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 Darwin on 22 June 2023. Prior to the meeting, the Board hosted an evening industry event where local aviation community members were invited to meet the Board to discuss any issues they wished to raise. We held discussions with attendees from various sectors of the aviation industry and it was great to hear people’s views in a relaxed, informal setting. We appreciated the effort people made to attend as we were competing with the State of Origin. Tough choice! The event included a presentation to Georgie Chisolm, the recipient of one of our inaugural safety manager scholarships. Georgie is the co-owner and safety manager of Heli-Muster, located at Victoria River Downs.
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, WH&S 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 standing reports from the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Industry Complaints Commissioner.
The Minister of Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP, provided CASA with a new Statement of Expectations that will apply from 1 July 2023 through to 30 Jun 2025. CASA is in the process of developing its Statement of Intent in response, and the Board will use this document to set out how it will achieve the expectations detailed by the Minister.
The Board approved the internal audit program for 2023-24. Internal Audit makes an important contribution to CASA’s governance arrangements and, through this program, the Board will receive targeted assurance on matters including Designated Aviation Medical Examiners (DAMEs) issue of Class 2 medical certificates, the consistency and accuracy of information provided to industry through CASA’s Guidance Delivery Centre, and the effectiveness of CASA’s Work from Home arrangements in a post-COVID environment.
CASA’s Executive Management Team provided updates on a range of operational initiatives. This included standing reports on the Operational Surveillance Framework under the National Model and the reporting of accidents and incidents to the Board.
Emerging Technology is a key factor in all of the Board’s deliberations. We received an update on the RPAS and AAM Roadmap, actions arising from the work of the Future Technology Taskforce (FST), and CASA’s involvement in projects funded through the Government’s Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program (EATPP).
The Board noted the progress to date in relation to vertiport design standards, a new Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) examination, Safety Management System (SMS) for RPAS operations, and portfolio engagements on uncrewed air traffic management (UTM). The Board discussed the industry perspective of RPAS BVLOS operations and will receive a further brief at its next meeting on the challenges and potential roadblocks associated with developing and implementing a BVLOS policy.
A range of other matters remain front of mind for the Board, including progress with the implementation of the Flight Operations Regulations, and the ongoing shortages in key areas such as Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAMEs).
Following the meeting, the Board visited two local operations: Paspaley Aviation and Airnorth. These on-site visits provide us with an excellent opportunity to hear first-hand the challenges faced by operators in the current environment.
The next Board meeting will be held in Canberra on 23 August 2023. The focus will be on reviewing the 2023-24 financial statements and the Annual Performance Statement.
Air Chief Marshal (Ret’d) Mark Binskin AC
Chair, CASA Board