Changing regulations to benefit industry
In future CASA will initiate any major changes to regulations by forming small combined industry/CASA teams to establish the direction of the regulations and their detail.
Wherever appropriate, these new rules are to be based on overseas regulations to ensure harmonisation and Australian competitiveness.
These new rules will be written expressly to address safety outcomes.
The Maintenance Regulations Project trialed this new method. That project involves a rewrite of the aviation maintenance regulations based on the maintenance rules from the European Aviation Safety Agency.
Safety Outcome-Based Regulations
Safety outcome-based legislation involves:
- Brief regulations that express the high-level safety outcomes sought.
- Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) that set out acceptable methods of demonstrating compliance with specific regulations. If an industry applicant follows the relevant AMCs the applicant is assured of satisfying the associated regulatory requirements and the Authority is obliged to issue the requested authorisation.
- Guidance Material that provides suggestions, explanations and amplification of a regulation's policy intention, rather than strict means of compliance with a regulation.
One significant advantage of this safety outcome-based style is that it allows industry the flexibility to use the most appropriate systems and procedures to meet the safety outcomes. Acceptable Means of Compliance provide straightforward and positive methods for satisfying the regulator, but are not binding on those industry participants who wish to put forward alternative methods of compliance, thus allowing for innovation and improvement to occur naturally.
More details on safety outcome-based regulations, including examples
What does this mean for the Australian Aviation Industry?
- Development times for new regulations will be faster.
- The new regulations will involve substantial changes to the way industry meets the requirements of regulations.
- More safety responsibility will be devolved to industry.
- The new regulations and their administration will generally decrease CASA's regular involvement with the industry.
- The new regulations will give industry organisations the opportunity to use the most appropriate systems, methods and procedures to meet safety outcomes.
- Existing privileges held by industry personnel will be retained.
- The joint CASA/Industry team will provide a full round of information exchange and consultation as a key ingredient of a smooth transition.
For the new maintenance regulations, in particular:
- EASA-based rules will provide for flexibility in implementation across industry sectors, and ensure the greatest harmonisation opportunities. This will allow the Australian maintenance and maintenance training industries to compete in the global marketplace with decreased regulatory costs.
- The best of Australian experience and know-how, especially with respect to GA, will be easily incorporated within the new system.