[Peetwo]

Following on from the Sally Cripps (Star) scoop, there was 1st the other Aunty catching up with some audio from Pinocchio...

Changes to aerial mustering rules following industry feedback

NT Country Hour
By Daniel Fitzgerald



Photo: Changes to low-level flight ratings will affect aerial musterers. (Daniel Fitzgerald)
         
Audio: CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson says changes to aerial mustering rules are a result of industry feedback (ABC Rural)

Recent changes to low-level flight rating requirements mean pilots involved with aerial mustering only need their rating reviewed every 24 months, instead of every 12.

Helicopters and light planes are often used to muster cattle on vast pastoral stations across northern Australia.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says the changes recognise the previous rules imposed significant burdens without an increase in safety standards for those working in the high-risk aerial mustering industry.

CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson said the new requirements were a result of industry feedback.

"There has been a lot of feedback to the CASA about the new pilot licensing rules brought in in 2014 and we are making a number of changes to improve the rules and remove any unintended consequences," he said.

"In the new rules we had a requirement for a review of the low-level rating every 12 months, due to the feedback from the industry we have extended that back to two years."

Industry feedback to CASA noted the rules implemented in 2014 imposed "some unintended and unnecessary burdens on them without any significant improvements in safety".

"So we looked at that very carefully, weighed all that up and basically agreed and said we can ease the administrative burdens, reduce the costs, but still get the right safety outcomes,' Mr Gibson said.

"It's all about getting the balance between getting the best possible safety while letting people get on with the job of delivering their services to the agricultural sector."

The new changes also note aerial mustering pilots will be required to have a minimum of 20 hours of aerial mustering operations in the preceding 12 months.

Given aerial mustering pilots spend several hours in the air every day during muster, Mr Gibson said most pilots would easily fly more than 20 hours over 12 months.

"If pilots can't meet that they can do a flight review or proficiency check that includes some aerial mustering."

 
Then there was this from Rockie's the Morning Bulletin:

GALLERY: Ruling of no annual review has our Cam flying high


Michelle Gately | 5th Jun 2015 7:43 AM Updated: 10:58 AM

 



THERE are not too many bad days in the office for helicopter pilot Cameron Parker.
In what he describes as "just a good day out", Cameron spends his time getting a bird's eye view of Central Queensland, running a commercial aerial mustering business.

In the 18 years Cameron has been running Parker Helicopters, his clients have become friends and a hard day's work in the sky is always followed by a cuppa and chat.

Cameron spoke to The Morning Bulletin after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) announced they would not be introducing an annual flight review requirement.

Instead reviews, requiring flight with instructors, will stay at the existing two years.

Despite a reputation of danger, Cameron said aerial mustering was a "very safe" and well-regulated industry.

"If you're doing it all the time, it's just second nature," he said. "We do it most days and the current bi-annual safety training is adequate."

Photos
View Photo Gallery





Cameron Parker has been mustering cattle with helicopters for 18 years. Photo Allan Reinikka / The Morning Bulletin
Photo: Allan Reinikka.

He said the rarity of bad accidents in the industry, despite the hundreds of pilots mustering across Australia daily, proved the current regulation level was working well.

One of the most challenging, and potentially dangerous aspects of the job comes when pilots are forced to fly low to the ground to get unco-operative cattle moving.

But Cameron said it wasn't a problem he experienced too often, after
having worked with many of the same producers for years.

Cameron said powerlines were a growing danger, even for experienced pilots, with mining developments rapidly changing the landscape. He said communication before developments proceeded could avoid this issue.

During Cameron's 18 years mustering, he's watched the mining boom dramatically change the industry as young men left the land to chase big bucks.

"Helicopters have replaced people on horseback," Cameron said.

"Even to go and find four men capable of mustering is not easy."

 

Finally there was this from Oz Aviation online who also (strangely) quotes Skidmore rather than PG..  :

Helicopter association welcomes changes to Part 61


June 5, 2015 by australianaviation.com.au



Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) president Peter Crook has welcomed some changes to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) new Part 61 regulations.

In late May, CASA said it had responded to feedback from the aviation community regarding Part 61 and noted especially the input of the helicopter industry.

Crook said the changes were a positive step, adding that communication between CASA and AHIA had improved considerably following a meeting between the two parties on May 6.

“With other significant amendments in the pipeline these actions demonstrate industry input is now being taken seriously and it adds faith to those who want to contribute but may feel held back by the frustrations of the previous environment,” Crook said in a statement.

As a result of the feedback, CASA said the 12-month flight review requirement for the low-level rating was extended to 24 months.

Meanwhile, CASA also removed new requirement to maintain a minimum of two hours of low-level flying over six months.

And the regulator said aerial mustering pilots will be required to have flown a minimum of 20 hours of aerial mustering operations in the preceding 12 months. If mustering pilots cannot meet this requirement they can complete a flight review, proficiency check or flight test that includes aerial mustering, CASA said.

“The changes to the low-level rating have been made by an exemption to the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 61. In due course the regulations will be amended to include the changes,” CASA said in a statement on May 27.

“Most of the feedback on the low-level rating came from the helicopter industry, which put forward a case to show there were minimal safety benefits from the new requirements while they created administrative difficulties for pilots and air operators.”

CASA is currently seeking feedback from pilots regarding the implementation of Part 61 and director of aviation safety Mark Skidmore said the regulator was carefully considering all correspondence.

“This is a normal process after a large regulatory change to ensure the new rules are delivering the right safety outcomes without placing an inappropriate burden on the aviation community,” Skidmore said in a statement.

“All wisdom does not lie within CASA so we are happy to listen to the views of others and consider if the regulations can be improved.

“Where there are unintended consequences these will be addressed as quickly as we can, recognising we are working with a comprehensive rule set.”

The section covering student pilots has also been changed, with the 14-day dual check requirement extended to 30 days.

In addition to this story, today Hitch posted this:

AHIA and CASA co-operate for Regulation Change
09 Jun 2015

CASA is moving forward with regulatory changes to CASR Part 61 after forming a co-operative partnership with the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA).
In a statement released yesterday, AHIA outlined the actions taken to improve Part 61, particularly for the helicopter industry.

"By a co-operative partnership with CASA, the AHIA and other industry members, CASA is moving forward with legislative changes to streamline regulatory provisions as a result of the post-implementation review of part 61," the statement reads.

"AHIA President Peter Crook sees this as a positive step closer to the industry contributing at a high level to legislative content for the betterment of the aviation industry."

Communication between AHIA and CASA has benefited from a meeting held in Sydney on 6 May, in which CASA DAS Mark Skidmore and senior flight standards and licencing staff met with AHIA president Peter Crook and lead Part 61 review team member Ray Cronin.
Peter Crook has since been appointed to the Minister's Aviation Industry Consultative Council, and Ray Cronin to the Joint CASA/SCC Flight Crew Licensing Sub-committee.

Changes made to Part 61 include as part of the review process are:

• Low level recency and flight review requirements extended to two years
  
• Sling, Winch and Rappel endorsement certifications and flight review requirements
  
• Expansion of the 61.040 approvals for flight testing and flight reviews to include a broader spectrum of approved persons and instructor qualifications to place specialist operational assessments within the upper level experience for each activity
  
• Student pilot recency requirements have been relaxed from 15 days to 30.
  
  

Other issues high on the priority list include:

• A pathway to allow an Australian ATPL(H) to be obtained
  
• Amendments to the Part 61 MoS
  
• The transition requirements for a firefighting endorsement for experienced firefighting pilots
  
• The development of a multi-engine class rating for helicopters
  
• The input to the development of CASR Part 138 (aerial work for both fixed-wing and rotary)
  
  

"With other significant amendments in the pipe line these actions demonstrate industry input is now being taken seriously and it adds faith to those who want to contribute but may feel held back by the frustrations of the previous environment," the AHIA statement says.

 
I am reliably informed that the Ferryman Part 61 exposé will very soon be taking a look at the relevant parts soon to be called either exemptions or amendments to Part 61 'Low Level Approvals' etc.

MTF..P2