice of final rule making for the alcohol and other drugs program within weeks. To help aviation people get ready for the program a new ‘mini’ web site has been set by CASA. The web site contains a wealth of information about the proposed regulations, alcohol and other drugs and what individuals and aviation organisations will need to do. The new program will include random testing - to be carried out by an expert, CASA-approved testing organisation. This random testing will be done using breath testing for alcohol and saliva testing for other drugs. The alcohol breath test limit will be 0.02 and for other drugs the limit will be that set out in relevant Australian standards.

A wide range of frequently asked questions and answers are on the new website, covering everything from the people and positions subject to the alcohol and other drugs program to the requirements for handling test results. There is also a wide range of health information on alcohol and other drugs and an explanation of their impact on the workplace.

Find out everything you need to know about the alcohol and other drugs program.

Win for flying training industry

CASA has responded to aviation industry concerns about an inconsistency in the experience requirements for chief flying instructors. At issue was the number of hours a flying instructor needed to qualify as a chief flying instructor to oversee commercial pilot licence training. This had been set at 500 hours of commercial experience other than flying training, but has now been amended to 250 hours. It brings the requirement into line with both instrument flight rules and instructor rating training, which require 250 hours. The previous requirement had caused a number of flying schools difficulties and representations were made to CASA asking for a review.

The amendment to the hours of experience is an interim move to assist the flying training industry while CASA carries out a full review of chief flying instructor requirements. This review is being conducted by CASA’s Flying Training and Testing Office, which is based at Bankstown. It will look at a complete overhaul of the current requirements for chief flying instructors, with demonstrated competency in training likely to be the basis for future requirements. This will improve the level of knowledge and capability of pilots who take the key role of chief flying instructor.

Find out more about flying training.

Helicopter operators help to develop their new rules

Helicopter operators are working with CASA to develop the new Part 133 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. A meeting was held in late July on the Sunshine Coast to look at a range of detailed operational issues relating to Part 133, which will consolidate and modernise into one Part most of the regulatory requirements covering helicopter operations. The Sunshine Coast was chosen as the venue for the meeting because of its flourishing aviation community, with significant helicopter operations. A variety of helicopter operators took part in the two-day meeting. Chief pilots and senior personnel represented offshore oil exploration support, emergency services, search and rescue, media and general passenger operations.

Under the spotlight were the performance criteria for helicopters, recently amended International Civil Aviation Organization performance standards, performance requirements for aerial work operations, engine failure risk mitigation strategies and the potential for introducing additional warning systems such as the terrain avoidance warning system. There was a focus on passenger carrying operations in a number of areas. The aim of CASA’s consultation with industry is to develop new helicopter regulations that are outcome-based, clear, concise and logical and in line with world’s best practice.

Find out more about Part 133.

CASA focuses on engineering

CASA has clarified its focus on the safety of engineering and manufacturing operations. A separate group has been set up within CASA to cover engineering and related activities – known as the Airworthiness Engineering Group. This new group stands beside the Air Transport Operations Group and the General Aviation Operations Group, which deliver the core of CASA’s operational activities. Previously airworthiness engineering was a sub-set within these other operational groups.

The creation of the Airworthiness Engineering Group better aligns CASA’s structure with other leading aviation safety regulators around the world. Importantly, it also aligns the way CASA works with the way the aviation industry operates. The changes will make it easier for people in the engineering sector of the aviation industry to understand what area within CASA manages and oversights engineering and manufacturing safety. The new group will cover initial airworthiness, continuing airworthiness, engineering and manufacturing standards and engineering and manufacturing activities.

Find CASA’s new structure here.

Advice to keep aerodrome pavements tip-top

New guidance material for aerodrome operators is being developed by CASA, covering the strength of movement area pavements. This is important as aircraft overload can shorten the lifespan of pavement and damage structural integrity. Aerodromes operating under Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 139 are required to have movement area pavements that can safely support aircraft. However, there are currently no standards for design and maintenance of pavements, although pavement strengths have to be reported.

CASA has set up a project to prepare information which will explain to aerodrome operators the International Civil Aviation Organization’s pavement strength rating system. This will enable aerodrome operators to better determine the effect overloading will have on the life of their pavement. Material will also touch on the types of aerodrome pavements, including surfacing, and will recommend aerodrome operators establish a pavement management system to better manage their most important and costly asset. Guidelines will be provided on pavement surface types, reporting tyre pressure using the ICAO adopted tyre pressure categories and the effect of high tyre pressure on pavement performance.

Find out more about the aerodrome pavement project.

Win a LAME scholarship

CASA is again offering scholarships for people training to become licensed aircraft maintenance engineers. Eight scholarships will be presented by CASA to apprentice LAMEs working in the aviation maintenance and repair industry in Australia - one for each Australian State. Winners will receive $1,000 for each of the first two years of their apprenticeship. The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association assists with selections and provides extra funding to the recipients. The scheme has been running since 2003 to encourage and promote the importance of the engineering maintenance sector.

Applications need to include evidence of an employment commitment from a certificate of approval holder, a character reference from a recent employer or school principal, high school results including maths and physics or evidence of relevant work experience and a statement outlining the applicant’s reasons for training as a LAME. Applications close on 30 November 2008.

Find out more about the LAME scholarship and get the application form.

Leading medico to head cabin air panel

A leading Australian medical figure has been appointed to head a new group of experts to look at the issue of cabin air quality inside aircraft. Dr Michael Bollen will lead the Expert Panel on Aircraft Air Quality, which will review potential crew and passenger health issues related to aircraft cabin air quality. The Panel will examine expert reports, invite submissions and make sure all groups with an interest in this subject have a chance to present information and viewpoints. In addition, the Panel will critically review scientific research into cabin air quality and produce a synopsis of current Australian and international knowledge.

Dr Bollen is a medical graduate with over 25 years experience as a general practitioner. In 2006, Dr Bollen was involved in a clinical review of multiple chemical sensitivity for the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme. This expertise in chemical sensitivity will assist him in exploring issues related to cabin air and appreciating the various perspectives expected to be put forward. Dr Bollen will now work with CASA to appoint members of the Expert Panel on Aircraft Air Quality. The panel will meet up to eight times over the next 18 months and submit its final report by the first quarter of 2010.

Read more about the cabin air panel.

Help for teaching human factors

Guidance on the practical training and assessment of pilots in human factors skills and threat and error management is being developed by CASA. This follows changes to the Day visual flight rules syllabus that now requires training and assessment in these key areas. From 1 July 2009 pilots will be assessed in flight tests on both human factors and threat and error management. Currently there is little guidance material available for teaching and assessing both human factors and threat and error management in single pilot operations. Most of the guidance material looks at multi-crew operations and crew resource management. To address this CASA has set up a special project to develop guidance material for flying schools who will be training student, private and commercial pilots. A Civil Aviation Advisory Publication will be developed.

Find out more about the project.

Check out your GPS unit now

Owners and operators of aircraft with certain models of Trimble and FreeFlight GPS receivers have been advised they must upgrade both the hardware and software of the instruments. TNL 2000 Approach and Approach Plus and FreeFlight/Trimble 2000 and 2101 I/O Approach and Approach Plus require the upgrade. The upgrade is needed because navigational database updates for these instruments can no longer be achieved using the existing hardware and software. In fact, the amount of data that needs to be placed in these units has simply outgrown their capability. If the receivers are not updated in line with the manufacturer’s recommendation they can only be used as an aid to visual navigation and must be fitted with a placard stating: “For VFR use only”.

A further nine models of FreeFlight GPS receivers will have their navigation approval revoked on 18 December 2008. This is because it is no longer possible to produce navigational database updates for these units. These units will only be able to be used as an aid to visual navigation and must also carry an appropriate placard.

Find out more about the upgrade.

Find out more about models that cannot be upgraded.

Warning about wing spar corrosion

Operators and maintainers of Hawker Beechcraft B58 aircraft are being warned about the possibility of major corrosion in the wing spars. The corrosion cannot be seen from an external inspection. Two cases of the corrosion have been found, with one identified just before the required spar and angle change at 16,000 time in service. Damage was so bad in this case that the aircraft had to be withdrawn from service. CASA recommends internal and external inspections of the wings and spars be done as soon as possible, with any corrosion treated according to the manufacturer’s instructions without delay. This process should be repeated at each periodic inspection. Any corrosion should be reported to CASA through the Service Difficulty Report system.

Read the airworthiness bulletin.

A fee for getting historical aircraft registration data

CASA has introduced fees for providing information about the past history of aircraft registrations. The charges do not apply to current aircraft registrations, applications for registration and questions about registration processes. The charges have been imposed to cover the time it takes to process requests for information about historical aircraft registrations. CASA receives several requests each day for historical aircraft register data and some take more than a day to research and answer. Most enquiries are from aircraft enthusiasts who want to find out information such as when a certain aircraft was first registered, how many owners it had or where a deregistered aircraft is located. There are also questions from commercial organisations wanting to find out about the history of an aircraft they are considering purchasing. Before CASA answers these types of requests an estimate of the cost will be provided - based on an hourly rate of $100 and a minimum fee of $50.

These new charges will not apply to requests for information about current aircraft registrations, which are available free of charge on the CASA website. A website search engine allows people to search by VH Mark or a complete registration data file can be downloaded.

Find out more about aircraft registration.

One-stop postal address for CASA

Need to send ‘snail’ mail to CASA? Then the job just got a whole lot easier. CASA is now using one central mail address for almost all parts of the organisation. It is no longer necessary to send mail to local offices – the one central address covers just about everything. The address you need to remember is:

GPO Box 2005 Canberra ACT 2601.

Just put the section and location name of the part of CASA you want to contact and/or the name of the CASA person you are writing to above the address. CASA will make sure your mail arrives in the right area.

Only two areas of CASA are not using the central mail address. They are the CASA ASIC renewal team and the aviation medicine branch. For these areas please use these addresses:

CASA ASIC Renewal Team
Locked Bag 2005
Merimbula NSW 2548

CASA AVMED
GPO Box 1544
Canberra ACT 2601

Find out more about how to contact CASA.