The participants raised issues about non-compliant operators, especially the underreporting of flight hours and maintenance defects. We also discussed the impact of Part 43 regulations on this sector.
A main concern raised was operators failing to record correct flight hours. This can result in missed aircraft maintenance. Several factors contribute to this, including:
- parts availability
- the location and convenience of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities.
What can operators do?
Where relevant, good practice to reduce supply chain risks, operators can:
- Talk to maintenance organisations early
- Plan ahead and allow enough lead time for scheduled maintenance.
- Talk with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
- Suggest holding stock in Australia to avoid supply chain issues.
- Maintain enough stock
- Hold enough spare parts and supplies for planned and line maintenance.
- Seek alleviations
- Contact authorities with as much notice as possible for non-airworthiness-related component alleviations.
- Talk to other operators
- Share spare part and supplies to maximise resources.
- Use monitoring systems
- Use flight data monitoring (FDM) and health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS) to reduce unplanned maintenance needs.
Monitoring system best practices
Use Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring (HFDM) practices to:
- operate a successful HFDM programme
- create event sets and act on triggers
- analyse datasets to show issues such as organisational drift and training needs.
Follow the HUMS recommended practice guide, created by HUMS experts.
Reporting unsafe practices
We encourage operators to report unsafe practices or organisations to us using our contact form. You can report anonymously, so long as you provide accurate and proven information to help with safety and legal action.
Engage with CASA
Operators can contact us for further advice or information on regulations, using our contact form or the Aviation Safety Advisors contact form
What are we doing and delivered?
We will conduct investigation of allegations into reported concerns promptly, within the limits of the legalisation.
In addition to scheduled surveillance activities, CASA can enact targeted response surveillance activities as well a more comprehensive campaign surveillance of the sector.
Our Aviation Safety Advisors (ASAs) continue to work with AAAA and other agricultural associations such as Farmsafe to:
- promote safe practices
- help with the understanding of rules and changes
- listen to feedback.
Operators can also contact the ASAs for further safety education and advice through on site visits and seminars, using the Aviation Safety Advisors contact form.