We are under an obligation to provide licenses to those who meet the requirements in line with legislation.
We also need to find out the fitness of someone’s character when assessing for a license or requirement as Australia’s aviation safety regulator.
We will judge each case individually and consider what regulatory options are available if concerns arise over a person’s fitness of character.
We are clear and consistent when we review individual behaviours with the information available to us at the time.
A policy framework guides how we will approach and assess cases to determine someone’s fitness of character.
Fitness of character behaviours and information
We rely on a common set of behaviours that help us determine whether you are suitable for licensing.
The behaviours include:
- trustworthiness: being honest, truthful and reliant
- propensity to obey rules: you are consistent in applying the rules.
We also look at other overriding needs when considering these behaviours, including:
- protecting the general public
- maintaining public confidence in the individual and post holder privileges that we licence
- maintaining public confidence in the CASA’s own decision-making process.
Specific information that may call into question fitness of character can include:
- criminal convictions or civil sanctions. Anyone convicted of an aviation related or dishonesty offence is unlikely to meet the requirements for fitness of character. Convictions for unrelated offences may be relevant when considering propensity to obey rules
- falsification of records
- providing false information
- subject to enforcement action in the past
- dishonest behaviour.
This fitness of character policy sits alongside competence or skills and medical fitness requirements that you must show to gain a licence by CASA.
We will consider all potential results ranging from taking no action to proposing to revoke a privilege or licence in reaching a decision. We will also record and explain our reasons for making, or not making, a decision.