CASA Media Release - Thursday 1 November 2001
Air safety to be clearer and simpler
Australia's air safety rules will be clarified and simplified as a result of a fresh approach by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
CASA is pledging to focus on 'safety through clarity' when developing new aviation regulations.
At the same time CASA will find simpler ways to protect passenger safety by reviewing the requirements placed on air operators.
A key goal will be to cut red tape and bureaucratic processes so CASA inspectors can spend more time 'hands-on' checking safety.
CASA's Director of Aviation Safety, Mick Toller, announced the new approach at the Safeskies conference in Canberra today.
Mr Toller said better regulations and more effective compliance with the rules were the keys to delivering continued improvement in air safety.
"CASA has been working hard in recent years to find ways to improve Australia's already proud air safety record," Mr Toller said.
"We believe the answer is to keep safety as simple as possible.
"That means CASA will develop new safety rules that have simple objectives - to maintain or enhance safety while being clear, concise and unambiguous.
"In the past we have been trying to juggle too many competing objectives when writing new regulations and this has made the task harder and the outcomes sometimes contentious.
"From now on safety and simplicity come first, while enforcement and harmonisation are secondary. Other important factors such as cost will not be ignored but they must pass the clarity test."
Mr Toller said work will begin immediately on streamlining the requirements of Air Operators Certificates (AOC).
"CASA's Board has commissioned a review which will look at whether operators in the aerial work category need to have an AOC. It is possible that aerial work AOCs could be replaced with a simpler form of certification or that none will be required.
"For regular public transport and charter operators we are looking at generic AOCs for aircraft of less than 5700 kilograms, generic manuals and the optimal lifecycle of AOCs.
"Simplifying the requirements in these areas will free up CASA inspectors to spend more time working with air operators and checking on passenger carrying aviation businesses."
Media contact
Peter Gibson
ph 02 6217 1015
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MRO148