[Wombat]

I happened to sit next to a "Knowledgeable Aviation Person" at dinner a while ago... In discussion of CASA, they made the claim that Spence was chosen by CASA itself because she was the proverbial know nothing who had busied herself with high policy without any understanding of the art of aviation at all.

This raises the obvious question: What might happen if Spence, in marketing terms, ate her own dog food?

Some hair dye, a false identity and we have a new ab initio student. How much might she learn?

[Peetwo]

CASA Part 43 gobfest - 

Via Su_Spence central: 

Proposed maintenance rules for GA - Q&A session

Join our special 2 hour webinar and ask your questions about the proposed maintenance rules for general aviation

About this event

The general aviation sector has been asking for some years for less complex maintenance rules that reduce costs. We are moving to deliver on that as part of our evolving general aviation workplan being rolled out this year and next.

Public consultation is now open on the proposed Part 43 rules which will introduce maintenance changes to assist private and aerial work operations.

To support you, we’ve assembled a team of experts to answer your questions, during a 2 hour webinar, on topics including:

• understanding the rules
  
• the impact of the new rules governing aircraft in private and aerial work operations
  
• providing your feedback via the Consultation Hub – open 19 May to 19 June
  
• implementation/transition to the new rules.
  

To get the most out of the session, we recommend you take a look at the Part 43 public consultation.

If you would like to know anything else about the proposed rules visit our website.

Registrations for the Q&A session close 5pm (AEST) 16 June 2022.

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

July '22 - Su_Spence spin'n'bollocks -    

Via this month's CASA Briefing:

(WARNING: BUCKET MAYBE REQUIRED -  )

Director of Aviation Safety, Pip Spence

Consultation is at the heart of our regulatory philosophy, but it always pays to have a periodic health check.

We were asked earlier this year to assess our consultation framework and how it works for interested and affected members of the aviation community.

CASA already has a multi-layered consultation process that includes the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) as its primary advisory body for providing objective, high-level advice.

The ASAP can establish technical working groups (TWGs) to provide a forum for industry members and technical experts to provide their input to the panel.

We use the Consultation Hub as our tool for collecting industry views and use other avenues (emails, newsletters and other channels) to make sure people know when consultation processes go live.

The Consultation Hub has been getting a workout lately as we've sought feedback on areas ranging from general aviation maintenance to aviation medicals, a multi-engine helicopter rating and proposals to change the airspace in Ballina.

The hub is used for consultation on standards development - including policy proposals, discussion papers and notices of proposed rulemaking - and for significant changes to guidance materials.

Our recent Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) Part 43 consultation, for example, saw us conduct webinars and information sessions as well as publish more than 20 information sheets on our website.

Collaboration and transparency are ideals to which the board and I are committed, along with a focus on clients and commitment to a risk-based approach to aviation safety.

We will continue to publish all the submissions we receive when we consult through our consultation hub, as well as reports and papers from our technical working group meetings.

We aim to balance our safety responsibilities with an understanding of the challenges operators face, including looking where we can to remove unnecessary red tape and administrative burden.

We genuinely want to hear your feedback about any legitimate problems caused by proposed changes.

A good way of keeping abreast of our initiatives is by subscribing to our mailing lists through our subscription centre.

This will allow you to keep up with developments such as the General Aviation Workplan we published in May which sets out our time frames for delivery on a range of reforms over the next 12 – 18 months.

We are continuing to roll out initiatives in areas such as flight crew licensing with a more flexible approach to flight testing and requirements for flight examiners.

From July 1, we will allow experienced industry examiners to apply for approval to conduct flight examiner proficiency checks (EPCs).

This will give flight examiners a choice between undertaking their checks with CASA or another examiner with the appropriate approval.

Further reforms to reduce the demand on flight examiners include increased privileges for grade 1 flight instructors that will allow them to train, grant and assess a range of endorsements.

We've also cut the fees for part of the Flight Examiner Rating Course (FERC), saving between $180 and $460.

We are also committed to developing and consulting on a draft protocol for industry to deliver a FERC.

You can expect to hear more about these and other aspects of the GA Workplan as we move into the second half of 2022 and on into 2023.

And if there are unforeseen problems resulting from changes we introduce, our intention is to be responsive and flexible.

All the best,
Pip

MTF...P2 

[Sandy Reith]

This sent to Ms. Spence 2nd of June.
Why no acknowledgment or reply?
Consultation? Forsyth 2014, ASRR etc., it looks like window dressing, ops normal from CASA as GA sinks even further.

“ CASA CEO
Aviation House
Canberra.

Dear Pip Spence,

Firstly thank you for removing the the Cessna SIDs requirement, one small step.

I wholeheartedly support Tony Brand and his plea for support for the changes to the GA maintenance rules that he and AMROBA are calling for. Beech wing bolts AD? one glaring and easy reform.

Having been in the business of General Aviation (GA) in Victoria for some fifty six years, and owner, over the time, of more than thirty various GA aircraft, most employed commercially, I’m well aware of the concerns and difficulties faced by the GA maintenance industry. These difficulties, unnecessary costs and inefficiencies are deleterious to the whole of GA and Australia.

I can also vouch for the exemplary reputation of Tony and his knowledge of subject. I’ve known Tony by professional association from the days when he worked at Moorabbin before he and his brother set up their GA maintenance business in Horsham more than thirty years ago. The team at Horsham Aviation maintain around two hundred aircraft.

GA in Australia is slowly dying by a thousand regulatory cuts and swingeing fees for all sorts of unnecessary permissions.

In addition, the rules were migrated, completely inappropriately, into the criminal code where, for example, a private pilot might be become a criminal for not writing up his log book. A criminal conviction might then prevent overseas travel. That example, an omission of writing up a pilot log book entry, that in the USA doesn’t warrant any penalty because it doesn’t deserve to be a wrongdoing. Otherwise transgressions of regulations should be misdemeanours, civil matters.

Where is GA now?

My considered estimate is that GA is barely one third of its potential. Where it should be in terms of its value to Australia is not only in view of aviation jobs and services, manufacturing and education, but also GA is an important National security asset, part of our strength as a Nation in uncertain times. Aviation mobility is surely a critical element in such a large and underpopulated continent.

GA is in dire need of some immediate reforms which I believe are in your power to deliver quickly. I realise the weight of that responsibility, and how much easier it would be with full political support but you can make decisions right now and, with respect, that’s undoubtedly what is possible and an expectation.

What can be accomplished quickly may not necessarily be perfect but action must to be taken if you now understand the depth of the malaise in GA and the unsustainable downward trajectory of the present course.

Other matters requiring urgent action:-

1/. Compensation for Glen Buckley.

2/. Car driver self declared medicals for PPLs as per the AOPA/ AGAA submission.

3/. Independent instructors not requiring an AOC (P141/142). 70% USA pilots taught outside P141/142.

4/. a. Urge Home Affairs to remove the ASIC requirement which will encourage private owners to fly and access ‘security controlled’ airports, example Longreach Qld., for maintenance. As well provide knowledgeable eyes to enhance the security aspect.
b. Urge Minister King to protect Commonwealth airports from further losses to property developers.

5/. Request Government to activate the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Treaty to apply to GA.

Lastly, our regulatory environment must align with the USA and ICAO standards, and I hope you can appreciate the urgency and necessity for change.

No previous CASA CEO has been up to the task, here is a great opportunity to make good. Go ahead and you will receive much respect, support and gratitude from the GA community, quite apart from rectifying a bad situation in the National interest.

Kind regards

Sandy Reith
Commercial Pilot and member AOPA Australia

Alexander Cran Reith
0428 85 88 20






--
Alexander C (Sandy) Reith
55 Jones Road Stonyford
3260 Victoria Australia
+ 61 428 85 88 20 “

[Peetwo]

Sandy's reply to the latest Su_Spence (bollocks) response to 600 submissions to medical reform -   

Via the AP email chains:

Gentlemen,

CASA has an extraordinarily rigid, expensive and inappropriate medical certification regime for private pilots of regular General Aviation aircraft.

This is one very important reason that we have lost so many GA jobs and businesses in Victoria.

But for the Australian (up to) two seat low weight category, and some aircraft can be registered either way, no periodic medical examination is required at all, except a simple GP check up after age 75. Low weight category Australian pilots are close to 10,000.

This standard is self declared fit to drive a car. A perfectly satisfactory requirement proven over the past 30 years. Same as we drive our cars on the roads.

Around six years ago the USA adopted a similar (BasicMed) regime for its private pilots which brought back to flying many thousands of pilots with no ill effects to safety.

The USA experience as below:-




There’s no reason why CASA cannot put a self declared car driver fitness standard into place immediately.

Please make representations to the Board of CASA and CEO to make this reform as a matter of urgency because loss of pilots is loss of jobs in Victoria. 

Thanking you,

Sandy


Ref: The CASA Briefing - August 2022

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Su_Spence (CASA) to educate pilots on aviation safety?? - 

Via Oz Flying:

CASA today announced the start of an education campaign aimed at getting pilots to increase their skills and knowledge.
Named Your Safety is in Your Hands, the campaign is the result of collaboration with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), Airservices Australia, Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), and other aviation associations and companies.

CASA Director of Aviation Safety and CEO Pip Spence said input from pilots using ATSB occurrence data were critical to the developing the campaign.

“With the help from the ATSB, we’ve been able to build our campaign and safety topics based on accident and incident data," she said. "Each quarter we will focus on a new safety topic with information and online resources available through the new CASA pilot safety hub."

CASA's Pilot Safety Hub contains a range of resources and information including webinars, podcasts and videos aimed at enhancing pilot safety. The hub is sectioned into four critical areas: Non-controlled Aerodromes, Weather and Forecasting, Flight Planning and Controlled Aerodromes.

“Airservices Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) have also contributed to our campaign by providing information and resources on operating at controlled aerodromes and navigating weather and forecasting,”  Spence said.

“Aimed at the Australian pilot community, we’ve been working on a range of resources for local flying schools and industry associations to encourage their students and members to get involved.”

Two of the associations working with CASA to raise pilot safety levels are Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) and the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA).

RAAus CEO Matt Bouttell said providing the piloting community a resource hub for topics that affect all pilots when flying is invaluable.

“Having safety information and useful resources on-hand in the one place is an asset to our members and the wider piloting community,” he said.

AHIA Chief Executive Paul Tyrrell said his organisation supported the campaign and would be looking at how to encourage their members to engage and think about aviation safety.

“Helicopter pilots face similar risks to traditional fixed wing pilots, and we welcome any activity or initiative to encourage pilots no matter what their aircraft type to think about safety,” he said.

Each quarter CASA will focus on a different topic, loading relevant information and resources onto the Pilot Safety Hub.

Comment in reply:

David J Pilkington • 2 days ago

Seems like a good idea however the single biggest cause of fatalities in GA is loss of control. I don't see why CASA shy away from this subject. I don't think that it has ever come up in an AvSafety Seminar?

Hmm...wonder what ever happened to CASA's sector risk profile program?? 

(Ref: The ASC (Iron Ring) Devolution of Sector Risk Profiling? )

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Su_Spence in contravention of CASA/ATSB MoU?? 

Reference from 'Closing the Safety Loop' thread:

Coroner distrust and ATSB disconnect with investigation AO-2018-078 -   

On a final note, which I believe is definitely related, has anyone else checked out the bizarre, totally disconnected safety issue addressed to CASA, that was subsequently escalated to a very rare Safety Recommendation??

Regulatory management of repeat safety findings

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s acquittal process for repeat safety findings was not effective in ensuring that all previous findings of a similar nature were also appropriately assessed prior to the current and all associated safety findings being acquitted.

---

Safety recommendation
Action number: AO-2018-078-SR-01
Action organisation: Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Date: 20 December 2021
Action status: Released

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority amend its acquittal process for repeat safety findings to ensure it is effective in ensuring that all previous findings of a similar nature are also appropriately assessed prior to the current and all associated safety findings being acquitted.

Hmm...anyone else understand that gobbledygook -   

Response by Civil Aviation Safety Authority

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority did not provide a response concerning its intention to address this safety issue.

If I was the CASA Regional Manager, supposedly tasked with responding to that bollocks SR, I wouldn't  be providing a response either?? - FDS!    

Hmm...the non-response to this un-intelligible SR may be understandable to the average punter but according to the current CASA/ATSB MoU it is just not cricket?? -

ATSB Safety recommendations

10.3 The ATSB will consult with CASA should any safety issues be identified that
affect CASA, and before making any formal recommendations for safety action
by CASA.
10.4 CASA will respond to any formal safety recommendations issued, in accordance
with section 25A of the TSI Act. Where consideration and implementation of
the recommendation may be protracted, CASA will provide the ATSB with
updates on its progress at least every 3 months from the date when the
recommendation was first issued, or otherwise as frequently as the parties
agree.
10.5 CASA acknowledges that the ATSB may publish some, or all, of CASA’s response
to a safety issue or recommendation.

Hmm...so we are rapidly approaching 9 months since the SR was 1st issued (20 December 2021), yet it would appear that CASA is simply not bothering to respond. Are we reverting to the bad old days (post Lockhart River) when the relationship between the regulator and investigator was untenable, with CASA constantly standing up the bureau when it came to responding to SRs addressed to the regulator??

Refer: https://auntypru.com/wp-content/uploads/...opin_2.pdf

The decline of the “Safety Recommendation”

Mr Dolan: “There are two things there and I will go to the question of recommendations
before I get to the specifics of your question. The ATSB at the point where it became
independent of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport also got a shift in its powers
in relation to the making of recommendations which raised the ante with recommendations
and their significance. There is a legal requirement to respond to each of the
recommendations we make. In recognition of that we set up the system of
identifying safety issues that said there needs to be a critical or a
significant safety issue before we will explicitly use that power to make a
recommendation and require a response, and we would generally limits
recommendations to those sorts of things. What you are talking about we
would in our normal framework, given what you said about likelihood and
consequence, deal with as a safety issue without going to recommendation.
That is the context: it is still there but your question remains.”

Opinion : The following data compares ATSB v NTSB Safety Recommendations over a ten year period (2000-2010). This data highlights that Mr Dolan has used the above philosophy in regards to Safety Recommendations to significant affect:..

Put the Beaker waffle in context with the issuance of a SR for safety issue AO-2018-078, that has subsequently (to this point in time) being totally ignored by the CASA YMML regional office?? Err...'let's do the timewarp again' - 

MTF...P2 

[P7_TOM]

By George !.-

I think he's got it. Finally AOPA are taking a front foot isolating but one of the many, many aberrations that CASA enforce on the industry. One small step at a time; the picture should continue to emerge. Keep it up, keep dealing with the real issues. Good job...

https://m.facebook.com/AOPAaustralia/vid...642169209/

[Peetwo]

Safeskies 2022 - Who knew??

Apparently an abbreviated version of the elite Safeskies conference occurred last week (ie abbreviated due the QEII National Day of Mourning):

DAY TWO [VIRTUAL]

UPDATE / Respecting the National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II declared for 22 September, we will be delivering day 2 of the program virtually at a date to be advised.

However apparently the Mandarins and Minions of the Can'tberra (make work) aviation safety bureaucracy were able to present as advertised on Day 1 of the SS2022...

08:45 – 09:00
Conference opening
Mike Mrdak AO - 

09:00 | Session 1

Aviation Policy Group Discussion

Richard Wood First Assistant Secretary Dept Infrastructure, Pip Spence CEO CASA, Jason Harfield CEO Airservices Australia, AIRCDRE Joseph Medved Director General, Defence Aviation Safety Authority (P2 now there's an expensive line up ($3-4 million) of trough feeding bureaucrats -  )

Not much feedback from around of this momentous occasion?? However, a full week after the event, Hitch did manage to get a summary of what Su_Spence had to contribute to the pompous talkfest:

(CAUTION: Bucket maybe required)

Safety Campaign off to a Good Start: CASA

29 September 2022



CASA Director of Aviation Safety and CEO Pip Spence told the Safeskies conference in Canberra last week that the regulator's new safety campaign has had a very positive start.

Launched in August and named Your Safety is in Your Hands, the campaign is a collaboration with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), Airservices Australia, Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), and other aviation associations and companies aimed at getting pilots to increase their skills and knowledge.

"The campaign, backed by other government agencies and aviation industry groups, is aimed at the pilot community and was developed using pilot input and Australian Transport Safety Bureau data," Spence told Safeskies.

"We also worked closely with the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Maritime safety Authority.

"It provides resources such as webinars, podcasts, videos and other safety enhancing products in one easily accessible forum we believe will be a terrific resource for pilots."

Spence said that CASA had become aware that pilots were not using safety resources because they didn't necessarily know they were available.

"Research showed that while most pilots found educational resources produced by CASA helpful, they were not always aware that they existed or where to find them," she said.

"This research gave us a strong evidence-based rationale to inform the development of this campaign and key messages designed to change behaviour and attitudes.

"The campaign tagline Your Safety is in Your Hands emphasises the personal responsibility and role pilots play in their safety and ongoing development."

Running until July next year, the campaign will feature a new safety topic each quarter. The current topic is non-controlled aerodromes, to be followed by forecasting and navigating weather.

The campaign will also cover flight planning and operations at controlled airports.

Access to campaign resources is via the new Pilot Safety Hub.

 
Hmm...apparently Su_Spence is currently on hols but she was still able to take time to appear at this talkfest, however when it came to replying to real aviation safety queries, complaints etc. the $million DAS can't even be bothered to reply:

Dear Dan,

Please forward the communication below to the CASA CEO Ms. Pip Spence. As I have related to you in the past my previous email to Ms. Spence remains unanswered and unacknowledged in spite of my follow up requests, even just to ascertain CASA’s receipt of email.

Hopefully, as my Parliamentary Representative you will receive an answer and I’m asking specifically that you make this representation on my behalf.

Best regards,

Sandy

Ref: https://auntypru.com/forum/-The-sexual-l...4#pid13044

---

Via email:

Dear Ms. Tsikleas,

I sent this correspondence directly to Ms Spence 10 days ago, are you able to confirm that she has received it.

Cheers. Glen

  
One email recipient (who really does know) made this reply to Sandy to explain how it works underneath the (undemocratic) Can'tberra bubble...

Alas, Sandy, ‘standard ops’ in many government agencies these days is to maintain an ‘ignore’ list:  Names and email addresses presumptively to be ignored (if not automatically deleted).   And the agencies get away with it because … they can.   

There is no practical accountability because those responsible continue to be paid and employed, even in the rare circumstances in which a complaint from or litigation commenced by some upstart member of the public gets some attention.   That’s why ‘robodebt’ survived and thrived for as long as it did.  And then the taxpayer had to foot the bill for damage done!

 
MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Oct '22 - Su_Spence spin'n'bollocks

Via Fort Fumble: (CAUTION BUCKET MAY BE REQUIRED - )

Director of Aviation Safety, Pip Spence

Getting young people interested in aviation and developing the expertise of those already in the industry is crucial to the wellbeing of our sector.

Every incentive helps so I was pleased to be able to announce at the recent Safeskies conference in Canberra that we are offering a new scholarship program for safety managers.

These are people who play a crucial role in maintaining our safety record and we will be offering 3 scholarships worth up to $5000 each to help them increase their knowledge and skills through professional development.

We are encouraging safety managers who are committed to the development of a healthy aviation safety culture to apply.

More specifically, we are looking for people with a minimum of 2 years' industry experience who use their initiative and display a high standard of aptitude and leadership.

They must also be working in a key aviation position, or have worked in one previously, and if you're in this category I would encourage you to apply.

We believe this this a great opportunity to help successful individuals build their aviation expertise in the same way our engineering scholarships have benefitted promising Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs).

We announced 5 recipients of the engineering scholarship at the Rotortech Conference in May this year. We received more than 100 high-quality applications and the winners from Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia demonstrated a commitment to achieving the highest professional standards in their chosen fields.

This is one way we can encourage people to develop what we all know will be interesting and worthwhile careers in an exciting and challenging industry.

While these initiatives may not seem momentous individually, if enough organisations take a similar route their efforts will quickly add up to a significant effort.

Some are already on this track and earlier this year I took part in a Q&A session with students going through Aviation Australia’s Female Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (FAME) program.

This initiative provides female aircraft maintenance engineers with mentorships, work experience opportunities and a professional support network.

It was great to see an organisation take it upon itself to not only address a skills shortage but to also focus on lifting the numbers of women in the industry.

The number of women in the industry is still low and they account for only 1 per cent of Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and less than 7 percent of pilots.

The figures are more encouraging for remotely piloted licence holders — some 11 per cent are women — suggesting that technology may help redress the imbalance.

We expect to see meaningful growth in areas such as uncrewed aircraft, space launch and advanced air mobility that could benefit from tapping into this deep well of potential.

In the shorter term, the aviation skills shortage has made headlines lately because of its impact on the flying public but many of us know it runs deeper than the COVID crisis.

CASA’s General Aviation Workplan has elements that aim to address the longer-term issue by improving the pilot licensing rules, simplifying health arrangements, making training more accessible and maintenance easier to obtain.

By reducing the regulatory burden on general aviation, we hope to also lower the barriers to entry to our industry without, of course, compromising safety.

We all know what a great industry this is and the important role it plays in Australia.

Our job now is to convince the next generation of would-be pilots, technicians and others that it is a terrific and accessible career choice.


All the best

Pip

Sandy's comment in reply, via AP email chains:

"..Not one word about any reform that might indicate that the CASA CEO has the requisite understanding of the actions that are needed to halt the CASA induced destruction of General Aviation (GA).

Two items from the ‘briefing’ stand out.

Firstly CASA is promoting the colossal number of no less than three aviation scholarships. Immediately one thinks for some young people to learn to fly, but no, not. These scholarships are for “safety managers.”

Who will employ these three lucky young people?

A small flying school, if there’s one left, in a regional town? Hardly.
More realistically there might be a job with a regional airline but they are few and far between. Such employment will do nothing for GA.

Secondly, the oh so interesting news that their medical review consultation received more than 600 submissions. Isn’t that great?

No headline statement that CASA is going to make the medical standard reforms that are so obviously necessary and supported by all the relevant information about the risk (there isn’t any) of adopting the car driver standard, similar to the successful RAAUS (c. 30 years experience) and similar USA and UK reforms in the last several years. But wait there’s more!
In the ‘read on’ link you’ll find that this consultation is to be followed by, wait for it, yet another consultation in perhaps nine months time. Gosh, the speed of reform is making one dizzy.

In other words all is fine in the well heated make work salary factory that is the Can’tberra offices of Aviation Hearse/House.."

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

A tick for Su_Spence perhaps??

Via the Yaffa:

Expanded Privileges for Grade 1 Instructors

13 October 2022

Expanded privileges for Grade 1 flying instructors promised in August were implemented this week.

Exemption EX64/22 will permit Grade 1s to conduct a wider range of training and testing, which CASA hopes will encourage Grade 2 instructors to upskill into Grade 1s, and reduce pressure on Flight Examiners.

"Feedback from industry that the privileges of the Grade 1 training endorsement did not reflect the responsibilities that would normally be associated with these instructors," CASA has said.

"This change reduces the burden on flight examiners by introducing a more proportionate approach so more people can assess and grant authorisations."

Under CASR Part 61, Grade 1 instructors needed an endorsement to conduct training for a wide range of ratings and flight activities. Under the exemption, which will eventually be an amendment to Part 61, Grade 1s will no longer need separate training endorsements to train pilots for:

• Grade 2 training endorsement
  
• design feature training endorsement
  
• sling operations training endorsement
  
• winch and rappelling operations training endorsement
  
• spinning training endorsement
  
• aerobatics training endorsement
  
• formation training in aeroplanes, helicopters and aerobatics.
  

The exemption also permits Grade 1 instructors without a Flight Examiner Rating (FER) to conduct flight tests for:

• aircraft class rating
  
• aircraft type rating
  
• design feature training endorsement
  
• sling operations training endorsement
  
• winch and rappelling operations training endorsement
  
• spinning training endorsement
  
• aerobatics training endorsement
  
• formation training endorsement in aeroplanes, helicopters and formation aerobatics.
  

"As there are minimal differences between the Grade 1 and Grade 2 training endorsements–apart from higher experience levels and the additional privilege of supervision–there is diminished incentive for flight instructors to seek a Grade 1 training endorsement," CASA states on the Consultation Hub.

"This is believed to be one of the reasons for the diminishing availability of suitably qualified flight instructors to become the head of operations for Part 141 operators.

"Another disincentive is the additional requirements these instructors need to complete to gain additional training endorsements required to be authorised to conduct a wider scope of training and assessments."

One of the conditions applying to the exemption is that Grade 1 instructors must themselves hold the endorsement they are conducting training for.

A complete list of new privileges and the applicable conditions for the exemption for both instructors and flight training organisations are on the CASA website.

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Su_Spence drops GA workplan priority in favour of eVTOL dreamtime?? - FFS! 

Via latest Su_Spence (bollocks) CASA Briefing missive:

Director of Aviation Safety, Pip Spence

The futuristic lines of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are an obvious focal point for the popular narrative around 'air taxis' and advanced air mobility.

But equally important is the infrastructure that will support these impressive pieces of modern technology when they start arriving in Australia in the next few years.

You can't have a flying taxi service until you have the 'vertiports' at which eVTOLs can safely land and take off.

Australia is part of the global effort to introduce this exciting new technology and we see industry collaboration as a key to its successful implementation.

A CASA team with extensive aerodrome experience has set the ball rolling by examining what vertiports could look like, where and how they might operate as well as the safety requirements governing their design and operation.

Within a month, we expect to release Australia's first draft advisory circular on the design of vertiports on our consultation hub.

The circular is a concrete example of our new Remotely Piloted Aircraft System RPAS and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Strategic Regulatory Roadmap in action and is in keeping with the Australian government's National Emerging Aviation Technologies (NEAT) policy.

We also believe we’re one of the first regulators outside of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide this kind of advice.

This a complex issue and we’re allowing 3 months of consultation so everybody can get their heads around the concepts. We're keen to hear what the industry thinks.

We want industry working with us from the start of this process so this feedback will also go to a proposed vertiport design and operations technical working group (TWG) that the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel is considering establishing.

This is a different way of using a TWG and means the group will help us establish our regulatory framework for AAM infrastructure rather than presenting it with a proposal and hashing out the details.

This is in line with our approach with the RPAS and AAM roadmap.

In that case, we began with a technical working group of 13 industry participants followed by sub-working groups that included a total of 73 participants, two-thirds of whom came from the RPAS and AAM sectors.

The success of the approach was underscored by the positive response the draft version of the roadmap received after its release for public consultation.

Our plan is to take what the European and US regulators have done a step further by making the design of vertiports performance based.

This will put the onus on vertiport operators to understand how the aircraft they intend to support is likely to affect the design of a facility.

There will not be just one flavour of vertiport but an array of designs in a range of circumstances.

Obviously, CASA’s safety requirements will not be the only factor to influence where a vertiport will be located and how it will operate.

Land use requirements by governments and other considerations outside our remit, such as noise and environmental impacts, will also come into play.

We need to move now because the new technology will be with us sooner than many people think.

eVTOL test fights are already underway overseas with some companies expecting to start operations in the next 2 to 3 years.

The FAA and EASA recently published design guidelines for vertiports and several concepts have already emerged in Europe.

Europe’s Volocopter, for example, conducted its first flight test using a crewed eVTOL launched early last month from a vertiport at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.

Aeroporti di Roma wants to launch commercial operations by 2024.

Joby Aviation is also well progressed in the US certification process and Embraer offshoot Eve, which has already signed agreements with Australian companies, will not be far behind.

We achieved an Australian first earlier this year when we announced with the FAA and Swoop Aero that we were collaborating on the joint type and production certification of Swoop’s latest drone, the Kite.

We’ve been in discussions with Joby and we’re keenly interested in moves by companies such as AMSL Aero that can develop home-grown eVTOL aircraft.

Also on our radar are plans by Australian carriers Rex and Skytrans to retrofit aircraft with electric or hybrid-electric propulsion.

Our collaboration with other Australian agencies about advanced air mobility includes our 2021 memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Airservices Australia and the Victorian government to support the sector.

Vertiports are another example of how CASA is tackling the future of aviation.

As CASA Chair Mark Binskin noted in his recent P. G. Taylor address at Safeskies, the changes hurtling towards us mean CASA must think broadly, embrace innovation and be flexible.

All the best,

Pip

Plus via the Yaffa: 

CASA tackles Vertiport Issues

2 November 2022



The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has outlined the steps it is taking to prepare for the inevitable rise of vertiports.
Vertiports cater for high traffic volumes of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft used in advanced air mobility (AAM) operations, but the infrastructure planning is still in its infancy, which is presenting challenges to regulators around the world.

Director of Aviation Safety and CEO Pip Spence says CASA will be working with the aviation and urban mobility industries to develop regulation for Australia.

"You can't have a flying taxi service until you have the vertiports at which eVTOLs can safely land and take off," she said in the November 2022 CASA Briefing Newsletter.

"Australia is part of the global effort to introduce this exciting new technology and we see industry collaboration as a key to its successful implementation.

"A CASA team with extensive aerodrome experience has set the ball rolling by examining what vertiports could look like, where and how they might operate as well as the safety requirements governing their design and operation.

"Within a month, we expect to release Australia's first draft advisory circular on the design of vertiports on our consultation hub."

Spence also said that CASA was considering setting up a vertiport technical working group (TWG) to provide advice on regulation.

"We want industry working with us from the start of this process so this feedback will also go to a proposed vertiport design and operations technical working group (TWG) that the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel is considering establishing," she said.

"This is a different way of using a TWG and means the group will help us establish our regulatory framework for AAM infrastructure rather than presenting it with a proposal and hashing out the details."

Spence said CASA's approach would be to expand on the work done by European and US regulators by taking into account the performance of the aircraft and government regulations over the use of land, noise and environmental impacts.

eVTOL testing is well underway overseas at the moment and the first aircraft are expected to enter service around 2025.

MTF...P2 

[Sandy Reith]

Note that we are unlikely to have any home grown electric helicopters. Imagine getting a CASA Certificate of Airworthiness for a new design. And if you did the impossible it’s not likely to be acceptable to any other NAA because we are not harmonised with the common standards, particularly with the USA, easily the largest market for General Aviation.
Total nonsense.

[Wombat]

“Australia is part of the global effort to introduce this exciting new technology and we see industry collaboration as a key to its successful implementation.

************************. Industry collaboration? Ask Glen Buckley and the founders of Gippsland Aviation how CASA collaboration destroyed value.

"A CASA team with extensive aerodrome experience has set the ball rolling by examining what vertiports could look like, where and how they might operate as well as the safety requirements governing their design and operation.

**********************. expertise on display at Essendon, with perhaps unfortunate results.

"Within a month, we expect to release Australia's first draft advisory circular on the design of vertiports on our consultation hub."

*********************** which will be eagerly awaited by planners in Europe and the USA - NOT!

Spence also said that CASA was considering setting up a vertiport technical working group (TWG) to provide advice on regulation.

"We want industry working with us from the start of this process so this feedback will also go to a proposed vertiport design and operations technical working group (TWG) that the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel is considering establishing," she said.

*********************** since when does the rest of the world give the slightest credibility to CASA pronunciamentos??
Could I be forgiven for wondering if CASA has its own in-house drug and alcohol testing program?

[Kharon]

Pip and the Pixies at the Kool Aide fountain.

“Well, God give them wisdom that have it; and those that are fools, let them use their talents.”

Rumour has it that it all got a little out of control. Started off as a minor celebration; the McDonald 'Investigation' and report into aviation management had been effectively made null, void and buried – nothing to worry about now and ages to wait for the 'soft white' paper to provide carte blanche authority and a platinum credit card – Aye, happy daze at Sleepy Hollow.

Next morning, when the revellers eventually signed on; deep in the thrall of 'booze – blues' that it occurred to them that they now had little to do, courtesy of a benevolent Minister. But, we must have some way to justify our existence they cried; we can only do so much 'make-work' before it is realised that 'savings' can be made. And so, a think tank was convened. They met in the cloistered luxury of the executive suite and once the 'refreshments' were served and everyone had what they liked best; a deep, grave silence fell upon those gathered there. After a while; just before the shuffling and head scratching became intolerable, a bright young spark, desperate to climb the slippery pole piped up:-


“I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was.”

All the bleary eyes at the top table turned in his direction, the challenge unspoken – eventually, from the head of the table came the weary words; “OK, let's hear it then”. “Well” says out bright spark; “everyone is now on the emissions bandwagon, looking to a clean green dream world ain't they.” “So, let's leave the past and present mess behind us and look to the future; let's pretend that the city skies will be chock full of electric helicopters; we can re-brand 'em, then say we are looking to a better brighter future; they'll swallow it.” “ A whole new make work project, no one else is even considering it, we can become the worlds leading green dream legislators – in five years; if we play it right” - “what say you?”

“Lovers and madmen have such seething brains

Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends.”

The tea lady reckons that there was a profound silence as those seated weighed up the notion; tested it for benefit to their remit and wriggle room and political acceptance. “Good one” they all voted and so the dreaming was massaged into a reality and sold to the powers that be. For it did indeed cover a lot of bases and shifted attention away from the God's own muddle they had created. “We'll do it” cried Pip of the Pixies, and so (after the faerie dust had been passed around in celebration) they set the wheels in motion and built an altar to Verti ports; the new saviour.

“Lord, what fools these mortals be!”


Meanwhile, back in the real world wilderness a lone voice spoke the thoughts of the many who have to not only fund but must live with this latest load of Bollocks provided to an industry desperate for regulatory sanity and operational common sense..Aye, perhaps when Pip returns from her sojourn with the Pixies some sense may dribble down to the coal face; just don't hold your breath..

Sandy - “However would someone please inform us what is the difference between a heliport and a vertiport? And what is eVertol if not an electrically powered helicopter? Apart from these semantics who will be investing in an air taxi that has to sit around half the day being recharged and cannot put down anywhere because of power lines and a road system that’s designed for surface transport. Maybe changeover battery packs?”



In other words the fanciful notion of flying cars will remain, at least in the foreseeable future, in the realm of science fiction, other than one or two very small niche markets.  Besides, imagine trying to fly around city buildings in high winds.



In regard to new regulations for helicopters, this sounds like another make work program (imagine the ‘consultations’) for CASA at a time when GA is going backwards at the rate of knots and CASA can’t even give us a simple medical certification reform.


Well said Sandy – glad you dared to mention 'medicals' – Master Morgan of the AOPA had somewhat to say on the same matter- sans the Pixie dust...But the stark truth of what the industry is staring down was spoken at last estimates; from Hansard, in a nutshell:- Bravo that man Canavan.

Hansard - Senator CANAVAN: You're playing defence for the government. This is an absolute farce on your first day of budget estimates. You're meant to be chair, Senator Sterle."

Toot – toot...

[Peetwo]

Su_Spence ignores the IOS and the Parliament - 

Courtesy Sandy, via FB:

Sandy Reith

Same as my email to Ms Spence, correspondence to CASA, 4th August, from a Member of the Australian Parliament, my Representative in Canberra, has gone unanswered.

Is CASA past it’s use by date? If it were part of a Department with a Minister at head I’m certain my MP Dan Tehan would have had an answer by now.
CASA talks about corporate best practice and consulting with “stakeholders.” 

Are its intention’s honoured when even the basic politeness of acknowledgement of correspondence, let alone an answer, is missing?

Reproduced here with Dan Tehan’s permission.

MTF...P2 

[Wombat]

Spence, her masters in the Department and the Ministers advisers treat us with thinly disguised pity. You see, we are users of internal combustion engines and as such, Ms Spence, her bosses and their advisers know that we are doomed - we utilise "legacy technology" that relies on fossil fuels, we are NOT part of the future of flight. Big Iron will use biologically produced sustainable jet fuel or hydrogen and our niche - GA and recreational will be replaced by electric verticopters or electrically powered fixed wing. Now our masters in Canberra KNOW this is going to happen and its going to be very, very soon and they have rearranged priorities accordingly. All will be revealed in the holy white paper which will enshrine the new electrical future of Australian Aviation. Trust me on this, I've seen a few technological messiahs before.

So the first thing; ever driven a Tesla? Ever used Uber? THAT is the new model for GA.

Teslas virtually drive themselves, they have comprehensive advanced safety systems and are far smarter than the average driver. They manage your full customer experience. Verticopters will embody this technology. If you fiddle with a Tesla and cause an accident, your car will produce a comprehensive record of your driving behavior for the authorities . Trust me on this.

Verticopters will use this same technology. The authorities will know all your details in real time and will monitor your behaviour as you fly

So what is the point of reforming todays regulations focused as they are on a doomed legacy technology? There is no point. Similarly why change medical regulations for old pilots who will never transition to the electric future? The White Paper will make all clear, trust me.

[Sandy Reith]

Wombat has missed one important element of the fantastic new world of the fully computerised and knowledge integrated aerial city transport of the very near future. This new life will be just like the Bruce Willis
Movie, The Fifth Element. There’s that word element again.
Governments have realised that to bring us this magical new era, when we no longer producing plant food from the plant material stored naturally underground, we must tame the weather.

This is where the genius of our masters really shines.

Hundreds and thousands of wind turbines to take all that energy out of the airflows, thus reducing wind to manageable light breezes.

[P7_TOM]

What -??? Sandy - you can't mean that the turbulence from one 'windmill' could possibly affect the efficiency of an adjacent one, or the one behind. Can you – perhaps they could stand behind a large propeller and work out the dynamics of the worked air as it travels – they may need to buy a lot more land to plant these rotten things on – and work out how to disperse the noise and harmonics – and then buy shares in a company that manufactures small diesel (or push bike) generators.

Wind is for politicians and sailing ships; but Nuclear will get us into the space age (no pun intended).

[Peetwo]

Is it time for CASA to be disbanded as a independent statutory authority??   

Via Facebook:

Sandy et.al in reply...
 

My comment on AOPA’s CEO Ben Morgan’s post about the unwillingness of CASA officers at the Wings Over Illawarra Airshow to speak with Ben on camera.

Great work Ben, and regarding CASA my email to CEO Pip Spence from months ago remains unanswered and unacknowledged. This in spite of repeated requests including one unanswered letter from my Parliamentary Representative MP Dan Tehan requesting CASA for an answer to my concerns.

My letter and Dan’s letter I have published on FB and elsewhere.

The day of the independent corporate regulator with practically zero political input must close as a failed experiment. An experiment that removed the crucial aspect of our Westminster system. That is the responsibility of Minister and the most direct connection to the voting public.
When aviation is back under Ministerial control MP’s letters will be answered.

The current system of disengagement is wrong, let alone impolite and it’s tempting to characterise the lack of answers or acknowledgement as nothing short of overweening arrogance. I’m hoping not that bad, just dysfunctional and careless ineptitude. We will see, but not what one would expect where the CEO Ms. Spence receives $1,000,000 plus per annum.

---

Philip Dartnell

I really appreciate your continued pursuance of accountability from CASA Sandy. It's galling and extremely disappointing that such an important and (wrongfully) powerful organisation can be so unwilling to engage, even with a high profile politician like Dan Tehan writing to them. They just don't want to be called on to justify their position so ignoring people like you is their chosen modus operandi. The more that people challenge the status quo the more likely we'll see an improvement. Tough going in the meantime when it's gone on for so long.

---

Jeffrey Elsum

Re Casa and their failure to reply. This is straight out of Yes Minister. If you do not reply then there is no argument and the problem jus goes away.

---

Sandy Reith

Jeffrey Elsum CASA won’t reply even to my MP Dan Tehan asking on my behalf for an answer. His letter of the 4th of June hasn’t even been acknowledged.

---

Brian Reddish

Hi Sandy sorry to hear about your brother.

I watch with extreme interest to your comments re CASA .

What they did to me leaves scars even today I’m 76 it’s like PTSD or other psychological problems , it lives with you .

I would love to have my remaining days full of joyous memories of my past aviation career but any memories are blanketed by what CASA did to me . I feel like a failure . Often things come to the surface that involve my Son who is highly involved in GA .

I still feel like a failure but am Living out my training years happily married but I have not flown again for 10 years The love of aviation I had once has gone thanks to CASA

All I did as a delegate was to fail a student ( subsequent years Mt at another school involved a further 18 hours of training before he was at standard , yet my decision caused a ruination of my career plus further psychological problems

---

Sandy Reith

Brian Reddish Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated.

I remember very well your approach to me at that time of CASA’s unjust treatment of you and the wrecking of your successful GA business.

You were not a failure, CASA was, and is, a disgraceful failure of public governance. A failure to provide sound aviation governance in the National interest.

It’s clear that the independent corporate model, removed from Ministerial control, just takes on a life of its own in the manner of a dictator as many individuals have found to their dismay. Proper process does not exist, you mostly cannot get your day in court by virtue of CASA’s many wily ways. In your case by suspending your Chief Pilot approvals and then sitting on those replacement nominations until your business collapsed. If memory serves.

There’s a long list, the CASA history of persecution goes back many years.

---

David Ian Grant

Sandy Reith Pretty much what happens when the legal department gains hegemony in any corporation Sandy. As my old Dad used to say if you dont want to ruin your business keep the lawyers out of it.

MTF...P2