[Peetwo]

Engineering/Maintenance stagnating?

Courtesy KC, via email:

To all members,
 
“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told business people this month he wants the private sector to resume its rightful place as the primary source of growth in the economy.”

No mention of cutting government red tape.

·         We totally agree but engineering fields need to become globally compliant so aircraft and aircraft parts designed, manufactured, and/or maintained in Australia can be used within other nations’ regulatory system.
 
“I (Minister King) expect CASA to perform its functions consistent with Australia’s international obligations, particularly those connected with the International Civil Aviation Organization.”

·         No longer are we convinced that our engineering/maintenance products, services, organisation/personnel are globally recognised by other nations even though we produce and maintain to global standards.
 
Fact:

Civil Aviation Regulations in any country are dynamic documents that are continually being changed to benefit the local industry, mostly to simplify processes, provide clarity and harmonise. The same dynamic regulatory change processes have not happened in the last 20 years in Australia.

·         CASR Part 21 was adopted from FAR Part 21 in 1998

o    The US made major changes to FAR Part 21 in 2009 to align better with EASA to benefit their manufacturers.

o    The FAR system clarified responsibility of designers and manufacturers and deleted aged terminology.

o    Australia has/did not follow suit.

Outcome:       Australian manufacturers/designers kept at 1998 standards no longer used anywhere in the World.
 
·         CASR Parts 66/147 were partially adopted in 2006 knowing adopted regulations were not compatible with Australia’s NVET system.
o    EASR Parts 66/147 have had several amendments to make the EASA system workable.

o    Australia has not adopted these changes or added missing regulations that would be compatible with the NVET system.

Outcome:       A dated system not used by EASA and not compatible with the non-airline sectors or the NVET system.
 
Obviously, we must have government policy in place not to make regulatory changes in aviation engineering regulations thus making it impossible to attain recognition from other nations. This prevents lur engineering sectors becoming a part of the primary source of growth.

The fact that we have a selective adoption of EASR Parts 66/147 has ended with a shortage of maintenance personnel

Se have an industry where, for the non-airline sectors, self-study and pass CASA to attain a Part 66 is the process for general aviation and helicopter sectors.

Proper formal NVET courses would be available if CASA had adopted all of the EASR Parts 66/147 and remained harmonised.
 
It is obvious that in aviation, it is the lack of harmonised engineering regulations and red tape that is preventing employers from providing growth.

A sample of the “Missing Regulations” from Parts 66/147 are available on AMROBA’s Training Website.
 
Staggering that government prevents regulatory changes that are needed to be globally harmonised and compliant with ICAO.
 
Ken Cannane
Executive Director
AMROBA
Phone: (02) 97592715
Mobile: 0408029329
www.amroba.org.au
Safety All Around.

MTF...P2