[Peetwo]

Dear Pip...L&Ks Sandy - 

1st from the latest Su_Spence blurb in this month's CASA Briefing:

Director of Aviation Safety, Pip Spence

The announcement of our General Aviation (GA) workplan last month refined a project I flagged in 2021 and highlighted our determination to safely reduce the regulatory burden on smaller operators.

A response to extensive industry feedback over a number of years, the workplan is a priority for CASA and aims to set out clearly what we are doing (and when) to address key issues that have been raised with us.

It draws together regulatory initiatives stretching into next year and recognises the challenges facing regional and remote Australia as well as the sport and recreational sector.

It has the backing of the Board, and you can be assured that the chair, Air chief Marshal (Retd)
Mark Binksin AC, and I are committed to seeing it through in a timely manner.

We're also committed to reporting on progress and if we don't meet our milestones, we'll explain why.

Initiatives included in the workplan range from improved pilot licensing rules and streamlined maintenance arrangements to simplified medical requirements.

We were working on some of these projects even as we put together the plan and I'm pleased to say we have already seen progress.

We have now exempted private and aerial work sectors from the Cessna Supplemental Inspection Documents (SIDs) maintenance regime and this month we will remove the 45-knot stall speed limit for certain sport and recreation aircraft.

The SIDS exemption reduces the burden on the affected Cessna operators.

The higher stall speed responded to feedback about new rules increasing the maximum take-off weight of light aeroplanes operated by self-administering organisations from 600 kg to 760 kg.


A GA workplan project highlighted in this column last month — a move to simplify and modernise aviation medicals — is now open for comment.

Consultation closes 12 June and will help us with work we are doing with the technical working group on reviewing Part 67 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR).

We also want to hear from you about our move to introduce less complex maintenance rules through CASR Part 43.

Part 43 aims to maintain appropriate levels of safety while reducing the regulatory burden on general aviation and keeping compliance costs as low as possible. In this case, consultation closes 19 June.

And there is more support for GA in the pipeline.
We expect to set out proposed changes to the flight examiner system as early as this month as well as confirm arrangements for a multi-engine helicopter class rating.

There will be additional GA initiatives as the year progresses and, as always, we welcome industry feedback and participation.

Although it extends beyond GA, congestion in the Ballina region of New South Wales is another concern we are moving to address.

The busy region is used by a mix of aircraft and we are moving to improve safety by allocating different Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies (CTAFs) to Ballina, Evans Head and Lismore/Casino.

The changes take effect from 16 June and will see Ballina frequency stay on 124.2 Mhz while Lismore and Casino move to 132.45 Mhz and Evans Head to 126.7 Mhz.

Many of you know we have also been conducting an airspace review around Ballina so keep an eye out for consultation on measures we believe will reinforce the safety actions we have already taken.

Finally, with 21 May now behind us, we're ready to work with the incoming government and brief the new Minister on our plans.

All the best,

Pip

Sandy, via the AP email chains:

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 

MTF...P2