CASA Media Release - Wednesday, 21 February 2001
We're competent and improving: CASA
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority today hit out at its critics - declaring Australia still has an air safety system which is the envy of the rest of the world.
Independent statistics show it is twice as safe to fly on a scheduled airline flight in Australia than Europe or North America.
Figures also show there has been a 42 per cent drop in total aviation accident rates over the last ten years, with improvements in almost every area of flying.
CASA's Director of Aviation Safety, Mick Toller, said these facts demolish claims that CASA is an incompetent or troubled regulator.
Mr Toller said CASA has a strategic view of the actions needed to keep Australia at the pinnacle of aviation safety. But he said further change to air safety regulation cannot be rushed, with improvements to be sensible and measured.
Mr Toller defended CASA's performance in a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra. The speech was titled - CASA: Scandalously Competent. He criticised media coverage of air safety issues, stating good news is totally ignored.
"We have a great story to tell as an aviation nation," Mr Toller.
"Let's not treat aviation as a tall poppy, but support and encourage what is one of our most successful, vibrant and important industries."
Mr Toller said a misconception spread by the media earlier this year was that the airline industry is allowed to carry out self-regulation.
"Let me make it very clear today: there is no self-regulation by any sector of aviation, and particularly not by any airline, large or small. There can only ever be one set of regulations, and therefore by definition one regulator."
Mr Toller said the misconception arose from the need for CASA to delegate various regulatory powers to industry and CASA's new method of auditing air operators, known as a systems approach.
"This is not self-regulation however. The delegates become representatives of CASA and are required to act as though they were CASA employees. Systems auditing is the best tool we can use for ensuring that operators perform their functions and embrace their responsibilities properly.
"It is about reviewing the systems in place to ensure there is not a single point of failure. It is about heightening the awareness of companies of the necessity for such systems. We encourage the adoption of a safety culture which ensures defence mechanisms are in place to minimise failures. We audit the systems which create that culture."
Media contact
Peter Gibson
ph 02 6217 1015
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0109