[Peetwo]

Maybe "K" has struck a nerve?

Courtesy Fort Fumble's monthly missive - see HERE - Su_Spence rolls out the three card trick??

A message from Pip Spence
 
One of the top priorities of CASA's executive team has been service delivery and we've been working hard to improve our turnaround times by making more services available online.

We recently added almost 70 forms to our CASA online portal in a move designed to make it quicker and easier to deal with us.

Attachments can be uploaded and are automatically assigned to your job, reducing exchanges of sensitive documents through less secure email.

This cuts down on manual handling at our end and frees our staff to focus on other activities such as providing technical expertise and engaging with you.

We will continue adding applications to the system, with drone users also benefitting.

So please consider joining more than 250,000 registered myCASA users. If you don't already have an account, it takes just a few minutes to create one.

Our research shows users find it a massive time saving that's also easier, more efficient and gives them a greater sense of control.

From my perspective, myCASA is an important tool in helping us deal with a burgeoning workload.

We've seen a more than 150% increase in the number of authorisation holders on CASA's books over the past decade as the growth in drones saw the total number of pilots (when we include remote pilots) surge by almost 130%.

Automation has already proved a boon with response times falling.

For fully automated services such as applying for an organisation Aviation Reference Number or registering a drone, outcomes can be delivered within a day - or even instantaneously.

We're also looking at how artificial intelligence can do routine, low-risk work, but it's early days yet.

Finally, events over the past month, which have led to a focus on helicopters in the Northern Territory, mean it would be remiss of me not to reiterate the need for everyone to play a role in keeping aviation safe.

Trust is a crucial component in the compact between aviation operators and their customers and it can be quickly undermined by the irresponsible actions of a few.

Our surveillance tells us most people obey the rules but based on the public commentary, there may well be a minority of people attempting to game the system.

Let me be clear, we have zero tolerance for serious, wilful or repeated disregard of the aviation rules and any interference with aircraft that affects safety.

We can't be everywhere and see everything so we need credible reports from industry that alert us to people doing the wrong thing.

We understand people may be nervous about doing this, but you can report anonymously or file a confidential report, where you identify yourself but don't want us to disclose your identity, either through our safety report mechanism or to the ATSB.

Information needs to be based on evidence, rather than rumour or speculation, but we take all reports seriously and assess them to determine what action is needed.

Stepping up means you're protecting aviation's hard-earned reputation and improving overall industry safety for everyone.

All the best,

Pip
 

Next CASA starts to develop yet another totally incoherent 'CASA-fied' response/version/policy to the FAA MOSAIC... 

Sizing up MOSAIC

We've had a first look at how we might align Australian regulations with the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) recently published rules for Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC).

MOSAIC expands the FAA's definition of light sport aircraft (LSA) by including 4-seat fixed wing aircraft (but restricted to 2 people for sports pilots), subject to performance-based design standards, and introduces 2-seat helicopters and 2-seat powered lift aircraft such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The idea is to expand the scope of aircraft being manufactured under the LSA scheme to increase the aircraft available for recreational aviation, flight training and some aerial work while safely reducing the regulatory burden on industry.

We've been closely watching the evolution of MOSAIC, which is due to come into force in the US next year, and we view it as a good policy which can be progressively introduced in Australia as part of our forward regulatory program.

The existing US system differs from the way we operate in Australia and holders of our recreational pilot licences (RPLs) in some cases already have greater privileges than their US counterparts.

The US also does not have an equivalent of our approved self-administering organisations (ASAOs) which we will need to consider as part of implementation locally.

The first changes in the US relating to sport pilot privileges are scheduled to take effect in late October with further reforms slated for July 2026.

Introducing particular MOSAIC outcomes into Australia will require regulatory changes and we’re considering our approach and policy on a phased implementation.

We'll continue to analyse the FAA MOSAIC rules in the context of existing CASA rules and will work closely with industry stakeholders to find the best outcome for Australia.

We will let you know about developments over the coming months.

MTF...P2