The Board of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) meets six times per calendar year to fulfil its obligations under Section 53 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 to decide the objectives, strategies and policies to be followed by CASA; to ensure that CASA performs its functions in a proper, efficient and effective manner.
The CASA Board met in Sydney on 7 December 2023. Prior to the meeting, on 6 December the CASA Board met with the Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA NZ) Board, Ms Janice Frederic and Mr Keith Manch, CEO of the CAA NZ. This was a useful meeting that allowed us to discuss several matters of mutual interest.
CASA Board meetings follow a theme-based agenda focusing on organisational matters and operational matters that affect the aviation industry. The organisational matters centre around CASA's corporate governance, financial position, the status of major projects, cyber security issues, organisational culture, workplace health and safety, and workforce planning. The Board received a briefing from the Chair of the People and Culture Sub-Committee and discussed matters relevant to CASA's workforce. The Board also received reports from the Audit and Risk Committee and the Industry Complaints Commissioner.
The Board reflected on CASA's key achievements in 2023 and CASA's strategic priorities for 2024.
The Board supported management's priorities for 2024, including:
- supporting the transition to the Flight Operations Regulations
- completing reforms to the continuing airworthiness regulatory framework to modernise and where possible take actions to address the LAME shortage
- safely addressing long-standing issues raised by the general aviation community that pose unnecessary burden of costs on the sector
- addressing service delivery issues
- considering how we integrate and adapt for emerging and future technologies
- ensuring CASA's workforce and organisational culture meets the needs of a modern regulator through establishing a workforce plan and quality assurance framework.
Meeting in Sydney provided the Board with an opportunity to engage with Airservices Australia and visit the Sydney Airport tower and the Terminal Control Unit (TCU).
The next Board meeting will be held in Canberra on 29 February 2024.
2023 has been a busy and productive year and it was pleasing to see the upturn in aviation industry activity as the recovery from the devastating pandemic period continues. A safe and happy holiday period to all.
Air Chief Marshal (Ret'd) Mark Binskin AC
Chair, CASA Board